Max amount for gifts into Canada

[Sprailenes 47]

What happens if the gifts are for my son, I mean I'd hate to pay taxes just for him to open the gifts and bring them back. The only gift that would exceed 60.00 is the camera I bought for my mom.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I'm going to be shipping some presents to my family members this week. If I put everything in one box the total will be well over $60, but each gift is under $60, with the exception of 1. Would it be ok to send everything together? And, since I will need to pay duty on my moms gift, how does that happen? Would they bill be later or something?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

It should be fine to send everything together. You will need to provide evaluations (and receipts if you have them) and they should only charge duty for the amount that exceeds $60 for the one gift. I am sending off my box of gifts tomorrow via UPS - I have the list of contents and prices all typed out and then have taped the prices and receipts next to a separate list of each item on additional pages. I did that last year and it made it really easy to ship, although a lot of up front prep time at UPS. I don't wrap the gifts - I put them in Christmas bags with tissue so that they can be inspected easily at the border.

They will require receipt of the duty/custom fees from the person picking up the parcel or receiving it in Canada. You may wish to have your Mom tell you the amount she has to pay and you can reimburse her for it.

Edited December 14, 2009 by Kathryn41

[SapphireDreams 71]

I bought gifts for my family, and I also bought gifts for people that are staying in the US and they are all on the same receipt. Is the receipt just shown to prove the worth of that one item? I hope so because I spent lots of money at one store but the items were for all different people and for myself. None of my gifts are worth more than $60/each, but I don't want them to think I'm bringing more than I have because of the receipts.

And, I wrapped all my gifts. If they make me unwrap them, so be it, but I won't have time to wrap them when I arrive, or rather, I'd like to avoid spending an hour or 2 wrapping gifts when I get to Canada. And, I don't like gift bags, they aren't as fun. So I really hope they don't give me a hard time. I'm flying in on the 24th, so I hope they have some Christmas spirit that day!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

It should be fine to send everything together. You will need to provide evaluations (and receipts if you have them) and they should only charge duty for the amount that exceeds $60 for the one gift. I am sending off my box of gifts tomorrow via UPS - I have the list of contents and prices all typed out and then have taped the prices and receipts next to a separate list of each item on additional pages. I did that last year and it made it really easy to ship, although a lot of up front prep time at UPS. I don't wrap the gifts - I put them in Christmas bags with tissue so that they can be inspected easily at the border.

They will require receipt of the duty/custom fees from the person picking up the parcel or receiving it in Canada. You may wish to have your Mom tell you the amount she has to pay and you can reimburse her for it.

Thanks Kathryn! Are the receipts an absolute must? Because I don't have them all... And I'm pretty sure they've ended up in the trash. I'm hoping they would just take my word on it.

[neiks 19]

Thanks Kathryn! Are the receipts an absolute must? Because I don't have them all... And I'm pretty sure they've ended up in the trash. I'm hoping they would just take my word on it.

It's not a must but is recommended. Bring the receipts that you do have. If there is questions on the ones you don't have receipts for then you can just show them the present. I"m sure the officer can use his/her common sense. If you show them a t-shirt and don't have a receipt for and say it's worth $10 dollars - I'm sure they can use their judgment and believe you. If your bringing a 2 carat dimond ring with no reciept and say it's worth $10 then you may have a problem. lol

[neiks 19]

What happens if the gifts are for my son, I mean I'd hate to pay taxes just for him to open the gifts and bring them back. The only gift that would exceed 60.00 is the camera I bought for my mom.

You should be fine. Just tell them that the gifts are for your son to open on christmas and they are going back with him.

Just try not to worry about the gift exemptions too much. The main purpose of it, isn't to punish people for bringing their friends and family holidy gifts. The main purpose of it is to stop people from telling their US family/friends to pick them up a 80 inch plasma TV b/c there "cheaper down there" and "just tell them its a gift so I don't have to pay taxes on it", kind of stuff that people try to pull off. You want your US buddy to pick you up a big ticket item - then you still have to pay duty and tax on it not try to pass it off as a gift. Does that kind of make more sense to everyone?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

What I did for some of the items for which I didn't have the receipt anymore is take the actual price tag/sticker that was on the item and taped it to a piece of paper listing what the object was and who it was for. That paper has an odd mixture of receipt items (item highlighted to show which one it is) as well as sticker prices. I really like the ones that say 75% off and list the sale price as that is what I paid and it shows it was a sale. No TVs on the list, though, just normal clothing, books and personal type stuff . I would really prefer to wrap them as well - I agree that gift bags aren't nearly as nice - but shipping them makes the gift bags more acceptable. In fact, what I did this year is put most of the gifts wrapped in tissue and into one larger recyclable cloth bag for each person instead of Christmas gift bags (yes, I declared the recyclable bags too, hehehe).

