moving back to Canada

Right, I'm glad someone finally found it.

But if it was made in North America it's duty-free under NAFTA anyway, which I assume is why I've never encountered it, because I was foolish enough to buy American-made cars in the past and I assume the same principle applied under the CFTA as well.

So it's only GST/HST you have to pay on the amount over $10,000, and any PST the Province levies. I just looked up your car and it's actually made in Ontario so that helps. Definitely no duty, might be able to get out of some of the other taxes if they apply.

Yeah it definitely looks like we'll be paying about 1200 in taxes (depending on whether they go by our blue book value or their red book value).

Anyway, I have an update and another question

We've decided that I will fly into Montreal three weeks earlier to find an appartment with two suitcases of my clothes while my husband packs up the stuff (don't worry I'll help pack before I leave) and loads our stuff onto a Upack trailer. Then he's going to drive our car with a friend in. The issue is he will most likely arrive after our shipment arrives in Montreal. One option is that I declare all the goods to follow on my B4 when I arrive 3 weeks earlier while he just declares the car and whatever items he has in it when he crosses the border earlier.

Just wondering if anyone forsees any tax or other problems with this method. My main concern is that I will not know exactly what will go in each box as he may have to do some rearrangeing before the final load. So does it matter for the B4 for me to state exactly what is in each box, or can i just list the items that I know are going to be packed but not specifically what is in each box?

Just not sure how specific the B4A needs to be. I.e. Do I say Box 4 has 1 playstation, 1 xbox, 1 wii worth x,x,x or can i just say i'm bringing those items and not mention what box it is in?

sorry for the long question

Basically what happens is when you enter, they stamp the B4 and B4A to say they are duty-free personal effects and have been declared at that point, then when the goods enter, CBSA must see the original stamped form and they go through each item and cross it off.

What they advised me to do (and they were right) is to list everything you might possibly have or bring with you, if you end up leaving it behind then it's no big deal, but if there is stuff you bring that isn't on the B4 you have to pay duty.

So what you need to do in your situation is complete the forms and present them to CBSA at Montréal and have them cross off anything that is in your suitcases, then send the original forms to your husband so he has them at the POE and they can cross off the things he has with him. Make sure both your names are on the form.

do they actually open each box to see what's in each to check off the times? For example if we have a box of a playstation, xbox, and Wii, and list those on the B4, do they have to physically see each item before they check them off?

I spoke to a lady at the office and she suggested to have two separate lists with my items and his items separately. And then go together to claim the items in montreal. I'm not sure which way will be less of a hassle but she seemed to say the two separate lists will be easier even though they're all in the same container.

So confusing! And I still haven't figured out what to do about the mattress fumigation. The moving company is saying they've never heard of this requirement.

Thanks for all your help!

nope, most of the time they do not inspect your stuff. But you still have to have a basic inventory done.

I seem to recall somebody saying something about mattress fumigation somewhere before, but I have no idea who, where, when, or how. Sorry. Best to probably contact Canada Border Services and ask them I guess.

I spoke to a lady at the office and she suggested to have two separate lists with my items and his items separately.

Yeah, two separate B4s probably would be simpler. Whether they check your stuff physically or not is a matter of pot luck. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Depends to some extent what it is, they like to check high value items like jewelry. Definitely not as laid back about it as CBP.

So for the B4A, I"m packing a bunch of boxes with items like kitchen blenders and coffee machines but packing towels and clothes around them as cushioning. I'm wondering for the B4A with number of boxes, well i can't say just 1 box of kitchen supplies because it's spread out with other items in the boxes. I feel like a child asking this question. But Essentially on the B4A you have to list the number of boxes I imagine? Or are you just listing items you have and the company who is transporting our goods lists the number of boxes on their manifest once they arrive in Canada?

As for the mattress fumigation, I've called every fumigation place in LA and none fumigate mattresses. So I guess we're out of luck. We could try importing it and if they refuse it I guess they can just throw out the mattress at the border. The lady at Customs said they sometimes will charge you for the destruction of the mattress and sometimes not-very reassuring :S Perhaps canada should start offering fumigation serves AT the border and charge for it. Makes money for them, makes it even for everyone coming in...especially since the law states the new comers from other countries and come in with their old mattresses unfumigated no problem. Seems a bit odd a mattress from a developing nation is allowed in as is but something from the states is rejected. Fishy!

I doubt your stuff will even be inspected. Rarely is.

As for your customs declaration form, I think you need to number your boxes and have a generalized list of contents for each. If you have small kitchen appliances in one box, just label it small appliances. I don't think they care about the tea towell wrapped around the blender.