Duties and Taxes for the Canadians?

[JustinGD]

I just got the infamous e-mail, and am now just trying to get the money together. Can any Canadians, I guess from Ontario in particular, who have received their camera already give me some insight on how much taxes and duty we have to pay? and also, where and how we pay it?

[Vincent S]

I don't know the specifics for Ontario since I'm in MTL but you will pay full GST and PST to the FedEx guy or over the phone before delivery and duty should be low or none since there is no duty on camera equipment. Also with FedEx there is no broker fees for items over $16000

I'm still waiting for my cam but this is my guess.

[Dylan Macleod, CSC]

I went with a broker, just to make sure I don't run in to any snags.

If the item is made in the US, there is no duty to pay. Just GST.

Dylan Macleod
Cinematographer
Toronto, Canada
www.dylanmacleod.com

[R. Gonzales]

Member
I am quoting Vuzz from DVXuser 1996


This might help


vuzz
Member

Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Montreal

Buying in Canada from USA & broker fees
I recently got My HVX from the States and wanted to share with the forum how I saved a few cents. When shipping to Canada.

1. Video equipment has no duty, but to be safe have the shipper put the tarrif code for video equipment on the box I put (9002.11.10) If you want to be sure have a look at

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/p...ndments-e.html

2. Next, to not pay broker fees, be your own broker! Yes you can do this. You got to get UPS, (thats what I used) to hold for Pick Up (Clears own hold) that means that they will hold the item in Bond when it gets to the destination. When it arrives you go to UPS get documentation then head over to Revenu Canada. Make sure you know all the Tariff Codes or make sure to send to your shipper the Tariff codes so he indicates the right ones (Duty Free), tell them that you are clearing yourself and they will guide you on the PC that is there how to fill out all forms...This is what you call being the Broker, without having to pay for one you are doing all the work yourself...Now what this saves, is the BROKERAGE fees that either UPS will charge you or a independant Broker would. Now this is worth it if you are paying a lot for the Camera, because Brokerage fees are pretty high, obviously you still have to pay taxes but you will pay them on the spot at Revenu Canada. Once you pay the Taxes you got back to UPS present the papers showing you paid and you get the PKG no fees to be paid. Pretty complicated process, and it takes a few hours but for me I saved about $700.00. Thats a extra card for me.

Good luck and many thanks to my buddy and future producing partner VN who showed me how to do it.

\v



I found this instead:
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2008/01-99/ch90-eng.pdf

9002.11 - -For cameras, projectors or photographic enlargers or reducers
9002.11.10 - - -For colour television cameras or colour video cameras;
For enlargers making negatives or positives of a width exceeding 10 cm
and a length exceeding 12.5 cm;
For photographic cameras;
For use in the manufacture of projectors;
To be employed in the commercial production of video tape productions,
cinematographic films (motion picture films), animated films or multi-image
shows
Free CCCT, LDCT, GPT, UST,
MT, MUST, CIAT, CT,
CRT: Free
10- - - - -For colour television cameras or video cameras; for enlargers making
negatives or positives of a width exceeding 10 cm and a length
exceeding 12.5 cm; for photographic cameras; for use in the
manufacture of projectors........................................ ................. NMB
90 - - - - -Other .................................................. .................................................. ..


Iv'e brought in many pieces of equipment this way and all i paid was the GST

Good luck

method

[Jean Déraps]

Unless you're buying a RED for a hobby, you must be in business. If this is the case, you should register for a GST account here:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/business/topics/gst/psb/registering/menu-e.html

This allows your to get all your sales taxes back, since the GST was designed as a consumer tax not a business tax. If you haven't done this yet, you can still claim a couple of months previous (if I remember correctly)

And Method is right: don't pay a broker good $$$ to shuffle a few papers when you can do it yourself.
Also, RED members here in Quebec told me that FEDEX only charged them 20$ or something like that (UPS is known to milk clients).

My 2 cents.

Jean

[Dexter Gregoire]

I asked the same question earlier. Check out the response from Clint Johnson.

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showpost.php?p=166262&postcount=45

Canada customs should be the same in every province.

[JustinGD]

Thank you very much to everyone for the advice. I'll let you know how it went once I get my camera.

[Brent J. Craig]

...FEDEX only charged them 20$ or something like that (UPS is known to milk clients).

As much as UPS likes milking you for crazy brokerage fees, they also hate storing stuff for free. If you call them and tell them you will be doing your own brokerage, but can't get to it until "late next week" they sometimes magically make all their 'fees' go away just to get rid of the boxes!

[paul engstrom]

I'm sorry if any of this is unhelpful, i haven't got time to read the whole thread.

a couple things re: broker fees.

CanadaPost: has an agreement with many national post services including USpostal service. What this means to you: NO BROKER FEES coming or going into the US.

FedEX: ground service = broker fees calculated as percentage of package price...can get extremely expensive. you can mitigate this by paying attention to tracking info and then doing it yourself when package arrives in customs...see CrewPix' note on that one!!!
BUT... FedEX air service (most/all? express methods) is a flat $10 broker fee. RED only ships air to Canada. ONLY $10! Did you see that! Also, in talking with the broker who worked with FedEX ground, he recommended to use FedEx air anytime anything was remotely fragile, as it is handled much more gently than the ground stuff....

UPS: I don't know. From above posts sounds bad.

I now try and do everything either with Post service if ground or FedEx Express (some form of Air transport) if I want it quicker. Bases pretty well covered for good $.

GST number. Actually not difficult and worth having! someone put a link above. go for it. In Vancouver, our BC business centre was awesome help. You will get this money back when you file your year end (or sooner if you've opted for earlier reporting schedule).

