Buy in US and return to Canada

DDirector

Veteran
Planning a trip to US for next year to NY
While I'm there, Id like to purchase a bunch of camera gear.

I'm wondering, if Im entering back into Canada, would I have any issues?
 
Canadians are super uptight about those things - i was turned back from the border (after 6 h flight no less) because the border guys didn't know that news shooting crew don't need work permits.
Since then i've heard lots pf horror stories about how proper Canadians are.
 
Michael, I assume you write off your camera gear as a business expense. If so, the issue will be if you bring back a bunch of professional gear as a personal purchase, they may send you over to the commercial crossing and declare the stuff as commercial goods.

I'll go over the proceedure here for Canadians who bring back bought goods from the US who can and want to declare it commercially for business and tax reasons.

First thing you should know if you decide to declare it commercially and do the customs clearance you only pay 5% GST on the goods even if the province you reside in collects HST at 12 or 13%

You will have to have a GST number and fill out the forms on their arcane computer system and figure out the tariff codes for what you are going to bring back. Of course you get to claim back the GST you are paying when you remit your GST forms whenever that will be...

Tariff Codes. Most of the stuff you will probably bring back will qualify as camera accessories. The tariff code for that is: 9002.11.00.90. Lighting apparatus is: 8522.90.00.00 Light stands are: 7326.90.00.00 Lenses and Filters are: 8529.90.00.00 Outboard Montiors are: 8528.59.11.00 HD-SDI cables are 7614.90.50.00 ... as a few examples.

Where the stuff is made or Country of Origin. Most stuff you can declare as American made. The whole thing is kind of dubious as many of the parts of a good are made overseas and often there is final assembly in the US. The Code for Most Favoured Nation Status for the USA is: 10. For other most favoured nation status like Japan, the UK and most Euro countries is 2. Mainland China is 2 but there are parts of China that are not. If they aren't most favoured nation manufactured goods you get to pay some kind of duty. So it is a good idea to do some research before you buy stuff to figure out where the stuff is made or most likely made. I have been fortunate. I have brought across stuff that has been all manufactured by countries with most favoured nation status.

The other two codes you need and you can find them out from the CSA Officers at the Commercial Customs place is the "place of export" and that is the state where you are actually doing the Customs work. For me it is UWA which is Washington State and there is also the "port of exit" which is the actual border crossing you are at. Again just as the CSA people for the place of export and the port of exit codes for where you are. Finally mode of transport code which is "2" for Highway as you are driving it across.

Do this a few times, bringing stuff across, and it becomes easy and you save yourself a bunch in shipping and brokerage, as well as stuff landing quicker than shipping in via UPS to your home or business.

Very important. Make sure you get copies of your invoices before you go to the border and get them emailed to you in advance and don't forget to print them out, especially if you get it shipped to a letter carrier in a US border town. Sometimes they don't include the invoice with the shipped good and you will be hooped if you get to the border without an invoice which proves what you paid for it. You need two copies of each invoice as Customs keeps a copy and they give you a full set as well with their forms and your invoices attached and stamped by them.
 
Last edited:
Canadians are super uptight about those things - i was turned back from the border (after 6 h flight no less) because the border guys didn't know that news shooting crew don't need work permits.
Since then i've heard lots pf horror stories about how proper Canadians are.

Was it because you didn't have a Carnet for your gear? That's how most cameramen and film crews get stopped. If you are travelling with over 10 grand in gear, you are supposed to have a Carnet. Maybe news crews are exempt but I know pretty much any camera op going through Customs into any Country travels with Carnets that document and bond the gear.
 
Back
Top