What to Move/take with us to the US?

Good Evening Everyone - I am seeking advice on what we should move with us to the US when moving from Canada. The company that is moving us will pay for the transport as well as duty on our furni...

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skislope2378
New Member

Joined: 06 Jul 2008
Posts: 8
Location: Calgary

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:51 pm

Good Evening Everyone -

I am seeking advice on what we should move with us to the US when moving from Canada. The company that is moving us will pay for the transport as well as duty on our furniture and other household items (up to 7000 lbs) so I am wondering about what we should take and what we should leave behind!?!? As you are all know, this is quite the undertaking, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. We already know that we will be buying appliances in the US. If it helps, we are specifically moving from Alberta to California.

Also, if there is "extra" room on the truck any recommends about $$ wise buys $$ up here in Canada (other than Tim Horton's Coffee, Shreddies and Old Dutch Potato Chips) to take with us?

Cheers and thanks in advance.
Darla

Reba
Moderator

Canuck in NC

Joined: 16 Jul 2004
Posts: 1291
Location: North Carolina

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:05 am

There shouldn't be any duty on any of your personal or household goods.
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skislope2378
New Member

Joined: 06 Jul 2008
Posts: 8
Location: Calgary

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:10 am

Thanks for the heads up on no duities on household items. Does anyone have any experience on buying larger ticket items in Canada before moving to the US or is it generally a better idea to wait to buy items such as electronics and appliances once we are settled in California?

I am just thinking here that seeing that the company is paying for the shipping costs.

Cheers
Darla

Reba
Moderator

Canuck in NC

Joined: 16 Jul 2004
Posts: 1291
Location: North Carolina

Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:30 am

By law, you have to have owned your personal goods/household goods for at least one year for them to be duty free. If you've only just bought them, then they will be subject to duties.
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Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP

Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1362
Location: Calgary

Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:53 am

Unless they were made in a NAFTA country then the duty is 0%.

All personal effects including vehicles are duty-free provided you've had them for a year, I don't remember Customs checking that closely when I did it though.
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Steve.

skislope2378
New Member

Joined: 06 Jul 2008
Posts: 8
Location: Calgary

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:38 am

Here's a silly question, I just paid duty on my car which I just purchased in March 2008 in Seattle and imported to Canada. Now, I will obviously be taking it back with me down to CA in a month. Please don't tell me that I will have to pay again:-) (I am assuming not:-)

Cheers
D

Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP

Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1362
Location: Calgary

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:14 am

Hmm, tricky one that because you've had it for less than a year. Clearly it is personal effects though, I'd take a copy of the CBSA paperwork showing you paid import duty on it.

If it's an imported vehicle from the US, then the original importer paid the US duty so I doubt you'd have a problem unless you get a CBP guy who's not too sharp.

Copy of the original Washington title would be helpful as well, especially when you come to re-register it in the US. Saves you getting the compliance letter.

Cars are so cheap in the US at the moment, it's almost criminal not to buy them there. My neighbour has the tag: "USXPORT", Laughing