Dutys shipping Rolex From US to Canada

[Castor]

Originally Posted by Rolex57

If the $ 1,108 you mention is true, he may as well just buy a plane ticket and fly there for a weekend and pick the watch up in person and go back to Canada with it.

Look, I'm a Canadian living in Toronto. I travel to the USA and abroad quite a bit both via air and via ground.

I've travelled back and forth wearing my Deepsea and my BLNR and I only wear t-shirts and golf-t's so there's no sleeves to hide the watch.

I have NEVER been asked about my Rolex's. Ever.

As long as you don't give them reason to believe you bought it outside of Canada like getting caught sneaking the box and paperwork back with you, then you'll be fine.

I suggest that you cross the border and set up a temporary mailbox at a UPS or FedEx outlet. Get the watch and boxes delivered there. When you go to pick the watch up, take along an extra shipping box with you and ship the box and goodies separately. If it's a recent Rolex, I'd just hide the Rolex watch card amongst my credit cards or in one of the zippered pockets in you wallet.

Declare a value of $20 on the box and goodies you mail home to Canada. No one's going to hassle you about an empty Rolex box sent through the mail. To think they'd stop your Rolex box and demand you to bring the watch in is utterly ridiculous. Customs has enough problems shaking down drug smuggling and stuff like that.

If worse comes to worse and they try to confiscate your watch at the border, just declare Section #337 from the Canada Customs Act and they'll have to hand it over.

What's a Section #337?

[sturgeon123456]

It is GST plus PST plus non NAFTA item so tack on another 5%

I brought one back and forgot to declare once and my vehicle was impounded, watch was held and it cost me 7 grand to have it released. Also I was flagged for three years...every time I came across they checked me for watches. Canada is pretty much equivalent to communist Russia when it comes to this kind of stuff.

For 5k with the exchange the way it is just buy it in Canada, dont waste your time.

Heres the kicker...I have a US residence as well and they still did this to me

Let me add....one other time I had one shipped in...they held it and sent it to the ad to verify its authenticity and opened up the back etc even though I declared it.

[franklin]

Originally Posted by Mis3

Not sure if this is a good idea. The usual question when crossing the border is "Did you buy anything?". It is not a good idea to lie to the custom officer.

Also, even if you somehow manage to bring the Rolex into Canada, you will be concerned to wear the watch to go abaord.

I agree.

My suggestion: do not go down that route. You risk having your watch confiscated and having to deal with very serious legal ramifications.

[Castor]

I came through Calgary from Orlando a few days after the Charlie Hebdo attacks. I think everyone may have been on heightened alert & the metal detector went off for the Rolex on my wrist. They then put me through the body scanner, even without my watch, something on my wrist (maybe metal residue?) was still setting off the scanner. They patted me down, & of course there was nothing.

But they never questioned me about my Rolex... at all.

[Castor]

Originally Posted by franklin

I agree.

My suggestion: do not go down that route. You risk having your watch confiscated and having to deal with very serious legal ramifications.

Totally agree.

[PcarSBA]

This might have been asked before and answered but I try anyway: Am I supposed to carry a bill of sale or similar when entering Canada (as a visitor) with a valuable watch?

I once got into real trouble entering Germany with an expensive camera. The customs official told me the law states that residents of the EU are required to carry documentation for all goods (suits, laptop, camera, suitcase, etc.) to prove none of it was acquired abroad.

If the combined value of your carry-on and checked luggage exceeds a paltry 400 Euros and you don't have supporting paperwork, customs can estimate the value and levy duty. So a metal Rimowa can do you in. And if the offense exceeds something like 1500 Euros it's not just a fine. It becomes a criminal case. Ouch....!!!

[brandrea]

Go to dutycalculator.com

5% plus your tax, plus With the USD exchange rate ..... Pretty expensive to buy anything in US these days.

[therealjalico]

Thanks everyone! I'm still looking into which model exactly, I have about a 5000$ budget, looking into either a 2 liner 14060m, 16600, or a 114060 if I can find one for $5500. I haven't had much luck finding a could Canadian buyer in my budget, so I may wait until the CAD picks up, hopefully gas demand picks up by the summer. I'm in no real rush for my Rolex, they're all timeless anyways !