When we visited for Christmas I just brought the gifts in unwrapped and brought my own wrapping paper then wrapped them after we arrived.

[minnew 4]

I just shipped some gifts to Canada with UPS, apparently your not supposed to use brown paper or any type of paper around a box anymore.... Anywho cost me a 1.50 for them to reinforce it because the paper can get stuck and rip on the conveyer belts!

I found it weird that usps wanted $25 to ship my package, no guarantee that it will make it to SK before Xmas.... And UPS rate was $18! And guarantee of this Friday!

Anyways, my pt of this rambling is that I wish I could give them in person! The customs forms they had me fill out, well the UPS person wanted to know exactly what was in there and how many gifts/boxes... Ughh! So much for my parents/sisters gift being a SUPRISE when the package arrives with CUSTOM form taped on top!!!

[Inky 1,110]

maybe for ups but for regular mail if you dont brown wrap and tape ALL sides up then they will not mail it !

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I just shipped some gifts to Canada with UPS, . . .!

I found it weird that usps wanted $25 to ship my package, no guarantee that it will make it to SK before Xmas.... And UPS rate was $18! And guarantee of this Friday!

Anyways, my pt of this rambling is that I wish I could give them in person! The customs forms they had me fill out, well the UPS person wanted to know exactly what was in there and how many gifts/boxes... Ughh! So much for my parents/sisters gift being a SUPRISE when the package arrives with CUSTOM form taped on top!!!

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. I stopped using USPS a few years ago when it cost so much to mail a package and they couldn't guarantee the delivery in time. I started using UPS as well and have been very pleased with the service. It is also cool to track the parcels - they give you blow by blow descriptions of when and where the parcel is so you can actually follow it on route. And, it has always made it exactly when they said it would - all for less than USPS charges (substantially less).

I now make up the list of what everything is along with the prices before I take the parcel over for shipment. It makes it much easier to fill out the customs forms and I include my list in with the custom documents. I ask the person who is getting the gifts on behalf of everyone to hide the price list from everyone else so only one person really knows the value of things and what the contents are. Maybe you can ask whoever is receiving the box to remove the forms before everyone else sees the contents list .

Edited December 15, 2009 by Kathryn41

[minnew 4]

I just shipped some gifts to Canada with UPS, . . .!

I found it weird that usps wanted $25 to ship my package, no guarantee that it will make it to SK before Xmas.... And UPS rate was $18! And guarantee of this Friday!

Anyways, my pt of this rambling is that I wish I could give them in person! The customs forms they had me fill out, well the UPS person wanted to know exactly what was in there and how many gifts/boxes... Ughh! So much for my parents/sisters gift being a SUPRISE when the package arrives with CUSTOM form taped on top!!!

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. I stopped using USPS a few years ago when it cost so much to mail a package and they couldn't guarantee the delivery in time. I started using UPS as well and have been very pleased with the service. It is also cool to track the parcels - they give you blow by blow descriptions of when and where the parcel is so you can actually follow it on route. And, it has always made it exactly when they said it would - all for less than USPS charges (substantially less).

I now make up the list of what everything is along with the prices before I take the parcel over for shipment. It makes it much easier to fill out the customs forms and I include my list in with the custom documents. I ask the person who is getting the gifts on behalf of everyone to hide the price list from everyone else so only one person really knows the value of things and what the contents are. Maybe you can ask whoever is receiving the box to remove the forms before everyone else sees the contents list .

Easier said than done lol Depends who will be home on Friday to get it! The items are not very expensive, but its the suprise factor! Mom might actually do it, but dad and my sister cannot keep a secret!

They will be getting another gift in the mail but unfortunately it will not make it there before christmas....I made them and my inlaws a photo book of wedding pictures...ok I didn't....shutterfly is making it!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

maybe for ups but for regular mail if you dont brown wrap and tape ALL sides up then they will not mail it !

What the heck is brown wrap? Never heard of it. I've shipped many packages with USPS and never wrapped it in brown stuff...

[minnew 4]

maybe for ups but for regular mail if you dont brown wrap and tape ALL sides up then they will not mail it !

What the heck is brown wrap? Never heard of it. I've shipped many packages with USPS and never wrapped it in brown stuff...

The brown wrap is the same idea as wrapping paper but it's used around boxes that aren't regular old brown. LoL. So you can write in permanent marker and it show up.

I had to disguise my box because it came from a waffle maker we just purchased.... LoL!