Richard

if l were you, l would get my ass out of there, from what l read it’s a real mess

 Big AL

I pay Fedex plus Fedex clearance charges,  10% duty, 15% VAT, plus paperwork, plus whatever fines they decide. My last package was $197 or windshield wiper parts (including shipping), but ended up costing over $640 and taking 2 months in customs. By the time they got around to it, they checked the invoice against the web site and added a $200 fine for the invoice not agreeing with the web site (sales were over).

We also get fined if there is no packing list in the box, and they don't count a copy of the invoice as a packing list because it has prices.

Hi Deb (KD),

I got lucky this week...Burlen had made me 4 fixed needle profiles in swinging needle fashion.  They and the lone swinging needle arrived completely under the radar...no handling fee, no GST, no PST and, of course, no duty.

Rick (Hunter2)

Very good to know. Thanks. 

Another interesting article - basically allows you to self-clear items eliminating the usual brokerage/handling fee issue. You have to visit the CBSA and fill out the B15 form. Read this lengthy article if you want. 
//www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d17/d17-4-0-eng.pdf

Not sure if it’s practical, but I have great luck driving parts across the border, usually amounts $400 and less are a pass, going both directions on the Blue water and Ambassador bridges in SE Michigan, just tell em what you have. I am a US citizen, but it shouldn’t matter.

Kevin,
It could help to become a member of a club as Mini Mania gives  club members a  12% discount.
Parts from the UK , Mini Spares,etc should only have a 6% duty if they are made in the UK.
Also make sure that shipping is on a separate invoice as frequently the shipper will charge duties and taxes on the entire amount of the invoice.
Of course all parts for a 25 year old car have no duty.
My last parcel via DHL  from Mini Spares was charged duty even though my Riley Elf is 51 years old.
The invoice clearly marked and was high-lited in yellow as antique auto parts.
DHL charges 10$ brokerage and $4.75 handling as well as taxes.
Sales tax is on top of duty and GST is  on  top of that.
I was charged $44 on a parcel worth $130.00. Just received an email for a pending refund of $22.00 

Rick, of course sometimes we are lucky and Canada post lets something in free of charge.

Another way to save money is to get a foreign currency credit card from
a Canadian bank.. That way you also save  the 2.5% surcharge on foreign exchange,,,
Deb

Yes, it can be a right royal pain in the asterisk.  Canada Post finally tuned in on the 'processing' of mail received from US and overseas and now charges $9.95 on a package, for example, that had 2 sets of tranny detent balls & springs and 1 small bit for my neighbour.  If I had paid in coins, they would have weighed 4 times more than the postal package.

We used to avoid extra charges like brokerage fees from UPS by switching to the post whenever possible.  Now the postal service has caught up to the private carriers.  Admittedly, the postal service is delivering far more packages that letters, cards etc. what with all the electronic communications available to us.

Our Mini club has switched to online payment of Membership & event tickets using Paypal.  Cost of using Paypal is less than a cheque, envelope & stamp.  No need for the PO Box so cancelled it.

Made me laugh though when #45 said (mad as hell) Amazon was getting a free ride on the US postal service.  His anger must have been fake because his tax cuts had just given Amazon several hundred million.

The trouble with this whole area is the customer is generally powerless in any dealing with the parties involved.

Some companies have a particularly bad reputation in the way they deal with customers.  I have been charged "putative " duties before.  This is where the shipper charges you duty, fees etc that might have to be paid.  In my case duty wasn't payable but their argument is that we "might...maybe..possibly" have to pay so we'll just charge you (pay up or no delivery) and then IF duty is payable we'll pass it on ..otherwise ... well it would cost you more if we had to calculate and implement a refund so we'll just save you money by pocketing any excess funds (that we made you pay!!!).

Technically you don'y pay duty on "your" goods ..rather you pay duty on the work done by the other party (on your goods).

We've just taken another hit here in Oz.  Previously the Government calculated that it cost more to calculate and collect taxes than the fees they would receive on goods from overseas that cost less than $1000.  But because the local rip of merchants (sorry, retailers) have more individual political power then "us" ..the taxpayers, the Gov has decided to eat the cost and all packages will now be charged duty/tax/ ... and a new neat little "inspection" fee (taxable of course) on all goods.  

Not that we (the Gov) need the money of course but we'll be doing our bit to make sure you backsliders (sorry, consumers) buy locally (even if there are no local suppliers) ......

There, I feel better now...

Cheers, Ian

In Canada, GST (Goods and Services Tax, a federal sales tax) is like a Value Added Tax.
PST (Provincial Sales Tax) generally was/is a straight sales tax, depending on the province.
HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) occurs in some provinces where the province has jumped on the value-added bandwagon. Its rate is the sum of the GST rate and the provincial rate. In each province, there are occasional quirks on how it is applied (e.g. some services or goods may be provincially exempt).
HST applies to services whether or not any goods are involved. As a self-employed contractor working for architects, I collected HST on my billable hours and remitted to the federal government. 

Yes.

Import duty is worked out on the price of the item, then we have to pay VAT on the item, the import duty, and the shipping !!

Even on your own parts that have been shipped abroad for modification.  When Gertie's dampers went to Wisconsin for modification, I got absolutely bent over by UPS.

Alex, do you pay VAT (or duty) on items imported from non EU countries???

Cheers, Ian

Vehicles & Parts for Vehicles 25 years of age or older are DUTY FREE in Canada.  Canadian Tariff # 9966.00.00 should be attached to any documents & on the face of any packaging sent to Canada.

We are still subject to HST or GST & PST...in my case in British Columbia a combined 12%...but...no DUTY of 6%.

I was charged 6% Duty on importing the OZ Mini Window Van, paid it and received a refund after applying for same.

Ensure that the vendor marks the package "antique auto parts" ( may have to list year and model also ).
It has to be visible to the post people in CA.  If they still charge it....appeal

8% ?

Count yourself lucky - we have to pay 20% VAT on all new Mini parts, a tax that doesn't get applied to export orders.

So, I've ordered a few parts here and there from various places. Mini Spares, Mini Mania etc. Pay for it - only to find that when it arrives, there is usually an additional 8% Duty for 'Auto Parts'. (Translation, Trudeau wants more of my money). 

Is there an alternative solution. Where do you buy your classic mini parts? I just hate paying for the same part twice. 

(What I really mean to say is, how can I convince the seller to label his item as a Category 5 Item, not Category 4?)
https://www.crossbordershopping.ca/duty-tax-import-guide/canada-customs-duty-rates-tariffs-and-taxes

clearly I am just ranting now.