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> You don’t have to pay in this circumstance as far as I can tell. If you accept the package in a way where they pay the import taxes for you (you are not payi

> You don’t have to pay in this circumstance as far as I can tell. If you accept the package in a way where they pay the import taxes for you (you are not paying the government directly, they pay first then you pay them), it does indeed become your problem. They conducted a service on your behalf, with the expectation that you will compensate them, and the brokerage fees represent their labour in paying for you. Once or twice not paying those brokerage fees you could probably get away with, but eventually they’ll hold packages back until you have paid off all arrears + interest and penalties. There is another way available to a small majority of Canadians: If you live near a border crossing or international airport or harbour that regularly docks international ships, you will have a Canadian Border Services (CBS) office near you. This means you can self-clear any package, thereby avoiding brokerage fees. The method is thus: 1. Refuse to accept the package from the shipper, tell them to hold it at the local distribution centre where you will pick it up later as you want to self-clear it personally. Ask for the Bill of Lading (BoL), which is a piece of paper attached to the package that defines the shipper, receiver, and contents of the package (usually itemized and $-valued). Some shippers call it something different, with other shippers you need to fill out an online form to be sent this document. 2. Within 24-48 hrs (2 work days), go to your local CBS office with your BoL, and if the BoL does not specify the value of the goods (preferably itemized), include any receipts or invoices you saved from the purchase. The CBS officers will calculate import taxes from those amounts and provide you with a BoL-linked invoice for that payment that includes all shipping numbers. 3. Provide to the shipping company the CBS form indicating that you have paid the import taxes directly to the government. This means that the shipping company will be reimbursed for its tax payment on that shipment, nullifying your obligation to pay the brokerage fees. Some (UPS) will demand that it be faxed in to a head office number (yes, even in 2023). Ask nicely, and the CBS officers may do it for you. Other shipping companies (FedEx) only need to see it when you pick up the package, as they’ll scan it into their records at that time. Presto, no brokerage fees paid! Good luck. And my condolences to anyone without a CBS office within easy travel distance.

jean-bonneau 3y ago
> If you accept the package in a way where they pay the import taxes for you (you are not paying the government directly, they pay first then you pay them), it does indeed become your problem. They conducted a service on your behalf, with the expectation that you will compensate them, and the brokerage fees represent their labour in paying for you. What happens is they drop a package on your porch without giving you a chance to refuse the package and clear it yourself. They have to give you that opportunity by law. It would be similar to showing up at your house, cleaning your windows and then sending you bill. You never asked for that service, in the case of UPS you never agreed for them to act as your broker to clear your package.
- rekabis 3y ago
  I have never had a shipping company pay import taxes and then just drop the package off. They have always rung the doorbell to get me to accept it in person, or if I was not at home, tried delivery again another day. They come up to the door with credit card reader in hand, expecting you to make payment then and there, and will not give you the package if you don’t pay. The exception is if CBS takes a long time to determine actual value, and therefore, taxes. Usually on used items with unclear but significant value. It’s happened a handful of times that they made delivery with no notice of brokerage fees or import taxes. Then, suddenly a few weeks to a month later, I got an invoice in the mail: they had paid the import taxes for me after delivery due to a delayed judgement by CBS, and so I was on the hook for both those taxes and brokerage fees. I still went to CBS with my BoL and paid the taxes directly to the government in order to avoid those brokerage fees. > It would be similar to showing up at your house, cleaning your windows and then sending you bill. You never asked for that service, in the case of UPS you never agreed for them to act as your broker to clear your package. But you did agree, by choosing them as a shipper. Certain fees can be implied as required in order to complete the transaction. In order to get your package across the border, the shipper needs to do what is necessary to get the package in your hands. Dealing with CBS and paying import taxes is the step needed to keep the package moving. If they waited for everyone to pay on their own then there would be billions of packages stuck at border warehouses, gumming up the works.
  - ryan-c 3y ago
    Other people can ship things you didn't ask for to your home without your consent, or not tell you in advance what shipping company they're using.
  - mnw21cam 3y ago
    > But you did agree, by choosing them as a shipper. The contracts are between the seller and the shipping company, and between the buyer and the seller. There's no contract between the buyer and the shipping company. And in this case where parcels are being randomly sent to an address un-asked-for, that is most definitely the case.
  - 3y ago

jean-bonneau 3y ago

> If you accept the package in a way where they pay the import taxes for you (you are not paying the government directly, they pay first then you pay them), it does indeed become your problem. They conducted a service on your behalf, with the expectation that you will compensate them, and the brokerage fees represent their labour in paying for you. What happens is they drop a package on your porch without giving you a chance to refuse the package and clear it yourself. They have to give you that opportunity by law. It would be similar to showing up at your house, cleaning your windows and then sending you bill. You never asked for that service, in the case of UPS you never agreed for them to act as your broker to clear your package.

rekabis 3y ago
I have never had a shipping company pay import taxes and then just drop the package off. They have always rung the doorbell to get me to accept it in person, or if I was not at home, tried delivery again another day. They come up to the door with credit card reader in hand, expecting you to make payment then and there, and will not give you the package if you don’t pay. The exception is if CBS takes a long time to determine actual value, and therefore, taxes. Usually on used items with unclear but significant value. It’s happened a handful of times that they made delivery with no notice of brokerage fees or import taxes. Then, suddenly a few weeks to a month later, I got an invoice in the mail: they had paid the import taxes for me after delivery due to a delayed judgement by CBS, and so I was on the hook for both those taxes and brokerage fees. I still went to CBS with my BoL and paid the taxes directly to the government in order to avoid those brokerage fees. > It would be similar to showing up at your house, cleaning your windows and then sending you bill. You never asked for that service, in the case of UPS you never agreed for them to act as your broker to clear your package. But you did agree, by choosing them as a shipper. Certain fees can be implied as required in order to complete the transaction. In order to get your package across the border, the shipper needs to do what is necessary to get the package in your hands. Dealing with CBS and paying import taxes is the step needed to keep the package moving. If they waited for everyone to pay on their own then there would be billions of packages stuck at border warehouses, gumming up the works.
- ryan-c 3y ago
  Other people can ship things you didn't ask for to your home without your consent, or not tell you in advance what shipping company they're using.
- mnw21cam 3y ago
  > But you did agree, by choosing them as a shipper. The contracts are between the seller and the shipping company, and between the buyer and the seller. There's no contract between the buyer and the shipping company. And in this case where parcels are being randomly sent to an address un-asked-for, that is most definitely the case.
- 3y ago