[Mis3]

Originally Posted by sturgeon123456

It is GST plus PST plus non NAFTA item so tack on another 5%

I brought one back and forgot to declare once and my vehicle was impounded, watch was held and it cost me 7 grand to have it released. Also I was flagged for three years...every time I came across they checked me for watches. Canada is pretty much equivalent to communist Russia when it comes to this kind of stuff.

$7,000? Was it a Rolex with precious metal? Did they itemize the fine; tax, duty, penalty,etc? How many days did they impound your vehicle?

[calieng]

These stories remind me why I left my home country Canada in 2001.

[Rolex57]

Originally Posted by Castor

What's a Section #337?

Look it up. Section #337 Public servant refusing to delivery property - Criminal Code of Canada.

[versatile1]

Originally Posted by therealjalico

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to get your experience with duty fees from US to Canada. I live in Vancouver, BC, and I am about to purchase a Sub for $5000 from a user located in NYC. Will I be charged duty (assuming I most likely will) and around how much?

Thanks!

5% duty
5% gst
7% pst
And of course our dollar is sucking right now so about 24% exchange

[sturgeon123456]

Originally Posted by Mis3

$7,000? Was it a Rolex with precious metal? Did they itemize the fine; tax, duty, penalty,etc? How many days did they impound your vehicle?

It was a two tone BNIB rolex.

They assessed me for penalties for failure to declare as well as "impounded my vehicle" although they released the watch and vehicle the same day after several hours of interrogation and just under 7k in fines.

Remember I have a US residence and I personally feel that when I purchase items down south they are mine to go back and forth with as I pay taxes in that state. Apparently Canadian laws disagree and I have learned the rules.

I absolutely would strongly advise anyone against playing games with Canada Customs.

[msdaytona]

Originally Posted by Rolex57

If the $ 1,108 you mention is true, he may as well just buy a plane ticket and fly there for a weekend and pick the watch up in person and go back to Canada with it.

Look, I'm a Canadian living in Toronto. I travel to the USA and abroad quite a bit both via air and via ground.

I've travelled back and forth wearing my Deepsea and my BLNR and I only wear t-shirts and golf-t's so there's no sleeves to hide the watch.

I have NEVER been asked about my Rolex's. Ever.

As long as you don't give them reason to believe you bought it outside of Canada like getting caught sneaking the box and paperwork back with you, then you'll be fine.

I suggest that you cross the border and set up a temporary mailbox at a UPS or FedEx outlet. Get the watch and boxes delivered there. When you go to pick the watch up, take along an extra shipping box with you and ship the box and goodies separately. If it's a recent Rolex, I'd just hide the Rolex watch card amongst my credit cards or in one of the zippered pockets in you wallet.

Declare a value of $20 on the box and goodies you mail home to Canada. No one's going to hassle you about an empty Rolex box sent through the mail. To think they'd stop your Rolex box and demand you to bring the watch in is utterly ridiculous. Customs has enough problems shaking down drug smuggling and stuff like that.

If worse comes to worse and they try to confiscate your watch at the border, just declare Section #337 from the Canada Customs Act and they'll have to hand it over.

I googled customs act and it goes upto 214. Maybe I'm missing something. Can you please post a link?

[msdaytona]

Originally Posted by Rolex57

Look it up. Section #337 Public servant refusing to delivery property - Criminal Code of Canada.

That's why I couldn't find it...its in the criminal code not customs act

[Ace_Rimmer]

Originally Posted by 1st amg

My experience is usually the HST which is 13% here. Not a big deal, the bigger deal is the way we are getting raped with the US dollar and our tumbling Canadian dollars. You have to calculate if it is really worth it, 5000usd is about $6300 Canadian, plus your 13% is $7100 plus if there is a customs/brokerage fee. Is it a good deal? Good luck!

Exactly. When I bought my Pelagos, I was able to get a new one for close to the price of used one from the US once you factored in all the fees, and taxes. I would suggest you wait and try to find one in Canada, or go to an AD and see if they can get you a deal on a new one because it may end up being very close to the same amount that you pay for a used one from the US.

[exRCN]

When I recently imported a watch at the Calgary International Airport CBSA charged me 5% duty and 5% GST. They reduced the price of the watch by the unused Duty Free Allowance I had for the length of my trip away, so I was a little less than 10% overall.
Since I have a NEXUS trusted traveller card, I could have tried to game the system; but, it wasn't worth risking my trusted traveller status to try and save less than $1000. The loss of that card and the access to expedited customs clearances is worth so much more to me, than that amount of money, especially when I'm getting home after a two-day, halfway around the world flight.

