Border crossing question about exemptions

[LizaDoolittle]

Hi! My 3 kids were born in the US and are not currently residents of Canada (nor have they ever been), but they are Canadian citizens. Will they each get the $800 exemption at the border, or is that just for me? We are moving to Canada next month and their grandparents wanted to send their (obviously new) Christmas and birthday gifts along. I can claim dh's (who is American), but not everyone's.

 

[chipits]

Someone might come in and correct me, but they should get the $800 exemption on the basis of being citizens. I only say this because I got the exemption coming back into Canada a few months ago as a visitor, but on my Canadian passport.

 

[truesmile]

Absolutely they can! As for the Americans, sorry but what are "dh's", not that it will ever apply to me.

 

[steaky]

I suggest all of you read the CBSA website carefully.

The Canadian parent is probably a former resident of Canada and, in general, he/she can bring his/her personal belongings worth up to a certain amount duty free (I don't remember if it was $10,000). The children and the other non-Canadian parent are settlers, in which they can bring their personal goods of unlimited value.

The $800 exemption does not applies to people moving to Canada for the first time or after certain number of years.

 

[computergeek]

DH = "dear husband"

 

[truesmile]

I suggest all of you read the CBSA website carefully.

The Canadian parent is probably a former resident of Canada and, in general, he/she can bring his/her personal belongings worth up to a certain amount duty free (I don't remember if it was $10,000). The children and the other non-Canadian parent are settlers, in which they can bring their personal goods of unlimited value.

The $800 exemption does not applies to people moving to Canada for the first time or after certain number of years.

Yes she did say "moving to Canada" after all. But she also mentioned "exemptions", thought MAYBE she was considering a 'no paperwork' option.

 

[LizaDoolittle]

From what I understood, I could claim all things that we currently own and use, but not new things, like the groceries we were going to buy in Maine before we crossed and Christmas gifts, and that's what the personal exemption is for. That's what this article says. http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5087-eng.html

 

[LizaDoolittle]

I just called the BIS and I can claim the first $800 worth of new stuff, but the kids don't qualify since they have never lived in Canada. Bummer.

 

[computergeek]

I just called the BIS and I can claim the first $800 worth of new stuff, but the kids don't qualify since they have never lived in Canada. Bummer.

Declare it. Most CBSA officers will give you a bit of latitude, especially around Christmas time. Worst case, you end up paying GST/HST (very few things really have duties, but 5% or 12-13% does add up). Its still cheaper than buying many of those same things in Canada.