I'm planning a shopping trip to the U.S. and will just be spending one day there. Have any of you done this and what is the duty charge like at the border? I'll be Christmas shopping so likely most purchases will be clothes. Possibly some grocery items. Thanks for your help.

Hi - there's a question and answers about this here. I tried to link it but failed miserably.

Last Sunday night's news showed BIG LONG lineups coming back across the border so be prepared for that.

I went to the Niagara Falls, NY outlet mall a few nights ago (I live about a 15 minute drive from the Queenston/Lewiston border) and purchased just under $300 worth of clothing and was let through at the border without any duty charges. I was asked how long I was in the US and what the total cost of goods purchased was - I showed the border person my receipts and was to told to go. On all my quick trips over to the US, that is what usually happens - I'm prepared to pay duty if I have to and it's a bonus if I don't.

There is no duty on goods made in the US or Mexico. It is totally at the discretion of the border guard whether you get charged PST & GST (or HST) on all your taxable purchases plus duty on the non- North American goods.

There have been numerous stories in the local papers that more and more people are being charged the tax (presumably the government has started noticing the lost revenue and are instructing the border officials to be more diligent). But you won't know til you arrive at the border.

When I lived in Toronto I would go to the outlet mall in Niagara Falls, NY a couple of times a year. Now that we live in British Columbia, a friend and I do an annual shopping orgy in Washington State - there's an outlet mall in Auburn, not far from Seattle. But we stay overnight, because of the distance.

A few things I would suggest: be prepared for lengthy waits at the border. There are a couple of websites that will tell you what the crossing times are like; can't remember what they're called, but Google will help with that. Make sure you keep all of your receipts and be prepared to pay duty on what you've bought. The amount you have to pay depends on how they classify your purchases, and I think there's a certain amount of discretionary leeway there; generally I've found that if you're clearly honest and cooperative, they do try to make things easier for you. If you're buying grocery items, don't buy fresh produce; you're not allowed to bring that back.

I've had the experience of coming back with a huge pile of bags and boxes clearly visible in the back seat; the person in the customs booth glanced, asked how much we'd bought, and just waved us through. I suppose if we'd been trying to get away with anything he would have sent us over to the cashier, but he didn't. This has happened a few times. Other times we've been asked to go over to the building with our receipts and be processed in the usual way.

Have fun!

Well, odd you should ask! We have
just come back from Seattle. We left at 6 a.m. yesterday to get through the border w/o a wait - took us 20 minutes! On the way back
we came through in 5. Both times we
came by Lynden, Washington.

We bought over 700. worth of clothes, shoes, and Sephora plus 50.
of groceries at Trader Joe's.

We told the border fella exactly what we'd spent and he just waved us on through.......what a bargoon!

The line-up to enter the US was still over 2 1/2 hrs. at this quiet little crossing; we figure the guards just don't want to be bothered w/small amounts of duty.

Nordstrom's had their semi-annual sale on. Fun!

There is SUCH a price variance on most things that my Canadian loyalties had to take a little break
while I reaped the rewards of the loonie!

As Ron has stated, you don't pay DUTY, you pay Taxes.
Anything made in USA or Mexico is duty free, even if you are only over there for an hour. IT's the NAFTA agreement.

You DO have to pay PST and GST, but then you would if you bought it at home. If you pay a tax on it in the US, that is the only additional cost.

You have to be prepared to pay the taxes at the border. It's part of your shopping costs, the same as at home. BUT what a bonus when you get waved through!!! And it IS a bonus. They don't have to wave you through...

FOr me cross border shopping is SO worth it!! Can't wait to go again.

Hey edward,

I had a thread going on this a while ago also, if you click my name you should be able to see it.

I'm curious about the groceries though.....do you pay tax and duties on groceries as well??


Layla

HI Layla,
NO you don't have to pay taxes on groceries, because it's not something you pay taxes on here in Canada. NOt on food items anyway. Although we pay taxes on some groceries that are non food... I've never been asked to pay taxes .

Hey Kodi,

Cool...I'm off to burlington this weekend so I'm gonna buy myself some groceries because many of the staples are much cheaper there than they are in Montreal where I am from!

Thanks again!

Layla

Layla, have a great time!! I love going to the grocery stores in the States. I always find stuff we don't have at home.
The last time I went , I spent almost $100 on just snack type stuff.. they have lots of low fat goodies.

i find just the mirror of Kodi's experience when I visit Canada. Your grocery stores have thing that ours in the U.S. don't have. I love walking down the aisles just to see the differences.

Hey kodi and rm,

I'm sure we'll have a great time, its so fun there!! I also find so many things that we don't have here, and i am ALWAYS in search of something "new" to help with my diet lol lol!!

rm, our stores here are great also but I find you guys have so much more variety....especially in the ice cream aisle!! haha!!


Layla

Layla, don't forget to take a cooler, so you can bring back lots of ice cream.

Mmn, I love to wander through grocery stores, no matter where I am. And drug stores too. I thought I was weird!!!! ( well, maybe I am!!)

Hi Kodi.....you are definitely not weird! That is one of my favourite things to do when I'm away...even walmart is exciting!! I didn't think of bringing a cooler, but i definitely will now that you've reminded me!!

Layla