return personal family items- couriered/mailed from the US

Hi, I'm desperate for advice, I certainly can't find it on any of the government websites.

About two years ago I took some personal family items to the US for safekeeping - these items all date from about 1883 to 1955, including my father's medals from WW2, his papers, his Zippo - things like that. Some jewellry handed down from my great-grandmother, grandmother, etc. Alot of is just good costume jewellry that has more sentimental value than anything else.

FedEx and from what I can find on Canada Post says I'm going to charged duty and taxes? The Customs site has nothing pertaining to this - I'm not travelling, per se. I'm a Canadian citizen/resident. I just happened to have my friends keep these things for me for a bit because it needed to be done.

I can't believe that family members have to pay import taxes on their relatives military awards. that's just obscene. and then. costume jewellry? It's never even been evaluated - it wasn't worth it according to appraisers <grin> it's just. pretty and has alot of sentimental value. you know. all that estate jewellry genre. No-one appraises workmanship.

anyway, what should I do so I can get my family's things back? I can't really afford to go to Florida to get them and I sure don't want to spend 6 months "proving to Customs" that my father really was awarded those medals. and like that.

Thanks

Anne

If they're personal items that you just "left behind" you shouldn't need to pay duty and taxes on them at all.

hi, thanks for getting back to me. I called Canada Customs and thought I would pass on what they told me. FedEx had told me that I had to have them shipped on a commercial waybill which made no sense to me and sounded like a set up re Customs as this not a commercial / business shipment. I called Canada Customs and they said I had to attach a copy of my mother's will, her death certificate, any evaluations that I have, my brother's death certificate - making me the only surviving family as well as stated Executor, proof that the medals are my father's - (I guess they want is Statement of Service, etc. - rather than a military collectible that I want to sell.

Seems a little intruxive re: privacy issues. but. they said it would preclude these things being seized at border while they send off for appraisal, etc. or seize until I "prove" I'm not a business.

Actually, it "is" really intrusive. What business is it of theirs what was in my mother's will? copies of death certificates, etc.

It does kind of make sense.Otherwise any antique dealer could potentially import what they wanted without taxation. And maybe they want to make sure none of it is stolen either.

It sucks, but I guess that's what needs to be done

Either you need (a) solid proof that you exported them to the US and they remain your personal effects, e.g. a customs declaration, sales receipts etc. or (b) you have to declare them as personal effects on the B4 form or whatever form you're using and hope the CBSA accepts your explanation. If you have all that stuff, will, etc. then this makes it more likely they will accept your explanation, transfers by bequest between family members are usually exempt from customs duty in most countries, although I've never tried it from the US to Canada.

You'd be surprised at the illegal fencing business in military memorabilia. They're actually just proctecting you and your possessions by requiring you send all that documentation really. Better to send all that than have the items confiscated at the border indefinitely, or have to pay exhorbitant duties on your own personal items.