Canada Customs duty charged on COMIC BOOK **bleep**

[dbrownridge]

Feb. 2025 and I was just forced to pay DHL for Customs and Duty charges on a COMIC BOOK from the USA to Canada.

This is the first time I've ever had this happen in 20 years of buying comics from the US.

DHL asked me to pay in ADVANCE, but I didn't have to... But if I waited, my package would be delayed and I might have to pay anyway.

It was so odd I thought it was a scam.

DHL said 'maybe' I will be charged duty, so just in case I should pay now.... ?? what?

SO I PAID .... About $19 Canadian for DUTY / CUSTOMS on a $103 comic book.

A 2O PER CENT DUTY ............. on a second hand comic book .... ???!!

AND it just happened now for the first time... ??

what the hell... ?  I am beyond angry.

[mrdutch1001]

It is a known that DHL, UPS,FedEx have always had their brokerage fees and a $100+comic would be subject to any applicable taxes,duties,fees as perCBSA:

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/cn-ad/cn20-18-eng.html

[brettjet38]

C'est la vie, that is how it is suppose to work...

https://www.ebay.ca/help/buying/postage-delivery/changing-delivery-address-method/international-purc...

Customs and import charges

As a buyer, it’s your responsibility to check which customs and import charges may apply, and to pay them.

These import charges are generally based on the item's price, weight, dimensions, and country of origin, as well as any taxes, duties, and fees added by your country. Your seller might be able to give you some information about import charges, but before you bid on, or buy an item, it's a good idea to check with your country's customs office for more specific details.

Import charges include

• Sales, goods, and services
• Value added taxes
• Duties
• Tariffs
• Excise taxes
• Other amounts assessed or levied by any government authority in connection with the importation of goods into the applicable country of importation
• Third party brokerage fees (including advancement and disbursement charges as well as customs brokers’ handling and filing fees)
• Penalties
• Classification charges associated with the assignment of a Harmonized System (HS) classification code
• Charges for export compliance screening and verification and the assignment of an Export Control Classification Number (ECCN)
• Charges relating to the management of variances between the quoted import charges and actual costs

Import charges are in addition to the customs duties and taxes imposed by country tax and customs officials.

You can select the ones that apply to your purchase, and epect Canada Customs to be more strict thanks to Donald...

[silverpinups]

I purchase quite a few graded comic books from the USA. You probably purchased the comic book from a seller that uses EIS. By paying in advance DHL (sometimes they use Uni for the final delivery) will be able to drop your package off at your residence without any further delays. 

If you didn't pay the charges, DHL would have handed the package off to Canada Post for final delivery and they would collect the customs fees before releasing the package. 

I'm amazed this is your first time being charged for comic books coming from the USA. Remember there is no duty charged on comic books. You pay GST and PST, HST etc (depending on your Province) and a handling fee.   

[ericsells75]

I got those emails for a recent shipment. It said I didn’t have to prepay so I didn’t. Item showed up on time without any extra charges.

[reallynicestamps]

Why would you think that an expensive collectible comic book would not have duty because it had had a previous owner?
Would you feel that a second hand Jaguar should not attract dutry?

Would you expect that estate jewelry would not be dutiable?

A 1827 copy of Audubon's Birds of America?

Used or second hand have nothing to do with import fees.

[fh991586]

It's not duty but sale taxes and the transporter's fee to assess (brokerage). It's so standart for an item with a price that high that you look like a newbie on international sales...

You should have expected to pay sale taxes on any item entering Canada through a private carrier for the last 10 years AT LEAST anytime the value is over the "free of charge" amount ($20, then $40).
Now if your sellers where putting a false value on previous shipment, you got away with it. Or if it came through Canada Post, which often didn't assess anything under $100 because of lack of time and manpower to process it. But

[marnotom!]

Unlike many countries or regions, such as the United States, the EU, and Australia, eBay doesn’t collect taxes at Checkout for imported items with the exception of some sales where the shipping is handled by the eBay International Shipping system. The responsibility of collecting and remitting the taxes due is that of customs or a customs designate, and as has been posted already, often items sent through the mail will get a free pass when it comes to tax charges.

You did not get charged duty on your comic book.  As others have posted your charges were GST (comic books are exempt from BC PST, I believe) and customs brokerage charges.

Sorry this came as a shock to you, but taxes on casual imports have officially been a thing for a yoink’s age. You’ve just been fortunate to avoid being charged for them until now, by the sounds of things.

[brettjet38]

@marnotom!  "often items sent through the mail (Canada Post) will get a free pass when it comes to tax charges."

I do not think they will for much longer, one of my besties is a Postie and you should see what is on the way with Canada Post internally.  With Trump in command, the border will be tightened on both sides, so if they decide to really go full "Trade Wars" all packages will get "examined" to some extent & they will start working to the letter of the law in regards to "Taxes, Duties, Customs".

We had a good run for a few decades but the walls are coming back up to the free movement of goods, individuals, and information, it will be a fun 4 years I think (sarcasm).

[mrdutch1001]

yeppers! Thankfully, my travel days to the USA are long behind me as are my days of purchasing anything from the USA...have done neither for over 8 years now....

[romancranch]

I think the free customs /tax  days are over, at least from the USA. I have a few items coming from the USA with Ebay International Shipping.  One item went through DHL ecommerce, and they sent a  message for customs due  but I decided to wait till it went though customs incase it managed to escape. But CP now has customs due on the tracking.   Another item coffee made in Germany but shipped to me from the USA (with EIS) has customs due as well.  But another package shipped from Germany looks like it escaped the customs fees.  Waiting to see yet on my other 2 USA items coming. So anything shipped from the USA (no matter what origin) to Canada will probably get charged if over the 20.00 limit.