[dw.metro]

Never ever send an empty Rolex box back to your home from abroad. They will open your package (especially if it is a Rolex box inside) then cross reference the last time you travelled. They will then haul your ass into their office to question why you didn't declare a Rolex watch when you last came back to Canada. Trust me on this as I know a few people being caught this way.

[ABChop]

[QUOTE=PcarSBA;5586076]This might have been asked before and answered but I try anyway: Am I supposed to carry a bill of sale or similar when entering Canada (as a visitor) with a valuable watch?

No...you will be fine as a US citizen.

It's only Canadians returning to Canada that they are trying to get money out of.

[Rolex57]

Originally Posted by dw.metro

Never ever send an empty Rolex box back to your home from abroad. They will open your package (especially if it is a Rolex box inside) then cross reference the last time you travelled. They will then haul your ass into their office to question why you didn't declare a Rolex watch when you last came back to Canada. Trust me on this as I know a few people being caught this way.

I'd just answer "I collect Rolex paraphenalia. What's it to you? I didn't know an empty Rolex box was contraband. Now, under Criminal Code of Canada Section #337, I DEMAND you hand over my goods or I will have you arrested by the RCMP"

[Ardalan]

I have a question.



Let's say I want to pay the tax+ duty and etc..

when should I pay that money? at my doorsteps, to mail man? or I have to go to the boarder and pay them to receive my package?

[xgjjk]

i just wanted to get your experience with duty fees from us to canada. I live in vancouver, bc, and i am about to purchase a sub for $5000 from a user located in nyc. Will i be charged duty (assuming i most likely will) and around how much?

[brandrea]

Why does your avatar say UK

Go to www.dutycalculator.com

You're answer is there

[exRCN]

Originally Posted by Ardalan

I have a question.



Let's say I want to pay the tax+ duty and etc..

when should I pay that money? at my doorsteps, to mail man? or I have to go to the boarder and pay them to receive my package?

You'll get a postal pick-up card in the mail that will indicate the amount of taxes and duty applicable. You'll pay that at your neighbourhood Canada Post outlet before they release your package. That's been my experience with duty owed on packages at Canada Post

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by exRCN

You'll get a postal pick-up card in the mail that will indicate the amount of taxes and duty applicable. You'll pay that at your neighbourhood Canada Post outlet before they release your package. That's been my experience with duty owed on packages at Canada Post

Yes or with Fedex they will contact you with the amount owing in advance or at time of delivery

[ABChop]

Originally Posted by xgjjk

i just wanted to get your experience with duty fees from us to canada. I live in vancouver, bc, and i am about to purchase a sub for $5000 from a user located in nyc. Will i be charged duty (assuming i most likely will) and around how much?

Use this: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-vo...t-cal-eng.html

If it's $5000 usd = $6232 CAD + $1097 in taxes = $7329 CAD
Plus any shipping and other fees.

[dexvd]

Does this stuff apply to pre-owned watches as well? I purchased a 1625 last summer without being aware of this and didn't get dinged at all when it showed up in the mail, my girlfriend signed for it as I was out of province... Ever since then I have been aware of these crazy fees and taxes and have been hesitant to try again but they pre-owned market is very limited in Canada compared to the US, so chances are I can't even find an example of a pre-owned watch I am seeking in Canada for sale, let alone at a reasonable price...

[ABChop]

Yes it does apply to pre-owned.
You may get lucky when it comes across...or you might not I guess.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by dexvd

Does this stuff apply to pre-owned watches as well? I purchased a 1625 last summer without being aware of this and didn't get dinged at all when it showed up in the mail, my girlfriend signed for it as I was out of province... Ever since then I have been aware of these crazy fees and taxes and have been hesitant to try again but they pre-owned market is very limited in Canada compared to the US, so chances are I can't even find an example of a pre-owned watch I am seeking in Canada for sale, let alone at a reasonable price...

It applies to anything you import into the country, new or used.
My guess is that the 1625 you imported was not cleared through customs.

[lmcgbaj]

IMO, not worth it specially with the weak CND. You are much better off buying locally.

You will get charged taxes, duty and brokerage fees (quite high and based on value). They usually convert the value amount into CND and they apply the fees which are usually about 20% (depending on the province) when all done. A $5k USD watch will cost about $7.5K CND. Not sure it's worth it for you.