I'm going to the states next week for 4 days. I know that I can buy up to 1 carton of smokes and 1 bottle of alcohol duty free. I was wondering if I was allowed to buy more the 1 carton and 1 bottle of booze and much the duty would be on them. Also when u buy stuff at the duty free shop, do you have to give them your name when u purchase things? Also what happens when don't declare all your purchases and get caught?
duty free shops
- Thread starter ILOVETHIS
- Start date
i don't believe you can buy any extra smokes or alcohol. Even duty free. Can only take your limit. If you get caught, they will take it all away, can pay a fine. Your name and car licience if you are driving will be recorded. Not really worth the trouble.
According to http://www.dutytaxfree.com/exemptions.html after 48 hours but less than 7 days absence you can bring back:
$400 of goods duty-free which may include
alcohol: 1.5L of wine or 1.14L (40oz) liquor or 24x355mL cans of beer
Tobacco: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 200 tobacco sticks, and 200g of manufactured tobacco.
I know you are allowed to bring more alcohol/tobacco in but I'm not sure what the duties are.
Penalty for failure to declare everything you bought:
(from: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4044/rc4044-e.html#P052 )
False declarations and the seizure of goods
If you do not declare goods, or if you falsely declare them, we can seize the goods. This means that you may lose the goods permanently, or that you may have to pay a penalty to get them back. Depending on the type of goods and the circumstances involved, we may impose a penalty that ranges from 25% to 80% of the value of the seized goods.
In addition, the Customs Act provides border services officers with the authority to seize all vehicles that were used to import goods unlawfully. When this happens, we impose a penalty you have to pay before we return the vehicle.
If you do not declare tobacco products and alcoholic beverages at the time of importation, we will seize them permanently.
A record of infractions is kept in the CBSA computer system. If you have an infraction record, you may have to undergo a more detailed examination on future trips.
$400 of goods duty-free which may include
alcohol: 1.5L of wine or 1.14L (40oz) liquor or 24x355mL cans of beer
Tobacco: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 200 tobacco sticks, and 200g of manufactured tobacco.
I know you are allowed to bring more alcohol/tobacco in but I'm not sure what the duties are.
Penalty for failure to declare everything you bought:
(from: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4044/rc4044-e.html#P052 )
False declarations and the seizure of goods
If you do not declare goods, or if you falsely declare them, we can seize the goods. This means that you may lose the goods permanently, or that you may have to pay a penalty to get them back. Depending on the type of goods and the circumstances involved, we may impose a penalty that ranges from 25% to 80% of the value of the seized goods.
In addition, the Customs Act provides border services officers with the authority to seize all vehicles that were used to import goods unlawfully. When this happens, we impose a penalty you have to pay before we return the vehicle.
If you do not declare tobacco products and alcoholic beverages at the time of importation, we will seize them permanently.
A record of infractions is kept in the CBSA computer system. If you have an infraction record, you may have to undergo a more detailed examination on future trips.
mrcheeks said:
As well as proof of citizenship or driver's licence.
On your way across you can buy whatever you want for your "consumption" while you're in the states. Whether you declare it on your way back or not is up to you.
I went across the border many times for a day and brought back a carton (or what was left of a carton) and the custom officer said "you know you're not allowed to bring anything back"?? I said "oh, sorry, I thought I was allowed a carton if I was away 24 hrs" they say "ok, I will let you go this time but don't do it again".....
Incall said:
Not true. You can bring back as many as you want. You still have to declare them all, and beyond your limit they will charge you duty. The duty is the tax that would have been paid in Canada at which point it's cheaper to buy them here, so don't bother. But, you CAN bring back more.
goodtime
Travelaholic
Wait till you come across a female custom officer, "Sir pls pull over to be inspected"tboy said:
Duty is paid on percentage of alcohol
So......if you want to bring in more - declare it and pay. Canned beer (5% alcohol) is still a good deal after paying taxes and duties. You come out $10 a case cheaper. Rye or other booze at 40% alcohol works out to about the same price.
