For multiple Light Pkts - PayPal vs Canada Post?

[vintagenorth]

If I print 2 or more Lt. Pkt labels (at 3.79 each) on PayPal I am charged the 13% tax on each one. If I go to the Post Office and fill in my own CN22 then the total cost is over $5 and I don't have to pay the tax. Does anyone know, if I print my labels on the Canada Post site, if I am charged individually or if it totals my label purchases so that I don't pay the tax each day?

[recped]

I don't use eBay/PayPal shipping very often and only for domestic so I'm asking a question......

It there no multi-item shipping option on .ca? In the US there is, you produce a bunch of labels and pay for them all at once. Under that system it would be easy to handle the gst/hst situation.

If that isn't available here in Canada it's just yet another things that shows the lack of competence on the part of Pitney-Bowes.

Of course it's eBay that contracts with PB, so ultimately the lack of this is on eBay!

[triber]

vintagenorth: I have wondered the same thing. I am now mailing a lot of the light packages at the up to 150 gram size, but the extra tax adds a bit to each one. I think maybe the only way to avoid that is to take the package to the post office for them to do the mailing.

[renfrewite]

Ok how do you get away with not paying tax if purchasing over $5 at the post office?  Does this only apply to packages or is it for everything you buy at the post office?  The products I purchase at the post office I am always charged HST on.  All my packages are done through paypal.  I do ship a lot of light packet packages as well.

[recped]

If you purchase postage for International mail no taxes are applied is the total spend is $5 or more.

The Canada Post POS terminals do this automatically if the total is over $5, under $5 the clerk has to override the taxes by hitting ONE key.

None of this applies to domestic shipping.

[vintagenorth]

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@recped wrote:

I don't use eBay/PayPal shipping very often and only for domestic so I'm asking a question......

It there no multi-item shipping option on .ca? In the US there is, you produce a bunch of labels and pay for them all at once. Under that system it would be easy to handle the gst/hst situation.

If that isn't available here in Canada it's just yet another things that shows the lack of competence on the part of Pitney-Bowes.

Of course it's eBay that contracts with PB, so ultimately the lack of this is on eBay!

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No, on .ca each purchase is billed separately, no multi-item payment option. At least, not that I have ever seen. So, I guess this is another question I'll have to ask about at next week's Board Hour. So frustrating that BP can't seem to get it right for Canadians!

[vintagenorth]

Oops, that should have read PB not BP!

[fatdane]

Don't forget that if you are charged HST or GST, and have a HST/GST number, the tax paid becomes an input tax credit and you get that money back. HST collected - HST paid out = what you have to send to the Ottawa spendthrifts. If your input tax credits are greater than the HST you collected you will eventually get money back from Ottawa. All this means that although you may have paid HST/GST on a shipment it really does not become part of your cost basis for that shipment.

[pocomocomputing]

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@vintagenorth wrote:

If I print 2 or more Lt. Pkt labels (at 3.79 each) on PayPal I am charged the 13% tax on each one. If I go to the Post Office and fill in my own CN22 then the total cost is over $5 and I don't have to pay the tax. Does anyone know, if I print my labels on the Canada Post site, if I am charged individually or if it totals my label purchases so that I don't pay the tax each day?

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If you are going to stop using PayPal labels and use the manual CN22 form for Light Packet to save the 13% sales tax at the post office, then why not buy discount postage (old mint unused stamps from stamp dealers that collectors no longer want) from sellers here on eBay and save at least 20% off cost of postage as well as the HST of 13% from some sellers. All you have to do is stick on 10 to 15 stamps on the package front and back if needed with the CN22 form and bring to the post office for mailing.  You can even drop them into the corner box if you want and save a trip to the post office.

Compare an actual cost of $3.79 at 20% off = $3.03 (no tax) to $3.79 + $0.49 tax = $4.28

[twicereadbooks]

And don't forget the new Customs Form to print off the CP site so you don't have to pay that new $2.00 fee that will be introduced sometime in May.  You also have the option to scan it with your cell phone, and take it to the PO.

[vintagenorth]

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@pocomocomputing wrote:

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@vintagenorth wrote:

If I print 2 or more Lt. Pkt labels (at 3.79 each) on PayPal I am charged the 13% tax on each one. If I go to the Post Office and fill in my own CN22 then the total cost is over $5 and I don't have to pay the tax. Does anyone know, if I print my labels on the Canada Post site, if I am charged individually or if it totals my label purchases so that I don't pay the tax each day?

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If you are going to stop using PayPal labels and use the manual CN22 form for Light Packet to save the 13% sales tax at the post office, then why not buy discount postage (old mint unused stamps from stamp dealers that collectors no longer want) from sellers here on eBay and save at least 20% off cost of postage as well as the HST of 13% from some sellers. All you have to do is stick on 10 to 15 stamps on the package front and back if needed with the CN22 form and bring to the post office for mailing.  You can even drop them into the corner box if you want and save a trip to the post office.

Compare an actual cost of $3.79 at 20% off = $3.03 (no tax) to $3.79 + $0.49 tax = $4.28

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Thanks poco, yes I do buy stamps and use them for my Cdn. shipments. Unfortunately, I do have to go to the post office each day anyway, we have the mail boxes at the end of our road but the slot is too small to mail anything but small letters and no other place to mail near me. Nearest post office or corner box is about 8 kms. away. Its lovely to live in the country but does have some drawbacks, wouldn't move though, unless its up to the lake.

