Canadian Customs Tariffs

[pseudonym]

Hey all, I found this resource while browsing some snuff forums and thought you guys might want to take a peek at it as well, especially those who tend to get outrageously high duty charged on tobacco imports. Tobacco is Section 24 in the bookmarks.
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2014/menu-eng.html
One of the forum members claimed that he was initially charged something like 130% on his snuff order, he sent it back to customs with the actual tariff amount info (4.5% I think) from this document and they corrected it and sent it back with the proper duty amount. I can't speak personally for this as I haven't been overcharged on duty (yet), but...knowledge is power, right?
Anyway, I hope this helps someone

 

[latbomber]

Interesting, I was lucky enough never to get dinged.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

It is possible they miscalculated (they have on mine, though usually they have calculated it lower than it should be), but for clarity, what you have pointed us to is the import tariff schedule, which is a relatively minor (and in the case of most pipe tobacco, generally non-existent) component of the total customs you will have to pay if you import tobacco.
Basically, what you will have to pay equals the sum of these things - and this is for pipe tobacco, because that is all I know about:
The tariff (what you have pointed us to) - the import tariff that applies based on the country of origin for the imported good - the basic rate is 4%, but this is reduced to 0% for importations from a host of preferred trading partners (including the UK and the US)
+ the Federal Excise Duty (just bumped from $5.31 per 50g to $6.57 per 50g in the budget last week)
+ Provincial tobacco tax (12.35 cents per gram for pipe tobacco in Ontario; varies by province)
+ the Consumption tax (13% HST in Ontario - calculated as 13% of the TOTAL of the manufacturer's wholesale price plus all of the above (ie including the above taxes and duties))

 

[pseudonym]

^ Good to know. Like I said, I have no personal experience in this area as I haven't been dinged yet. Just repeating what I've heard.
With all that extra tax it almost seems more expensive to import.

 

[masterpython]

In Alberta it is cheaper to import even if you pay the taxes and I would imagine it is the same in most provinces to a lesser extent. My last order of 7oz of bulk would have cost $150 at the cheapest of any local B&Ms was $37USD shipped. If I was charged taxes it would have been another $60 so I still come out on top.

 

[pseudonym]

I guess that's not bad, but if duty fees were a sure thing I'd probably opt for instant gratification :P

 

[masterpython]

After you have been out of the country for long enough you can bring a certain amount duty free.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

After 48 hours you can bring in 200g duty free

 

[pseudonym]

BUT... "If you include cigarettes, tobacco sticks or manufactured tobacco in your personal exemption, a partial exemption only may apply. You will have to pay a special duty on these products unless they have an excise stamp 'DUTY PAID CANADA DROIT ACQUITTÉ.'"
I assume it's just tobacco tax, no import tax, but it doesn't really make it very clear...

 

[jodaknight]

Not sure if this will help. I called Canada Post and then Canada Boarder and Customs themselves. Customs told me that if I am ordering anything up to 200g (roughly 7 ounces)it will generally go through with no issue straight to the mailbox. I tested this and ordered 6 ounces first. UPS delivered it to me no issues. It has now been about 5 months and I order every month. Every order has gotten to me with no issue. If I go over the amount of 200g/7 Ounces then I would pay taxes on the overage.
So each time that I order, I order in these amounts only. I have ordered 3 different orders back to back (same night) YES I pay the 10 bucks per delivery. All orders being separate are shipped directly to my home.
So as example the Peterson's Holiday Season 2013 100g tin and a couple ounces of Cav cost me cost me appox 27.00 plus tax and the 10 bucks delivery. Where as If I bought just the Petersons Tin here in Alberta, it is 79.99. Even with shipping I am still saving 40(ish) dollars on the one tin, and I get more for my buck.

 

[smokertruck]

jodaknight - i am in toronto -i am looking for a us retailer selling the holiday season - searched my 3 regular us suppliers no results -

from whom did you buy your holiday season 2013 - here in toronto it is approx 60+ hst tax -i expect you bought from usa ?
thanks

 

[trucha]

Wow I feel lucky

 

[meatballj]

I sent an email to Canadian Border Services in January of this year. I had questions concerning how much I would pay in duty & taxes if I were to order pipe tobacco by mail. To boil down their very lengthy response to its essence they informed me that by importing by mail I would not be eligible for a personal exemption as I would need to be out of country for 48 hours and re-enter with tobacco in my possession. They then directed me to

Memorandum D2-3-6

Non-commercial Provincial Tax Collection Programs

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-3-6-eng.html#_a4
Appendix A in the website lists the regs for each province.
After that they pointed out the Excise Act 2001 only allows for the importation (by mail or otherwise) of 200g of manufactured tobacco at a time.
I thought I would share what CBSA shared with me. I find the Appendix in the link very easy to follow. Hope this is of some use to others. If you'd like the full text of the email with all the information feel free to PM me.

 

[meatballj]

A correction to my previous post. After looking at Peck wrote above, there is a ridiculously high federal excise duty of for each 50g tin or multiple thereof. Eek. And it all piggy backs; taxes on tax.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

After 48 hours you can bring in 200g duty free

Which becomes very convenient if you visit family south of the border, and if anyone comes back up North for Christmas it gets even better.

If I get some people helping out I could probably bring up about a Kilo every year regardless of mailing regulations.

 

[skapunk1]

I do 300g at a time now.....from 4noggins....the boxes are the same size, and ive never had any problems.
Warren.

 

[salmonfisher]

I would love to bump up my quantity, maybe then the shipping would be more in line, but I would hate for postman to have his lil credit card machine with him when he delivers. I believe 200 grams will come in fine each and every time. I imagine some of these companies we buy from think we are just once a week puffers, but duty an tax would make online baccy as expensive as buying from local B&M.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

purple - I think your chances are 50/50 that will get through sans duty. Good luck, and let us know.