Taxes and duties.

[Gabriel Beaudry]

If you received your Red camera and accessories, can you tell us how the process of bringing everything into Canada was as far as Taxes and duties are concerned.

[Craig Bowman]

This has been discussed before. Professional motion picture and video gear is duty free under NAFTA.

[Sean]

Also PST free if you register your company with the Provincial tax authorities. They'll issue you an "RM" number.

[Jean Déraps]

If you're having it shipped make sure you don't have the shipping company do the brokerage since they charge a percentage to do so. You can tell them you'll do it yourself, which means they will give you the necessary papers to go deal with it at customs Canada (there's one in Lachine, not too far from UPS and the airport). I just ordered a projector and UPS wanted $85 to broker it (a "free" cable was sent separately, and it would have cost $20 to broker it!), so I imagine brokering $25 000 of RED equipment would cost a leg. Save yourself a bundle and do it yourself!

[Dylan Macleod, CSC]

"Also PST free if you register your company with the Provincial tax authorities. They'll issue you an "RM" number."

I thought the PST exemption was only if you weren't the "end user". Like a photographer doesn't pay PST on print paper if they are going to sell the print. The person who buys the print pays PST on it.

With a RED we are the end users.

Is there another form of PST exemption that I don't know about?

Dylan Macleod, CSC
Cinematographer
Toronto, Canada
www.dylanmacleod.com

[Sean]

As far as I know, in Ontario, it's PST free if the camera is equipment used in the course of a film production. So if you are making "a film" and buying a camera for that film, it's PST free. I'm not sure about the distinction of being an "end user." I guess if you're never making films with the camera and you just use it to rent out, that might be different? I'm not sure. Definitely worth looking into the distinction you raise though! We already got our RM number.

[Anthony Gratl]

Although I have an RM number since my company is registered in Ontario, my experience bringing new and used gear into Canada has been that if the name of your company is at the top of the shipping address, they will not charge you p.s.t.