When you return to Canada, you are allowed to bring goods which were purchased or given to you for personal use–not business. So, things you’d get at your typical retail store: clothes, gadgets, jewellery, etc. You’re not allowed to bring back a work vehicle, office equipment, or inventory you plan to then sell in Canada.
You are allowed to bring in a certain dollar amount based on how long you’ve been away. The following amounts include the value of liquor and/or tobacco that you are permitted.
- $ 50 per person, when you spend more than 24 hours outside Canada
- $ 400 per person when you spend more than 48 hours outside Canada
- $ 750 per person for 7 days or more outside Canada
If you keep it under these limits, you don’t have to pay additional tax or duty at the border when you return to Canada. If you bring home more than the above amounts, you must “declare” how the item(s) and value(s). Many purchases may be duty free under NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement)–between the USA and Mexico, for example, but HST will be applicable.
Above are the dollar amounts you’re allowed to bring into Canada. Below are the actual quantities you’re allowed to bring in on certain items, specifically alcohol and tobacco:
- 1.5 litres of wine OR 1.16 litres of spirits OR 8.5 litres of beer.
- 200 cigarettes (that’s a carton) AND 50 cigars AND 200 grams of tobacco AND 200 tobacco sticks
A more comprehensive explanation can be read in the “I Declare” available on the Canada Border Services website.
Happy shopping & happy travelling!
loading...
loading...
You may want to correct this as the amounts went up on June 1.
24hrs $200
48hrs $800
loading...
loading...
Thanks Crystal! You and Cheryl were both bang on at the same time! Thanks for pointing these out & pls do let me know if I’ve missed anything major.
Cheers!
Aimee
loading...
loading...
Thanks go out to our Facebook fan, Cheryl, who pointed out that the allowable duty free items coming into Canada changed a tad on June 1st 2012. Here are some of the updates (more details can be found on the CBSA site: http://cbsa.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5056-eng.pdf):
After each absence of 24 hours or more:
* You can claim up to CAN$200 worth of goods without paying any duty and taxes.
*You must have the goods with you when you arrive in Canada and you cannot include tobacco products or alcoholic beverages in this exemption.
After each absence of 48 hours or more:
* You can claim up to CAN$800 worth of goods without paying any duty and taxes. Although you can include some tobacco products and alcoholic
beverages, a partial exemption may apply to cigarettes, tobacco products and manufactured tobacco.
* You must have the goods with you when you arrive in Canada.
After each absence of 7 days or more:
* You can claim up to CAN$800 worth of goods without paying any duty and taxes. Although you can include some tobacco products and alcoholic
beverages, a partial exemption may apply to cigarettes, tobacco products and manufactured tobacco.
* With the exception of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, you do not need to have the goods with you when you arrive.
Alcoholic beverages:
You are allowed to import only one of the following amounts of alcohol free of duty and taxes:
* 1.5 litres (53 imperial ounces) of wine;
* a total of 1.14 litres (40 ounces) of alcoholic beverages; or
* up to a maximum of 8.5 litres of beer or ale.
Please feel free to help me out here if I’ve missed any other major changes! Again, you can find all the details you need about duty free when returning to Canada here: http://cbsa.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5056-eng.pdf
loading...
loading...