Question about customs forms for packages...

Sugarflower · Post by **Sugarflower** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:08 pm

Ok, this is a silly question but do I need to fill one out for packages from the USA heading to Canada? I have sent packages to Canada in the past but I'm having a major brain fart right now and just can't remember if I used them or not.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:09 pm

That's nice. I have more than 1000 categories.

Sugarflower · Post by **Sugarflower** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:11 pm

...ok...

Oh, and do you usually mark 'gift' on the form with a low item value (such as $20.00 even though the item was worth much more than that) so the buyer can avoid fees?

kageneko · Post by **kageneko** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:15 pm

Do the buyer a big favor and mark it gift or else they will have to pay ridiculous taxes to recieve their item!!!!

Sugarflower · Post by **Sugarflower** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:20 pm

kageneko wrote:Do the buyer a big favor and mark it gift or else they will have to pay ridiculous taxes to recieve their item!!!!

If I mark it as a gift should I still write how much the item is valued for? Like if it was a $100.00 item then should I write that? I've sent items to a friend in the UK and always put the value at $20 or $25 (even though the value was much higher).

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:21 pm

Interesting comparison.

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:24 pm

I personally mark below $40 since I think that's the threshold for Canada and UK.

If the item is below $40 for a gift they won't pay tax.

Also yes you need custom forms!

p.s. don't write two values, because that will most likely ensure that customs will hold the item for inspection.

Sugarflower · Post by **Sugarflower** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:28 pm

Another question.
Why does customs want to know the value of the package? Is it like how USPS offers insurance for packages that way if something happens to them then you get back the value of that item?

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 6:16 pm

It's because of Love!

Customs Loves Money!

By knowing how much it is, They will love the Tax they collect!

Aren't Custom forms so Loving!

Sugarflower · Post by **Sugarflower** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 6:27 pm

So you're saying that basically customs is nosy and wants to know the value of the items sent so they can charge a fee for that item and it has nothing to do with insurance for the package or anything like to that?!?!?!? What a way to squeeze even more money from us!

This almost sounds like a bully at a school yard taking some kids toy from him and saying 'you can have this until you give me all your lunch money!'.

Thank you for the help. I'll place a low value on the items.

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 6:38 pm

Remember that you can't insure it more than how much you write on the customs!