Travellers
Archived - Surtax on U.S. goods - Frequently Asked Questions

All travellers are expected to pay customs duties, taxes and surtaxes when applicable. Surtaxes will apply to travellers on the qualifying goods when they exceed their personal exemption limits.

Residents of Canada

Personal exemptions allow returning residents of Canada to bring back goods up to a specified dollar limit on a duty- and tax-free basis when returning to Canada:

• Returning between 24 and 48 hours: you can claim goods worth up to CAN$200 without paying any duty or taxes;
• Returning after 48 hours or more: you can claim goods worth up to CAN$800 without paying duties or taxes.
• Returning after less than 24 hours (“day-trip”): There are no duty- and tax-exemptions for travellers taking trips of less than 24 hours.

Exemption limits vary according to the time spent out of the country, with quantitative limits set for tobacco and alcohol products.

Visitors to Canada

Visitors are also required to pay the surtax on U.S. – origin importations, unless their goods qualify for a duty and tax exemption (including the surtax) under Tariff Item No. 9803.00.00.00.

The surtax does not apply to most goods being temporarily imported (generally your vehicle, luggage and personal items), but does apply to goods being imported that will stay in Canada, including gifts that are otherwise duty and tax exempt up to CAN$60.

Surtaxes will apply to travellers on the qualifying goods when they exceed their personal exemption limits.

Goods for personal use are deemed to originate in the U.S. where:

• the goods are acquired in the U.S.; and
• marked as made in / produced in / originating in, the U.S. or, the goods have no country of origin marking, but there is no evidence that the goods are the product of a country other than the U.S. (e.g. “Made in the USA”)
• Note: Goods acquired outside the U.S. but which are clearly marked as made in /produced in /originating in the U.S., are also deemed to originate in the U.S.

Goods sent for repair in the U.S.

The surtax applies to goods originating from the U.S., including new or used goods, temporary importations (e.g., commercial samples, cinematographic equipment, rentals); and goods sent for repair or alteration in the U.S. On goods sent for repair or alteration, the surtax will be applied on the basis of the value of the repair work.

The surtax does not replace the GST / HST or any applicable customs duties and is added to the value for tax. Taxes remain applicable on any goods that exceed a traveller’s personal exemptions (i.e. absence of 24 hours or more).

For traveller’s goods, the surtax is assessed and collected by the Canada Border Services Agency at the port of entry.

The amount of surtax payable is calculated as a percentage based on the value for duty of the imported good before taxes (i.e. HST and GST). The surtax is calculated by multiplying the value for duty by the appropriate surtax percentage, i.e., 25 per cent or 10 per cent.

For example, the amount of surtax payable on an imported good originating in the U.S. with a value for duty of 50.00 CDN, which is subject to the 10 per cent surtax, would be 5.00 CDN. GST and HST are also applicable on any goods that exceed the traveller’s exemption (i.e. absences of 24 hours or more).

As of April 30, 2019, the surtax no longer applies to U.S. origin vessels entering Canada regardless of whether they are being permanently imported, temporarily imported for repairs or storage, or for any other types of importation. This includes boats that were being imported on April 30, 2019. For more information, please refer to United States Surtax Order (Other Goods).

Both surtax orders define “originating in the United States” as goods eligible to be marked as a good of the United States in accordance with the Determination of Country of Origin for the Purposes of Marking Goods (NAFTA Countries) Regulations (the Regulations). For commercial goods, certain marking rules apply in determining the country of origin. These technical rules are set out in Sections 4 through 7 of the Regulations. Further information is available in Memorandum D11-3-3 NAFTA Countries of Origin Marking Rules on determining the country of origin.

The importer self-assess surtax on goods subject to a surtax order in the same way and within the same prescribed time that customs duties and taxes are paid.

For goods subject to surtax, importers must insert code “51” in field 32 of Form B3-3. When a surtax amount is covered by a remission order, code “50” should instead be used.

The amount of surtax owing must be entered in field 39 of Form B3-3. Refer to Memorandum D17-1-10, Coding of Customs Accounting Documents, for additional information on completing these mandatory fields on Form B3-3.

Section 32.2 of the Customs Act places the responsibility on the importer to make a correction to an accounting declaration of origin, tariff classification, and value for duty when the importer has reason to believe that the declaration was incorrect.

At any time after the importation, the CBSA may validate that the correct amount of surtax has been paid and re-assess the importation for the unpaid amount. The resulting duty, taxes or surtax owing could be assessed retroactively for a period of up to four years. In addition, penalties may be assessed where applicable.

Goods that are classifiable under a tariff item listed in either surtax order remain subject to the surtax even if classifiable in Chapter 98 of the Schedule to Canada’s Customs Tariff; however, goods classifiable under a tariff item of headings 98.01 through 98.05 (other than tariff item 9804.30.00) are in all cases exempt from the surtax.

Goods that are classifiable under a tariff item listed in either surtax order and are also classifiable under a tariff item of Chapter 99 of the Schedule to Canada’s Customs Tariff are subject to the surtax as Chapter 99 only provides conditional relief of customs duties (i.e., not surtaxes).

Goods that are classifiable under a tariff item listed in either surtax order that are returned to Canada after having been repaired in the U.S. are subject to the surtax on the cost of repairs only, if eligible to be marked as a good of the United States in accordance with the Determination of Country of Origin for the Purposes of Marking Goods (NAFTA Countries) Regulations. Refer to Memorandum D8-2-10, Goods Returning to Canada Having Been Repaired Outside of Canada for additional information.

The surtax applies to goods released from a Customs Bonded Warehouse or Sufferance Warehouse on or after July 1, 2018 regardless of the date of importation.

Goods imported by postal or couriers are subject to customs duties, taxes and surtaxes where applicable in accordance with the United States Surtax Order (Steel and Aluminum) and United States Surtax Order (Other Goods). Surtaxes apply to goods listed in the surtax orders regardless of value when imported in the Postal or Courier stream.