Driving back into Canada with personal effects

I have been in the US for a few months, primarily to get out of the cold after a bad asthma bout. I'm driving back now in a few days and I'm bringing back all my old possessions, in my Quebec car. Because of car trouble, I want to ship back about half of everything, and carry the rest.

I had brought books, paperwork, winter and summer clothes, videos/toys/cassettes/vcr and small tv for my child, and cookware. It's been less than six months, but I'm worried about customs declarations. UPS told me that I have to declare everything as if I had bought it in the US at full/new value.

I see forms Canadians returning after a year with items purchased in the US, but that doesn't apply to me.

Funny, when I crossed into New York, US customs didn't care that I was driving a fully packed, Quebec car. But I think the problem is that Quebec wants the duty revenue on anything bought in the US. How do I show that everything came from Canada? I don't think I can handle a border search with my little child after driving for many hours.

I wrote out the customs form for my boxes, even listing the videos (Dora, Aladdin, etc.) I heard that when I drive, I have to ask for form E24 at the border in order to claim my boxes in Montreal. Can someone help me understand what value I should put on everything, or what is the best way to go about it. Every time I call UPS or Canada, half the time the person says don't worry about it, and half the time the person says it's a huge deal and very difficult.

Thanks, I appreciate any help.

Hi Malica:

It's quite remarkable that I was in the same situation as you a few months ago. We were in the US for about a year and while there, we bought a new bedroom suite (valued at $5000), clothes, some household knick knacks, some champagne etc. When we crossed the US/Canada border, Canadian customs did not even open our UHAUL!

Why would you have to pay duty when you have been gone for so long? I mean, how can they prove that you didn't buy your items in Canada before you left?

Therefore, do not worry (unless you bought a car out there because then you will really have to pay gst, duty, and other fees). The tax man makes me ill!

Best of luck!

RVC

My Aunt & Uncle used to winter every year in Florida, they never had to declare any personal goods they took with them, only stuff they bought in Florida and brought back to Canada. Which was nothing. Of course.

Yes, on stuff you ship over you have to fill out customs forms, that's standard. But stuff you're driving with you shouldn't be a problem. They'll ask you did you buy anything while you were in the US, and they may make you pay duty on those items, but stuff you took with you they won't.

Thanks for writing. Do you know how I should declare the things I'm shipping? And at what values? I did find out that we have a 750$ exemption each.

It also says on the customs website that you have to ask for a E24 form. Which means I have to get out of the car take my daughter out of the car seat, go in the office and wait for something or other. Oh, I'm having a panic attack!

If they are personal belongings that you took with you to the US from Canada, all you have to do is lable them "personal belongings - returning to Canada". If they are items that you bought in the US while you were here, then label them with whatever price you paid up to whatever you're allowed.

You will probably not need to go into secondary inspection. No need to panic. Most likely they'll just waive you through.

Thanks, Reba. Hey, how do you like North Carolina?

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It has its ups and downs. I don't miss the smog and traffic of Toronto that's for sure. But I miss all the stuff to do and all my family and friends. There's Nothing to do in this little hick town where I'm at now. And I'm in the middle of a bunch of nothing to do, an hour or more away from anything remotely resembling what I would call "civilization".

But this is where my husband is, so we're kinda stuck.