[LargeFormat] Import duty and VAT on Ebay purchases

[Les Newcomer]

I understand about the GST and VAT. And if Duty was consistant between 
what I get into when I go (South) into Canada, I could argue that most of 
my purchases fell into the antique catagory, and therefore duty free.  ( A 
friend bought a  1928 boat in London, Ont. The boat got in duty free, but 
had to pay duty on the trailer)
But I didn't see how I got away with a 3kg package of new knives, 
identical to the ones in the mall stores and not pay any Duty.

I even researched the idea at the website....got totally confused.  I 
figured it was going to be about 4-6% on the $200.00 purchase.
On Thursday, March 6, 2003, at 12:29 PM, Hornford, Dave wrote:

> Les,
> You get to escape because there is no US Federal sales tax. As a
> practical rule state sales taxes are only applicable if the seller
> maintains a business presence in the state (why you will see x% for
> residents of ___ state). Where you can get caught is on import
> duties/tariffs on classes of goods.
>
> I recently had a surprise with the purchase of 35mm reels for a Jobo
> 25xx tank. The package was opened by customs and each reel had a price
> tag of $17 on it so I was assessed tax on $170 + the fee although the
> purchase was only for $12. Took 3 months for the refund to arrive.
>
> Dave Hornford
> "There's an inverse relationship between how good something is for you,
> and how much fun it is."
>    --- Calvin and Hobbes
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Les Newcomer [mailto:lnphoto@twmi.rr.com]
> Subject: Re: [LargeFormat] Import duty and VAT ON Ebay purchases
>
>
> My experiences will be useless.... I've bought stuff on ebay from
> England,
>   Germany, Australia, and Austria, and I did a retail purchase over the
> net
> from the Netherlands.
>
> All of the ebay purchases were small in size, the largest was a nixie
> tube
> clock I bought though Germany and the package was roughly 12x12x16".
> the
> retail purchase was several kitchen knives.
>
> All were tossed in my mailbox or on my porch when I got home. No men in
> dark glasses and suits with an earphone in one ear ever asked me to
> contribute to the federal government.  I fully expected the knives to
> get
> hit, but they went from there to Detroit in 4 days.....faster than most
> of
> my ebay purchases that travel 1/4 of the distance.
>
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