So......if you want to bring in more - declare it and pay. Canned beer (5% alcohol) is still a good deal after paying taxes and duties. You come out $10 a case cheaper. Rye or other booze at 40% alcohol works out to about the same price.
jimmyf said:
Now I don't know about that. It has been a while since I brought any booze back (since I don't drink) but there were times when I bought a 26 oz bottle of rye for $0.01 and a gallon of vodka for $10.00 US. So, I don't know about it costing the same as up here lol. Last time I checked a gallon of vodka (even the cheap stuff) as about $60.00
Not to advise you to smuggle or anything but an old gf's father used to thoroughly wash out an old washer fluid bottle. He'd then fill it with vodka and then add blue food colouring to it. That way when he was crossing the border they wouldn't give it a second glance and even if they did, do they REALLY want to risk poisoning themselves? LOL you do end up with some weird coloured drinks however....
tboy said:
That is incredibly dangerous! The bottles are made of plastic and the chemicals seep right into the material - so no matter how thorough they may be washed there will still be chemicals present. People have died from that kind of stuff!!!
For a Canadian going into the states there isn't much problem, its taking extra stuff back to Canada where you will tend to get hit.
There are alot of misconceptions, yeah the clerk at the Duty Free Store takes your plate, but it only goes on the sales receipt and is not sent to Customs. I always give a phony plate number because I can never remember my own. Never had a problem. Because of very low duty rates and because of their focus on terrorism, the US border guards will allow a significant amount of alcohol and tobacco in before collecting duty. If its canadian made booze or beer or cigarettes then there is no duty because of NAFTA, only internal revenue tax which is miniscule. They do not collect state sales taxes on the US side of the border. Also they have a minimum amount they have to collect. It used to be $10, where if the duty came to less than $10 they wouldn't collect it because it wasn't worth their time.
Here is the best way to do it:
US Border Guard: What do you have to declare?
You: I bought four cartons of smokes, two bottles of booze and two cases of beer at the duty free store.
US Border Guard: Do you know thats over your exemption?
You: Oh yeah, I have no problem paying the duty.
Us Border Guard: OK no problem, have a nice day.
There are alot of misconceptions, yeah the clerk at the Duty Free Store takes your plate, but it only goes on the sales receipt and is not sent to Customs. I always give a phony plate number because I can never remember my own. Never had a problem. Because of very low duty rates and because of their focus on terrorism, the US border guards will allow a significant amount of alcohol and tobacco in before collecting duty. If its canadian made booze or beer or cigarettes then there is no duty because of NAFTA, only internal revenue tax which is miniscule. They do not collect state sales taxes on the US side of the border. Also they have a minimum amount they have to collect. It used to be $10, where if the duty came to less than $10 they wouldn't collect it because it wasn't worth their time.
Here is the best way to do it:
US Border Guard: What do you have to declare?
You: I bought four cartons of smokes, two bottles of booze and two cases of beer at the duty free store.
US Border Guard: Do you know thats over your exemption?
You: Oh yeah, I have no problem paying the duty.
Us Border Guard: OK no problem, have a nice day.
Moraff said:Now I have a question... What the heck are "tobacco sticks"?To me that just sounds like another name for cigarettes.
Here's a definition, but not a very helpful one:
Tobacco Stick: Any roll or tubular construction of tobacco intended for smoking, other than a cigar, that requires further preparation to be consumed. [http://www.gnb.ca/0162/tax/tobaccort.htm]
Here is a more interesting definition of a tobacco stick, obviously not the one mentioned in the duty-free rules:
http://www.kentuckybarrels.com/tobaccosticks.html
fuji said:
Well Darwin's theory at work once again!!!
Reminds me of many many years ago some US soldiers stationed in Alaska drank anti-freeze because they heard of the alcohol content....yeah, they all died.
In order for this to work you have to sort the bottles BEFORE consuming massive amounts of alcohol, not after. LOL
Viewer said:
Okay, so tobacco sticks are IKEA-version cigarettes.... some assembly required <grin>
Thanks for the info.
Viewer said:
Be interesting to see what would happen if you tried to bring 200 of these through and claim them as "tobacco sticks" <grin>
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