[renfrewite]

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@recped wrote:

If you purchase postage for International mail no taxes are applied is the total spend is $5 or more.

The Canada Post POS terminals do this automatically if the total is over $5, under $5 the clerk has to override the taxes by hitting ONE key.

None of this applies to domestic shipping.

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Ok well the clerk at my post office doesn't know that then.  I took in 4 light packet items one time, and mailed them all at once, and I mentioned something about the tax, and she said because each postage item was under $5.00 the no tax does not apply.  She said to get the no tax on it the price of each package would have to be over $5.00. But now that I know about this I will have to go back and put it to the test the next time I have a few light packet things to mail.  I wish paypal would adhere to this rule if we buy postage for more than one package.  Like if we buy postage for more than one package in any given day, then they could deduct the tax.

I have another question does this no tax thing apply to any kind of USA or international postage, for example expedited?   If so then paypal could easily eliminate the tax for that, because the price for any service other than light packet or lettermail is always over $5.00.

[renfrewite]

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@canadareads wrote:

And don't forget the new Customs Form to print off the CP site so you don't have to pay that new $2.00 fee that will be introduced sometime in May.  You also have the option to scan it with your cell phone, and take it to the PO.

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This new customs form, will it print when you do labels through paypal?  This is the first I am hearing about this.

[rose-dee]

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@renfrewite wrote:

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@canadareads wrote:

And don't forget the new Customs Form to print off the CP site so you don't have to pay that new $2.00 fee that will be introduced sometime in May.  You also have the option to scan it with your cell phone, and take it to the PO.

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This new customs form, will it print when you do labels through paypal?  This is the first I am hearing about this.

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The customs information/requirements are filled in during the labelling procedure, no separate form required.  You'll see the new boxes come up for HS code, country of origin and province of origin (why this last detail, I have no idea).  Once you've filled that information in, it gets incorporated into the label.  Actually, you can't finish the label unless you input those details, so you really can't accidentally skip that step.  

[pjcdn2005]

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@renfrewite wrote:

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@recped wrote:

If you purchase postage for International mail no taxes are applied is the total spend is $5 or more.

The Canada Post POS terminals do this automatically if the total is over $5, under $5 the clerk has to override the taxes by hitting ONE key.

None of this applies to domestic shipping.

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Ok well the clerk at my post office doesn't know that then.  I took in 4 light packet items one time, and mailed them all at once, and I mentioned something about the tax, and she said because each postage item was under $5.00 the no tax does not apply.  She said to get the no tax on it the price of each package would have to be over $5.00. But now that I know about this I will have to go back and put it to the test the next time I have a few light packet things to mail.  I wish paypal would adhere to this rule if we buy postage for more than one package.  Like if we buy postage for more than one package in any given day, then they could deduct the tax.

I have another question does this no tax thing apply to any kind of USA or international postage, for example expedited?   If so then paypal could easily eliminate the tax for that, because the price for any service other than light packet or lettermail is always over $5.00.

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Paypal doesn't charge tax for any international service over $5 so it is already eliminated.

[Anonymous]

Did Canada Post actually think ALL of us has cellephone to scan it???

I am deaf and don't even have a phone, only Internet to communciate with anyone.  Also it is not just deaf people that don't have phone, it is also the hearing (non-deaf) person don't have phone too due to costly monthly bills.  I am now seeing more and more buildings like apartments having payphones that the tenants come down to use it.

What the heck does Canada Post is thinking?  Canada Post has many deaf employees, surely they would knew better than that.

I am trying to understand how can anyone afford to have Internet, landmine phone, cell phone, pager, etc.?  I knew one person that has everything and I can imagine her monthly bill!!!  Fricking Huge!!  I only can afford Internet and Cable TV and my cable service doens't offer the combine unless I have a phone or cellphone!!

I think it is silly that Canada Post needs to come up with something silly like to scan it by cellphone or whatever.  What happened to the old-fashioned way? 

[pjcdn2005]

Did Canada Post actually think ALL of us has cellephone to scan it???

As mentioned in other posts you can also print the form off through the canada post website.

But I believe you already use paypal so the HS information is already on the form.

[toff3]

Renfrewite,

The woeful level of training in, and knowledge of, Canada Post regulations amongst retail postal outlet staff is legendary.

What I call the $5 rule is spelled out on the cover of the Postal Prices leaflet. I recommend that you carry a copy at all times and wave it under the nose of any clerk who gives you a hard time (but be sure of your ground by familiarizing yourself with the rules).

Also be sure to complain in writing to Canada Post. Use the address jacques[dot]cote[at]canadapost[dot]ca. He's the #2 man at CP.

Tom

[renfrewite]

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Paypal doesn't charge tax for any international service over $5 so it is already eliminated.

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Hmmm Ok I will have to pay closer attention the next time I print out a label then.  I was sure I saw HST added on.  Thanks

[renfrewite]

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@toff3 wrote:

Renfrewite,

The woeful level of training in, and knowledge of, Canada Post regulations amongst retail postal outlet staff is legendary.

What I call the $5 rule is spelled out on the cover of the Postal Prices leaflet. I recommend that you carry a copy at all times and wave it under the nose of any clerk who gives you a hard time (but be sure of your ground by familiarizing yourself with the rules).

Also be sure to complain in writing to Canada Post. Use the address jacques[dot]cote[at]canadapost[dot]ca. He's the #2 man at CP.

Tom

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Ok thanks I will keep that in mind the next time I go and ship a few light packets at the same time.  Thanks for email address as well, I'm sure that will come in handy a time or two haha.