CUSTOMS actually wants to see an import/export number, which you get through the same people that help with the GST number. Its actually just the GST number with one letter changed.

PST...funny, that one. In my case there were links to get this stuff done at the same time as I got the business number, GST and import numbers. On the phone, PST people tell you that your film gear will be charged PST on entry in the country/province. In reality, its been charged sometimes and not others. In my case, it was not charged for the expensive order from RED, but was for cheaper tripod legs. Lets hope they don't ding me on lenses!!!! This is the only bad charge as it does not get reimbursed...I think.

[JustinGD]

That was very helpful, thanks Paul.

I have spoken with a woman at FedEX, and a woman at a CBSA office. They said that if it's being shipped to a business, you do not have to pay PST. I had Red change the name on the address to my business name.

However, they also said that if Red includes a NAFTA form, I won't have to pay Duty. I just got an e-mail from John at Red, and he told me that they do not send NAFTA forms with the shipments.

I have a GST number, should I get an import/export number too? and does anybody know what to do about duty if there is no NAFTA form?

[Andrew M.]

You need certificate of origin if it is made in US so no duties will be charged.
However on the camera it is written Made in Singapore so as far as camera is concern you will not be able to prove that it is made in US.
But check if there is any duties on the film cameras produced in Singapore.

[JustinGD]

What about Canadians who have received their cameras? have you guys had to pay Duty? and if so, how much?

[AntiMutant]

A friend received his Red recently and didn't pay any duties. The reason he gave was that it was a camera (and camera parts) and that exempts it from duty. Also something about it being unavailable for purchase in Canada.

I just received an SI-2K from NY, and there was no duty on that. Just taxes. Getting my red soon, so I'm hoping for the same. That's a lot of taxes, though. :blink:

[Vincent S]

I got mine two weeks ago and this is how it went for me.

FedEx called me saying my pkg had arrived, they asked me if I had a broker, I let them broker it for me. They then emailed me a form to fill out with my company name & # and GST #. In the end I payed about $150 in duty (some Items have duty depending on what you got ) and I payed about $1000 in GST I didn't have to pay any PST since they had my Company info.

[JustinGD]

I just got my Camera. Duty was only $200, and I paid GST, which I will be getting back. As long as it's sent to a company and not an individual, there is no PST.

Thanks to everyone who helped me figure it out, but I guess I had nothing to worry about.

[Johann Schulz]

So Justin, what's your secret? You paid around $200+ GST ... But Vincent paid over $1150! That's unreal! Why is there such a huge dif? Canadian Feds are usually unmoveable....

Post Script...The break should be going to the individual, not the company... I'll take that to my grave....

[theKGB]

So Justin, what's your secret? You paid around $200+ GST ... But Vincent paid over $1150! That's unreal! Why is there such a huge dif? Canadian Feds are usually unmoveable....

Post Script...The break should be going to the individual, not the company... I'll take that to my grave....

You get this GST back in most cases. Your accountant should be able to file this. If you pay more GST than you collect, you get a refund. It's a total wash.

p.s. he said he paid 200+ for broker fees not GST. Even that 200+ fee is tax deductible. Depending on what your tax bracket is, you could really be saving at least 70 dollars on personal income. Get a good accountant, he'll get you your money back.

[Johann Schulz]

Right in all distictions. I understand. Justin just didn't quote his GST payment and what for as it's coming back after eight months of paperwork flow. Unreal. And if I'm the actual owner of the company, which is registered as a separate entity, then I've got my bases covered! ...(A)s long as I'm losing money and sleeping with some wrinkly politician....

NeverTheLess, I'm actually debating at the moment if I should receive my camera in Canada or Taiwan. Can any company, like a doctor friend of mine, take the camera in his company name, and receive the discount on fed beatings? Do they even care as long as they're not giving a break to the average joe who just wants to work?

Canada either keeps you stupid and on the dole or crafty and fratty with the suits. (By the way, you'll need a car to get around...). What a place! It's why I stay gone, exactly.

[Ege Eden]

how about sending the camera to an address in US?
and going and taking the camera through the border
by myself?
do I have to pay anything then?

[Ian Laurie]

how about sending the camera to an address in US?
and going and taking the camera through the border
by myself?
do I have to pay anything then?
Yes you still have to pay at the border. And border guards are a pain. they always assume your smuggling something. which means a few hours nap time while they search your vehicle for something other than what you declared.

[Sean]

Made in Singapore. So that doesn't qualify for the US-made exemption.

However, digital cameras are exempt from duty under Free Trade.

Note that certain accessories may NOT be considered part of the camera, so they ARE subject to duty.

In Ontario, you can apply for a PST exemption number if you're using the camera for production. That PST number must appear on the shipping label sent by Red in order for the shipment to be exempt from PST.

[GlennChan]

CanadaPost: has an agreement with many national post services including USpostal service. What this means to you: NO BROKER FEES coming or going into the US.
I believe Canada post charges $5 for their slower services and $8 for their fast services. Which is way, way less than UPS and Fedex ground.
(And of course there at taxes and duties on top of that.)

[Linus Sagadore]

A lot of information here, some of it wrong. As a used equipment broker I go through this a lot. There is no duty on video camera equipment coming to Canada from the US, there can be duty on various pieces of video equipment. The only sure bet on no duty on any piece of equipment is if it is made in Canada.

PST is due one way or another. If you bring it in from the US you will be charged by your customs broker except possibly for Alberta where I don't think they have PST. When buying from another province the seller is not licensed to collect PST in another province but you are still responsible to pay it. As always it is deductible from PST paid through the business.

Cheers,
Linus Sagadore
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