I'm Choked! OverPaying for Duty + taxes + broker fees on Lens Shipped From Japan

[GregY]

Well I paid the duty this morning and they delivered it this afternoon. So I now have it in my hands. Worked out well considering what could have happened.

Braxus can you clarify if it was 'duty' or P.S.T., G.S.T. & brokerage fees? Thanks

 

[braxus]

Braxus can you clarify if it was 'duty' or P.S.T., G.S.T. & brokerage fees? Thanks

Yes sorry. It's PST and GST, plus broker fees. I usually just call that duty charges which may not be accurate.

 

[GregY]

Yes sorry. It's PST and GST, plus broker fees. I usually just call that duty charges which may not be accurate.

Thanks, I asked because i've never been charged duty on lenses/cameras from Japan....
I'm about to order some Foma paper from Fotoimpex since no one in Canada has stock.... apparently no duty but looking as the same charges since they ship DHL....

 

[Don_ih]

looking as the same charges since they ship DHL....

I've been getting hit for hst and handling fee on practically everything, lately, no matter what shipping company brings it. Governments have just been paying more attention to that as a source of tax revenue,

And, as you know, our government really loves tax revenue.

 

[GregY]

I've been getting hit for hst and handling fee on practically everything, lately, no matter what shipping company brings it. Governments have just been paying more attention to that as a source of tax revenue,

And, as you know, our government really loves tax revenue.

Don, in my orders the 'brokerage' fees from the companies... DHL, UPS have been 4-6x the amount of tax they've been collecting for the government(s). Postal charges for the same services have been more reasonable, but Fotoimpex only ships to Canada via DHL... so it goes.

 

[MattKing]

Yes sorry. It's PST and GST, plus broker fees. I usually just call that duty charges which may not be accurate.

Yep - particularly since the PST + GST/HST is calculated after the duty, excise tax, and/or excise duty is added on.
With the latter only being seen frequently on things like alcohol, tobacco, cannabis or vaping products.
I'll tweak your thread title.

 

[Ian Grant]

Yep - particularly since the PST + GST/HST is calculated after the duty, excise tax, and/or excise duty is added on.
With the latter only being seen frequently on things like alcohol, tobacco, cannabis or vaping products.
I'll tweak your thread title.

It's the same everywhere, they compound up the duties & taxes.

My own issue of overcharged VAT, due to an error, has been resolved with the UK Border Force, although I have not yet received the refund. I had a very nice email informing me of a full refund with a personal tough, the woman signing with her first name, after adding "I hope that helps".

Ian

 

[ant!]

I've been getting hit for hst and handling fee on practically everything, lately, no matter what shipping company brings it. Governments have just been paying more attention to that as a source of tax revenue,

And, as you know, our government really loves tax revenue.

As I wrote before: On private packages/family gifts, latest I had were in January, I never got any charges in about 12 years, even when the declared value was around $100 (the official tax free limit for shipped gifts seems to be $60: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/courier/menu-eng.html ).
On commercial shipments/online shopping, it is completely correct to get GST+QST/PST or HST charged, as you would if you buy within Canada. This is in Europe and probably every country except the US the same. Sometimes it slips through, but you can't count on it. The high brokerage charges of DHL, UPS etc I find more problematic.

 

[Don_ih]

On commercial shipments/online shopping, it is completely correct to get GST+QST/PST or HST charged, as you would if you buy within Canada.

I know. What I was saying is they seem to becoming more strict about it and letting fewer packages through without adding HST. I did get lucky a few days ago and got a delivery that slipped through.

 

[ant!]

I feel the slower/cheaper, maybe even untracked the shipping is, the higher the chance it might slip through. But this is just a personal observation which might not be actual true.

 

[GregY]

I know. What I was saying is they seem to becoming more strict about it and letting fewer packages through without adding HST. I did get lucky a few days ago and got a delivery that slipped through.

Don, based on how big a sample size....?

 

[MattKing]

Moderator's hat - no helmet on:
Folks - don't go anywhere near the politics of borders!

 

[Don_ih]

Don, based on how big a sample size....?

Just what I said - my own experience. I get maybe 20 or so purchases from outside the country per year. A few years ago, I got more and very rarely had to pay extra. Now, almost every one I have to pay extra.

Let's not forget this is a big country and what happens in Ontario doesn't necessarily happen in Alberta.