Customs Question

[Starburst 4]

Hey Everyone,

So I have a quick customs question! When I got back to Toronto to have our big wedding, do I have to pay customs/duty on my wedding dress? It won't be staying in Toronto because then we're coming back here for our second reception.

Does anyone know how it works?

many thanks!

/starburst

[CBM 14]

did you buy it is in the US and you're bringing it to Canada to use? If so, it hardly makes sense you would have to pay duty on it... you don't pay duty on regular clothes you bring with you for a visit.

just my opinion and it could be wrong... that was just my reasoning. hopefully someone else who has done this will come along and answer

[Flames9_RN 358]

PM Neiks--she works for the Cdn Border dudes!!

[CanAmBride 5]

When/where did you buy it?

[Brenda2010 1]

My understanding is that if the goods are not staying/are returning with you then they're not subject to duty.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I carried my dress through customs in September going to Canada (Pearson Airport) for our church wedding and they didn't say anything about it. (It was in a giant white bag in my arms). It's technically your property so they can't collect duty on it if it's not staying in the country.

They didn't even ask us our reason for entering ths time around... just looked at our customs form and said "Have a nice trip"

[CanAmBride 5]

If you brought it in, you can bring it out without paying duty.

The only reason you would have to pay would be if you bought the dress while you were in Toronto and wanted to bring it back to the US.

[Starburst 4]

I bought it down here in the US!

I assumed that it should be treated like normal clothing since it's not staying there.

Hey SapphireDreams - how was it carrying your dress? I'm dreading lugging it through the airport!

thanks everyone!!

/starburst

[neiks 19]

Are you a still a resident of Canada or do you have your status in the US? A Canadian resident bringing any good into Canada purchased from abroad (in this case US)to be used by that Canadian resident in Canada may be subject to duty and taxes. A non Canadian resident can bring their own personal goods into Canada for their use while in Canada.

But also remember if you are a Canadian resident you are still entitled to an exemption depending on your absence from Canada. Gone 48hrs or more you can bring goods back valued up to $400. Gone for 7 days you can bring back goods up to $750.

Just looking at your signature it looks like you have your greencard already, so you would be considered a non-resident of Canada for Customs purposes thus you would be allowed to bring in your dress to use at your wedding as long tax and duty free as it's not going to be staying in Canada. Hope that helps!

Edited November 18, 2010 by neiks

[SapphireDreams 71]

I bought it down here in the US!

I assumed that it should be treated like normal clothing since it's not staying there.

Hey SapphireDreams - how was it carrying your dress? I'm dreading lugging it through the airport!

thanks everyone!!

/starburst

It was actually not too bad. I asked to board the plane first so that I could get ask the flight attendant to put it in a closet. They did let me on first with the first calss people. The closets are SMALL. They had to squeeze it and fold the bottom up. It was only an hour flight so it was fine. No one gave me any trouble though going through security either, so that was good.