Question concerning Canadian sales tax refund (1 Viewer)

[JohnKings]

Hello all:

I am a US resident. If I purchase Paradigm speakers in Ontario, Canada. will I be able to get reimbursed for both the GST and PST taxes? For some reason I ddin't think you could get reimbursed for the PST tax.

Thanks for the info.

John

 

[John S Smith]

John
Someone else is currently filing a claim for refund,I will try and attach a copy of his thread. I am also considering a trip North (might as well, Raiders are going nowhere!) anyway, the tax question is of interest to me also.
..john
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=35790

 

[Randy G]

I was up in Toronto about 6 months ago and both the store and airport customs said you only get ONE of them back, although I forgot which one.

 

[PatrickM]

I'm not sure in Ontario but here in B.C. you can only apply for the Federal GST (7%) back from the government on purchases over $200 or something like that.

Patrick

 

[Randy Prue]

I was under the impression that both were refundable, but there's a minimum purchase required. Merchants are not allowed to collect taxes on goods shipped out of their territory.

So, if I, in Quebec, order from Ontario, they CANNOT charge the Ontario tax, but do charge the federal tax.

If they ship out of the country, they CANNOT charge you either tax.

Have them shipped.

 

[BradP]

I just got back from Canada, live in the US, bought my Paradigms in Ontario.

I got the GST (7%) back right at the Duty Free shop, and they were also able to give me the form to mail in for the PST (8%).

So, if you buy in Ontario, Canada, you get it ALL back, though you gotta mail in for the 8% PST. In the end, you pay NO tax. It's an incredibly great deal.

Brad

 

[Mifr44]

On a somewhat related issue, if I purchase an audio component (i.e. Bryston SP-1) from someone in Canada (through Audiogon or eBay), what charges should I expect to pay to have it shipped to the United States beyond the typical shipping charges? Do any of the taxes being discussed here apply, and if so are they refundable?

Thanks,

Michael

 

[PatrickM]

Michael, technically I believe they need to charge you GST but in reality no one does on person to person sales. The thing you will notice if its shipped via UPS or Fedex is a brokerage charge on top of the shipping charge for their customs brokers to determine the customs liability which should be zero but they still need to do it so they charge you.

Patrick

 

[Evan S]

John, depends on the province. Ontario gives you back the PST, but Quebec and B.C. do not. I got my Paradigm's in Quebec and was only refunded the GST, not PST. But I know a guy who got them in Ontario and he was all set, reimbursed for both.

 

[Mifr44]

"The thing you will notice if its shipped via UPS or Fedex is a brokerage charge on top of the shipping charge for their customs brokers to determine the customs liability which should be zero but they still need to do it so they charge you."

Brokerage charge? For something that I might be purchasing for around $2000 from someone in Canada (and it will be shipped FedEx), what should I expect the brokerage charge to be?

Thanks again,

Michael

 

[Randy Prue]

Brokerage fees are like a service charge. Usually under $50., unless the items is subject to duty, taxes, whatevers.

As for the sales taxes (GST, PST, HST), only dealers are authorized (and required) to collect and remit them. In other words, if I sell you an item, you are required to submit the sales tax to the government. Since you are in the US, or rather since the item left the country, the amount to remit is zero.

Dealers are required to obey the regulations, so when they are required to collect the tax, they must. When they are not required, they are FORBIDDEN to collect it.

There are ways to ship things without a broker. The advantage of a broker is that the item will not be delayed at the border. You can come here in person to shop, pay (with no sales tax to try to have refunded later) and ship the item immediately to the States. As long as the dealer ships it (and has a waybill as proof that they shipped it out of the country), your invoice is tax-free. No need to apply for and wait for a refund.

 

[PatrickM]

Brokerage charge? For something that I might be purchasing for around $2000 from someone in Canada (and it will be shipped FedEx), what should I expect the brokerage charge to be?

Randy is correct that it should be under $50 but if you go to the respective shipping companies websites they do have rates. And, depending on which way you ship it they do have services that include the brokerage fees. You may want to do this as $2000 piece is subject to higher brokerage fees, a la they charge you brokerage respective to the value of the item no matter how small or esay it was to clear.

Patrick

 

[Randy G]

Seems I've gotten mixed answers regarding the tax, brokerage, refunds, BS etc, and combined with my own personal experience, is exactly why I don't buy or sell stuff from/to Canada. Oh how much fun it would be trying to deal with the tax stuff and schlepping a whole system back on the plane....

 

[PatrickM]

Oh how much fun it would be trying to deal with the tax stuff and schlepping a whole system back on the plane....

True there are problems even with NAFTA but sometimes the deals are so good that you save 30 to 40% so it does become worth it.