Crossing Border with Systems

[delavoie]

Anyone know how many satellite sytems i would be able to bring across the border? And how long i have to stay in the US for?
I'm planning on crossing to Maine, and would like to bring 4-5 systems... If they ask you why are you bringing back 5, what would you say?
Thanks for the info

[ontario]

I told them I was buying Christmas presents for my family members. What a deal, $50ea when I paid over $900 a few years ago. Let me through, no problem.

[ontario]

I brought 6 systems across 2x.

[Eightball]

Bring as many as you want. Just declare them at border and pay GST and PST and your in and out in 10 minutes!

[simple]

I know a guy that brought back a pickup truck full... paid his duty and bang no problems


Simple.

[delavoie]

Do you have to wait a certain amount of time.. like 24hours or something?

[Jeet]

I have been bringing across tons of these systems, but I have to bring them across commercially.

Not really a big deal you just need to get an import number and you just pay GST and duty (5%) on them when you bring them across.

[gunsmoke2]

Hi Jeet,

I have been bringing them since it all started.. depending on what Province you can avoid the 5% for favourite Nations treatment.. but then you can always be reassed later on.

GS2

[Jeet]

If you bring in systems commercially and do not want to pay the 5% duty then you need to have a Certificate of Origin filled out by the manufacturer of the item that you are bringing in (in the case of an RCA DSS System that would be Thompson Consumer Products).

Since the receivers are made/assembled in the U.S. and/or Mexico they would be eligible for favourable tariff treatment under NAFTA if the manufacturer of the products as undertaken the necessary audits to prove that the item does qualify for NAFTA. I am sure it probably does and I am also sure that Thompson has already done this, after all major retailers were all importing these systems in the mid-90's into Canada.

However, good luck if you are able to get Thompson to complete this certificate for you. I am not saying they won't, you might have to trick them somehow but you never know maybe someone might be able to get one from them. Once you have this certificate you can bring in all the systems you want and you would only have to pay GST on them. However keep in mind that Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (formerly Revenue Canada) would have a record of every system you brought in and they would want you to declare the income from each one you sold and also to remit GST based on the final selling price.

Before I was bringing in systems with a certificate of origin that I just made up, well it only worked for a few months because I did get reassessed and had to pay 5% duty on everything I brought in. So for the last 2 years I have just been paying the GST and the 5% duty on the items and not even thought twice about it.

[Andrew8468]

Originally posted by delavoie
And how long i have to stay in the US for?
Thanks for the info


It would depend on how much each system cost in Canadian dollars. Most Customs people just ask for the total spent, not the amount in Cdn. But 4 or 5 systems you might want to consider a week long stay to be duty free (up to $500, I think) and make sure you have a hotel receipt or some other proof you were there that long.

[gunsmoke2]

Hi Jeet,

Thompson did secretely supply documentation to Revenue Canada on certain previous models to support Nafta treatment.. the reason I know is because I got it to be extended to some shipments of mine and have received checks back from Revenue Canada on B2 contestments.

However there are a few harmonized codes that describe the components. These tariff codes do not have any duty whether its Nafta approved or not.. that's when you can eliminate 5% depending what province you import the equipement through. Revenue Canada is not uniformed and if pick the right spots then bye bye 5%.. of course you can be reassed years later.

GS2

[hitme101]

Put cards in wallet,place dishes as hubcaps,& finally place Lnb's as deer sensors.
Yes I Know they aint that dumb.Let's all lighten up a bit.

[Karen]

If you're out of Canada less than 48 hours, you're allowed to bring back Cdn$50 worth of goods, tax free.

After 48 hours, the exemption is Cdn$200.
After 7 days, the exemption is Cdn$750.

Karen :-)

[gunsmoke2]

Lighten up about what.. everything is just fine with interesting posts.

Yes Karen that is correct for personal exemption..


GS2

[Andrew8468]

Thanks for the update Karen. Not so long ago it was nothing for up to 48 hours. According to the Universal Curerency website CDN$750 = US$488.38 as of May 6.

[Taz]

There is no duty on dss systems.

[Jeet]

If you bring in DSS Systems commercially into Canada then you could be subject to 5% duty.

If you bring them non-commerically then you will have to pay GST and PST (if you are in BC).

[gunsmoke2]

5% duty if not qualified for NAFTA.. unless you slip and slide :)

GS2

[blcjet]

If your bringing more than 1 there is always the old tape 2 together to make 1 trick. (at least you one pay duty on 1 then) ;)