This guide is a brief discussion of the likely costs, taxes and fees when importing goods into Canada from the Beagle Software in the US. Consult directly with the Federal and provincial governments or the carriers themselves for the latest information on taxes, fees and charges. Generally, you may need to pay shipping charges & fees, taxes and duties on a shipment into Canada.
Shipping Charges
We always collect shipping charges. Some of the shipping services (mainly express) we offer include the import (brokerage) fees and some do not. Please be advised if you choose a service that does not include the import/brokerage fees - you will need to pay this charge to the carrier directly.
UPS
Canada Standard Ground - Does not include brokerage fees. Not recommended due to high (hidden) costs of brokerage and fees.
Express Services- brokerage fees included in shipping fee.
FED EX
Ground - Brokerage fees now included in rates.
Express Services - brokerage cost included in shipping fee.
POSTAL SERVICE (US/Canada)
What we do..
We complete a written declaration and attach it to the mail item we are sending to Canada. In this declaration we describe the goods, state their origin, and report their value.What mail/shipment items are duty- and/or tax-free to Canada? You don't have to pay duties and taxes if your mail item is worth $20 or less. If the goods you import by mail are worth $20 or less, they are duty- and/or tax-free.
The $5 handling fee
Canada Post collects the duties and taxes owed and forwards them to the proper government authority. To cover Canada Post's cost for performing these services on your behalf, you often have to pay a $5 handling fee. If your mail item is duty- and/or tax-free, you do not have to pay the fee.
Taxes
All shipments to Canada worth more than $20 are subject to Federal Goods and Service Tax (GST). When we can, we collect the GST taxes and pay them on your behalf (as shown on your invoice). Otherwise the tax, if owed, will be collected by the shipping company (UPS/FedEx/Canada Post, etc.), and paid on your behalf by them. If you are an individual , you may also need to pay provincial taxes. If you are a business, you don't have to pay provincial taxes on goods used in your business
Goods and services tax (GST)
If you live in AB, BC, MB, NT, NU, QC, SK, YT you have to pay GST on most goods you import into Canada. This is to make sure the imported goods are taxed in the same way as those sold or provided in Canada. We calculate GST on the item's duty-paid value.
Harmonized sales tax (HST)
The Canadian Federal Government has entered into agreements with certain provinces to collect HST at a rate of 13% -15%. If you live in a participating province (NB, NL, NS, ON, PE), you pay HST instead of GST. The tax you pay is based on the mail item's duty-paid value.
Provincial sales tax (PST)
The provinces of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Quebec have a PST.
In general, if we collect taxes on an order bound for Canada, we will remit them to the Canadian government and show the taxes paid itemized on your invoice. Our invoice will also have our Canadian tax ID the payment was made by. If we are unable to pay taxes for an individual order we will refund any taxes paid directly back to you.
Duties
We don't collect duties owed. The carrier will collect duty if due. The duty rates vary according to the type of goods you are importing and the country they came from or were made in. Depending on the goods or their value, some other taxes may apply, such as excise duty or excise tax.
Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), duties on various goods imported from the United States and Mexico have been either reduced or eliminated. The NAFTA rates apply when the goods you are importing are made in the U.S. or Mexico.