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Cross-border Shopping Guide / FAQ for Canadians
What’s the personal tax exemption when I come back to Canada from shopping?
In the most concise form, the personal exemption limits are:
| Time out of country | Exemption Limits |
| Out of country within 24 hours | CA$0 |
| More than 24 hours, but less than 48 hours | CA$50 |
| More than 48 hours, but less than 7 days | CA$400 |
| More than 7 days | CA$750 |
There are many details and exceptions to the personal exemption limits. Please read our article for more details.
How many bottles of wine/liquor can I bring back to Canada?
None, if you’re out of the country for less than 48 hours. But if you’re willing to pay duty and tax, there’s no limit.
If you have been outside Canada for at least 48 hours and are of legal age, you can bring back only one the following free of duty and tax as part of your personal exemption:
- 1.14 L (40 oz.) of liquor; or
- 1.5 L of wine; or
- 24 X 355 ml (12 oz.) containers of beer.
How many cigars/cigarettes can I bring back to Canada?
If you’re out of country less then 48 hours, you have to pay the applicable duty and sales tax. Otherwise, you can bring back all or any the following if you’re over the legal age.
- 200 cigarettes;
- 50 cigars or cigarillos;
- 200 tobacco sticks; and
- 200 g (7 oz.) of manufactured tobacco.
What is the tax exemption applied to mail order items?
If you don’t have time making a trip to USA, online shopping is a good alternative. Be sure to read our article on Canadian duty and NAFTA and mail order.
You don’t have to pay duties and taxes if your mail ordered item is:
- a gift worth $60 or less; or
- worth $20 or less.
This exemption applies on a per item basis. Items sent to a Canadian as a gift by another person must include a card or notice indicating it is a gift. Clearly identified gifts worth CDN$60 or less are not subject to duties or taxes; however,gifts greater than CDN$60 are subject to duties and taxes. This CDN$60 exemption does not apply to tobacco, alcohol, advertising material, or items sent by a business or association.
Are children’s clothes duty free? How much duty do I pay?
This depends on where the cloth were made. If the children’s clothes are not made in US or Mexico, you will need to pay 17% duty plus taxes. Thankfully, you don’t pay PST for children’s clothes. Please read our article on Canadian duty and NAFTA.
How bad is the wait at the USA-Canada border crossings?
USA shopping is a rewarding pastime to Canadians, as long as it’s not all spent at the border crossing. Canadian Border Services Agency offers an up to the minute estimate of the wait time at all border crossings (Canadian side). Check it out before leaving home.
US Customs & Border Protection has a counterpart wait time estimate at the US side. Check it out when returning.
Where can I find Canadian $ exchange rate in the last few days?
Yahoo Finance has those rates and charts. Find out 3 month CA$ to US$ exchange rate chart here.
What’s the closest US factory outlets to Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Kingston and Montreal?
Please read our article on US factory outlets.
Please read our disclaimers for the use of information presented here.
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Hi, I am planning a trip to the US for 8 nights. I know a few things that I do not have to pay taxes on but I do not know what they are. I heard that electronics and children clothing is exempted but I am not sure. Could you give me a list of what is exempted if possible.
Thanks
Christina Ferris
The answer is that everything you want to buy. But you’ll have to pay the US taxes (varies from state to state). The good thing is that you don’t have to pay Canadian duty, GST and PST for upto $750 per person.
Happy shopping.
I am ordering a log home kit from the US. Do i have to pay duty on it?
If it’s made in US, it’s likely there’s no duty, based on NAFTA. You may want to check out the details at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/
Hi!
I just want to clarify my plan to make sure I do understand. I hope to order approx $300.00 US of wedding centerpeices from CB2 (Crate and Barrel) and get them shipped to a courier service near the Montana-Alberta border. If I stay more than 48hrs and less than 7days, i do not have to pay duty on them? What exactly would I have to pay extra?
Thank you for your help!
J.
Hi Jessica,
If you do stay out of the country over 48 hours and can prove it (e.g. hotel receipt), you can bring back the goods for free. The only extra would be hotel room cost and gas.
Have fun,
I travel to US everyday and I would like to purchase a TV from Costco in the US, how much duty or pst or gst do I have to pay?
If I bring over (2) cases of beer, do I pay 18% duty on the 2nd case since the first one would be free? Average cost of a case of beer is 20.00+.
If you bring 2 cases of beer, I believe you’ll have to pay for the duty on the 2nd case over your quota (assuming you’re qualified for bringing alcohol home, i.e. over legal drinking age and stayed over 48 hours)