b4 form and moving checklist/inventory

[padgett]

Hi all,

I have a question about the b4 form and moving inventory. I will be landing in a few days, but not actually moving for another month. I am planning on bringing the b4 form with me. Although, I am now wondering if this is a waste of time since I won't have my inventory of all my goods done until I move. Since I have to bring a moving inventory when I officially move should I just wait on the b4?

Secondly, how detailed does the inventory have to be? I have heard some horror stories and I am really hoping I don't have to count every piece of silverware and every sock. I am hoping with the new vehicle scanners that this will be enough.

 

[Isometry]

You'll want to have the B4 form done when you land. Some of it will be labeled "goods to follow", but iirc only things listed on the b4 can be imported duty-free.

You don't have to count every fork--"Utensils, 1 box, $xx" should be enough unless you've got something really unusual. You do need to be specific with jewelry, electronics, and anything that's got a high value.

 

[OhCanadiana]

Hi all,

I have a question about the b4 form and moving inventory. I will be landing in a few days, but not actually moving for another month. I am planning on bringing the b4 form with me. Although, I am now wondering if this is a waste of time since I won't have my inventory of all my goods done until I move. Since I have to bring a moving inventory when I officially move should I just wait on the b4?

Secondly, how detailed does the inventory have to be? I have heard some horror stories and I am really hoping I don't have to count every piece of silverware and every sock. I am hoping with the new vehicle scanners that this will be enough.

From what you describe, you will have the intention of establishing a residence in Canada for at least 12 months when you land.

If that is the case, you should turn in your B4 with an inventory of all your goods when you land and have customs stamp it. They will return a copy to you and you can use that to import your items when you actually move them. If you do not turn it in when you land, you run the risk of no longer being eligible to turn it in when you move (since it will not be the first time you enter with the intention of establishing a household in Canada).

Take a look at see CBSA Memorandum d2-2-1 for all the details on the conditions "under which a settler may import goods into Canada for personal or household use without the payment of duties."

In terms of details - you can keep it high level for the lower value items - estimate xx boxes of clothes or if it's too ambiguous (sometimes it's too hard to estimate boxes ahead of time just say xx shirts, xx pants, and xx boxes of other clothes (undergarments, socks, etc). Similarly, xx boxes of kitchen goods (pots/pans), linens, etc.

For electronics, you need to include brand, model, and serial number and for (real) jewelry include photos. For vehicles you need the VIN number and a detailed description of the car. This way they know later when you go to import the goods that what you are importing is indeed what you declared.

Remember, the reason they offer you this one-time opportunity to turn in your B4 when you land is to give you the ability to import the items you owned, used, and possessed prior to moving without paying duties. It isn't about inspecting the goods you are importing, which they can do via x-ray as you say to make sure the goods are what you declare on your moving inventory and compare it to your B4 and make sure you aren't smuggling anything in (they can also open the boxes, etc).

ETA - Isometry was faster

 

[padgett]

oh dear. I definitely should not have procrastinated on figuring all of this out. I don't see how I can do an inventory of all of my stuff by tomorrow morning (that is when we fly to toronto). My only other option I guess is to do all of this when we move. I was hoping to do this part and the landing paperwork ahead of time, instead of when we do the actual move.

One other question, many of the items I am moving are my husband's. Am I only responsible for listing my items or do I have to list his stuff as well? Our stuff will be in the same moving truck. I only ask because he is a canadian citizen and had most of the furniture and electronics before we ever met.

 

[padgett]

Could I claim all of our stuff to be my husbands? Honestly, i have gotten rid of most of my stuff over the years aside from some special items and clothing of course. We are buying new furniture after we move and all of the expensive electronic items are my husbands.

 

[OhCanadiana]

Could I claim all of our stuff to be my husbands? Honestly, i have gotten rid of most of my stuff over the years aside from some special items and clothing of course. We are buying new furniture after we move and all of the expensive electronic items are my husbands.

If your husband has been living outside of Canada and has been a resident of the other country for at least 12 months he also has the right to import his items duty free if he declares them on a B4 when he moves back. See http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5113-eng.html for all the details.

The only real difference is that as an immigrant you have no per-item cost limit, whereas as a returning Canadian your husband has a 10,000 per-item limit.

So, if your husband lives in the US and is a PR of the US or on some sort of work visa for at least a year you could put the big stuff ("special items") and guesstimate your clothing on your B4 and then whatever you miss of your things can go on his B4 - or you could just have everything go on his B4 (couples do that all the time for ease of coordination with movers).

also for your new thread:

I saw your other post

I seriously procrastinated the b4 form and declaration of goods. I had no idea it would be this complicated. I am planning on landing tomorrow in toronto and moving in october. This is just a vacation and I am not bringing anything with me that is staying behind. I am so overwhelmed at the thought of doing inventory of all my stuff in a few short hours. I have also not been able to find anything about how to declare my husbands stuff. So many of our books and kitchen stuff is intermixed. Do I have to count every single book?!

I am wondering if it would just be easier to not land right now and just do everything when I move in october? I have started making a spreadsheet inventory but I am only listing things like 3 boxes of shoes, 10 boxes of kitchenware, 6 boxes of books, 5 boxes of clothes....is that specific enough? So much of my stuff is in storage right now....

That's fine for everything except electronics, jewelry, vehicles or anything with a high value - see my prior post above for details on these.

 

[456987]

I just landed yesterday but the customs officer did not even glance at the b4 forms. All he asked is for the jewellery pictures which he stamped post verifying and then returned them to me.. . Now I am a trifle confused..he refused to look at the b4a form as well stating that he does not require it.

 

[OhCanadiana]

I just landed yesterday but the customs officer did not even glance at the b4 forms. All he asked is for the jewellery pictures which he stamped post verifying and then returned them to me.. . Now I am a trifle confused..he refused to look at the b4a form as well stating that he does not require it.

They may not require it, but you do if you have goods to follow that you wish to import duty free. The stamped B4/B4A is the proof you have that you complied with CBSA d2-2-1 requirements to import your goods as a settler.

Go back to the airport and speak to a customs officer (ask information if you need help finding them outside the sterile area). Take your B4 and B4A and explain that you didn't get it stamped when you arrived due to a miscommunication and very politely ask them to please process it for you. They should stamp every page of the B4/B4A that you have plus all the photos and any other associated documents. They will keep a copy and return the stamped originals to you. They will also give you a receipt from processing the importation of the goods (with a 0% tax rate and duty rate) that you should keep in your process.

 

[PsPete]

Hey. Iam new at this. I mostly want to take over Books and stuff that i have sentiment in. Do i need to have all the names of books and writers names on n list? Regards