Spouse wants to bring TV... HELP!

[AirJordan23]

My spouse wants to bring a TV that was given to her as a gift from her grandmother. The TV has a lot of sentimental value... She is planning to ship it through DHL from Europe to Canada and it's valued at 600$ CAD. If anyone has been in a similar situation, how much do you think we will be paying in import fees/duty once it arrives?

Thanks!

 

[WeegieInOttawa]

My spouse wants to bring a tv that was given as a gift from grandmother and is thinking about shipping it through DHL. Does anyone know if it's worth it and what the duty charges might be? The TV is valued at 600$ CAD. Has anyone else been in a situation like us?

Ummmmmm.. Cost wise no it is not money smart.

But sentimental value is a very personal thing so I feel the opinions of the people on this board could only relate to the money side if things..and that would be that it's not a cost efficient exercise.

 

[KBH]

Just to clarify, is your spouse importing this TV as part of her landing? If not, can she wait until she lands? Everything imported at landing (even if it's shipped later) is tax and duty free.

 

[AirJordan23]

Ummmmmm.. Cost wise no it is not money smart.

But sentimental value is a very personal thing so I feel the opinions of the people on this board could only relate to the money side if things..and that would be that it's not a cost efficient exercise.

Sentimental value indeed. It was the biggest gift she received from her grandmother and they are really close...

 

[AirJordan23]

Just to clarify, is your spouse importing this TV as part of her landing? If not, can she wait until she lands? Everything imported at landing (even if it's shipped later) is tax and duty free.

Ah yes that's true, I remember reading about that!... But are electronics such as TV's exempt from tax and duty even though they are shipped at a later date after she arrives?

 

[spousalsponsee]

Ah yes that's true, I remember reading about that!... But are electronics such as TV's exempt from tax and duty even though they are shipped at a later date after she arrives?

Everything the person owns at the moment they become a PR can be later shipped to Canada with no taxes or duties, so long as they're on the list you give to CBSA at the time of landing.

 

[KBH]

Ah yes that's true, I remember reading about that!... But are electronics such as TV's exempt from tax and duty even though they are shipped at a later date after she arrives?

Literally everything (even vehicles!) are exempt from tax and duty as long as she previously owned it prior to her landing. So, for example, she couldn't go out and buy a brand new TV and try to import it tax and duty free, but since this TV has already been gifted to her, it's just considered to be part of her belongings.

When she lands, there's a form she'll need to fill out documenting every single thing she's bringing with her to Canada. Items coming with her at the same time as her landing will be marked on the form, but you can also write down "goods to follow" for anything being shipped to Canada or otherwise brought at a later date that qualifies as her belongings in order to get the tax and duty exemption.

 

[AirJordan23]

Everything the person owns at the moment they become a PR can be later shipped to Canada with no taxes or duties, so long as they're on the list you give to CBSA at the time of landing.

That's good to know! Do you have a link to the CBSA form? That would be really helpful... And does that mean EVERYTHING she owns?

 

[AirJordan23]

Literally everything (even vehicles!) are exempt from tax and duty as long as she previously owned it prior to her landing. So, for example, she couldn't go out and buy a brand new TV and try to import it tax and duty free, but since this TV has already been gifted to her, it's just considered to be part of her belongings.

When she lands, there's a form she'll need to fill out documenting every single thing she's bringing with her to Canada. Items coming with her at the same time as her landing will be marked on the form, but you can also write down "goods to follow" for anything being shipped to Canada or otherwise brought at a later date that qualifies as her belongings in order to get the tax and duty exemption.

Oh wow, that's great news! Does this form need to be completed BEFORE landing at the airport or is it a form that can only be completed AT the airport? I don't want my wife to be overwhelmed filling out papers by herself and forgetting to include something...

Thanks!!

 

[KBH]

That's good to know! Do you have a link to the CBSA form? That would be really helpful... And does that mean EVERYTHING she owns?

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/bsf186-eng.pdf

You can also make your own Excel sheet instead of using the table on the form (just fill out the rest of the form and attach your Excel sheet to it). Their table isn't usually big enough!

 

[KBH]

Oh wow, that's great news! Does this form need to be completed BEFORE landing at the airport or is it a form that can only be completed AT the airport? I don't want my wife to be overwhelmed filling out papers by herself and forgetting to include something...

Thanks!!

It should be filled out in advance. It's different from the standard customs declarations form they give you when you fly in.

 

[Buletruck]

You might want to consider that it probably won’t work in Canada. 220/50 Hz vs 110/60 Hz in Canada. Make a nice conversation piece in the dining room.

 

[spousalsponsee]

That's good to know! Do you have a link to the CBSA form? That would be really helpful... And does that mean EVERYTHING she owns?

It covers everything she owns. Her worldly possessions. For the avoidance of doubt: If it belongs to her, when she lands, she can bring it in tax free. There is nothing you can come up with that isn't included in this. So long as it is hers, it qualifies.

You can present CBSA with a list of your own (I handwrote mine from notes while I was on the plane), there are forms you need to fill in with CBSA in their office.

 

[AirJordan23]

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/bsf186-eng.pdf

You can also make your own Excel sheet instead of using the table on the form (just fill out the rest of the form and attach your Excel sheet to it). Their table isn't usually big enough!

Thank you SO MUCH @KBH
If I didn't know about that, we would be spending a fortune... you've been really helpful!!

 

[AirJordan23]

You might want to consider that it probably won’t work in Canada. 220/50 Hz vs 110/60 Hz in Canada. Make a nice conversation piece in the dining room.

It covers everything she owns. Her worldly possessions. For the avoidance of doubt: If it belongs to her, when she lands, she can bring it in tax free. There is nothing you can come up with that isn't included in this. So long as it is hers, it qualifies.

You can present CBSA with a list of your own (I handwrote mine from notes while I was on the plane), there are forms you need to fill in with CBSA in their office.

I have one more question, when we do ship the item at a later date after her arrival, how does DHL know that we are not paying any taxes or duty fees once they come to deliver?