Like the title says, how does duty work??? not for cars...

is it a % of the payed price? or what?

 

I'm not the authority on duty but hears what I know. If you go to the states for a stay under 48 hours you will pay duty on purchases over around $100.00. I've brought back close to $100.00 without paying duty. If you stay over 48 hours you can bring around $300.00 worth of goods back duty free. Forget about bringing alcohol and tobacco back you'll pay over 100% duty. I've had orders shipped from the states and some have charged duty and some haven't. You can buy things cheap at the duty free like booze and perfume but have to stay down south longer than a day to get the duty exemption. I used to cross the line every week or two but not any more. The states is in a big crackdown mode with the terrorist thing going on. There's a new law saying you can't ship food to the states unless your shipment is pre-approved by the US Food and Drug commission. Don't try and lie about how long you've been down there cause they know through punching in your license plate on the way down. The first question they ask you is, "how long have you been down?" You lie to that question and they have the right to strip your car down to the bare bones and don't have to put it back together.

 

ok well im going to order a drill mace (military band stuff) and its going to cost 129usd + 15usd for shipping... but i have no idea if there is duty... or what....

guess the only way im going to find out is to phone customs on monday.

 

My bet is you will pay around $20.00 duty. You play in a military band? I used to play in Drum and Bugle corps. We were the Drifters, we were the only canadian corps invited to the championships in the states. American drum corps is huge. We did all the marching and manuevering too. We played half-time at BC Lions games and did parades too. Lots of fun. You should have seen the colour guard.

 

well i hope thats all i have to pay if anything

im not in the band, the band is mine, im the Band Officer its a cadet band... Navy League to be exact. kids ages 8 to 12....

but 1 thing... since its for the corps, and the corps being non-profit... would that have any lee-way?


EDIT: thats pretty sweet the only big thing i ever did with cadets, was being on the gun run in the ottawa tattoo. we had a 50lb field cannon, and ran it around the deck, pulling it apart and firing it as fast as we can... pretty dangerous stuff.... if you get your finger stuck in the breatch (where u load the round) u can't open it again, unless u fire the cannon or take it all apart... eather way the bones in your fingers will be powder

 

I love cannons, talk about sound pressure! We never used them in our corps but I heard them at Emerson, Lake and Palmer and the ACDC concert. "For those who like to rock, we salute you."

 

any thoughts on my situation with the duty thingy??? being non-profit and such

 

It's a great cause for the kids. If they don't discount off the duty just claim it on your tax return as a non-profit donation. I need to talk to customs too about importing a car.

 

Your cadet band should be run like a business. Don't the parents raise money for trips and equipment? Buy everything through the band, get a gst number and deduct all your expenses. I almost sound like an accountant, don't I?

 

its not run though the Band per-say... its run though the chain of command, then to the branch which is a board of parents that run the finaces and things like that, i have permission to buy this mace, as its cheap... they cost lots if u get them from england...

ill buy it then the branch will re-emberse(sp?) me for the cost..... but i can't buy it if the duty is waaaaaay to high.

+ i need this BEFORE Christmas so i need to make my order fast if im going to get it in time

 

Well, the duty can't be that high on an item worth not much more than a $100.00 US. I ordered about $800.00 US worth of goodies from SLP and paid I think just under $150.00 duty. If it's really a big deal I'd wait and talk to Revenue Canada or Customs office on monday. Good luck. PS, what is a mace anyways? Sounds like something I'd spray on someone.

 

its the big stick thingy-ma-bob that the guy in front of the band holds... commands are givin with it, it also can be spun and such to look all purdy and what not....

ill phone them on monday thx sleepless one. im off the la la land.

 

OK drum major. I've seen those things. I'm working nights and have a computer in front of me. Don't tell anyone I get paid for being on-line all night. I should change my name to Nighthawk.

 

Duty is based on mainly where the product is made. IF it is made in the US you should be allright however products made in 3rd world countries usually tend to carry higher duty rates. As for taxes you will be expected to pay 14% just like in Canada. The Duty will depend on the origin of the product and will be extra on top of the taxes. Automotive Products are exempt from duty and hopefully your guitar will fall in to a category that makes it exempt also.
Later
Mike

 

Yep duty is NOT the same as sales tax. If you import an item yourself, you pay 7% GST, 7.5% PST, and any applicable duty on the item ((as Mike says, depends on the origina and the type of product).