Taxes/fees on transporting beer through Canada

3,000 - 280 = 2,720 ÷ 68 (days until October) = 40 oz per day. It's doable. Better get drinking.

 

I have often aborted plans to visit/travel through Canada due to the fact I would be transporting alcoholic beverages, into and out of, and also my prescription pain meds.
Those snippy little smart ass border guards up there can survive without my tourist dollars.

 

You might want to contact CBSA and CBP about that as it is very possible you might get a double whammy crossing back to the US. Usually foreigner can get a pass-through saying that what they are bringing is for personal consumption, so if you say, and can prove, you are just going/been through Canada on the way to your new home you might get a free pass, but you might just as well have to pay twice.

Anyhow, as far as Canada goes, it is my understanding (you can check this pdf, for the proper info) you cannot bring that much alcohol into the country even if you are willing to pay all the markups and fees. If you are crossing Yukon you can only bring 9.09 litres over the 8.5 litre duty-free limit (paying 1 cent/oz), while if it's BC you can bring 45.05 litres but paying a 55% markup (ouch, I know). So even in BC that's still some 30 litres shy of what you plan to bring. So unless there's a provision for people in-transit you will probably want to ship your cellar, or drink it, as @draheim suggested.

 

The Alaskan state ferry ends its run in Bellingham. It doesn't stop in Canadia on the way down.

http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/

 

The downside to that is that it's really not cheap at all, especially if one is already spending all sorts of bucks on the usual moving costs. Maybe the taxes or shipping costs of that much beer is high enough to make it worthwhile, I dunno.

 

I brought about 12 cases of bombers with me when I moved from Fairbanks to Juneau through Canada. I had them all covered with a blanket in the back of my truck and just didn't declare. When they asked, I said I had some beers and a couple bottles of booze. They waived me through. Now, surely there's potential for issues if you're stopped for some reason, and granted my drive was just Dawson-Skagway, and I'm assuming that you're doing the ALCAN... so there's more potential, but I think in the grand scheme of things you'll probably be ok.

 

Oh yeah, it ain't cheap. But, it is an option. Time is close to the same as driving, and at least you're not burning gas and putting the wear & tear on your vehicle. If you don't get a room, just camp on deck, it saves a few bucks. Plus, you can drink your own beer!

 

do not pay the tax if there is one!!! Just play dumb if anyone says anything

 

Then how does he get across the border? I'm assuming he would have to pay to get into Canadia, which he would have to do in order to drive to WA.

 

I think he's basically advocating what I did. Just take it through, don't declare at the border, and if for some reason you get stopped/asked about it, plead ignorance that you even needed to declare or pay tax. The ol' forgiveness is easier than permisson adage.

 

But then, wouldn't you have to pay up at that point?

 

Oh, I agree. If he can afford it, it's definitely the better option, as the trip takes a lot less toll on the car than the Alkan (Alcan?), plus there's no customs hoops to jump through, as already mentioned. It's just not for the financially faint-hearted, plus if he's renting a truck or hauling a trailer, I expect that could complicate things on the ferry.

 

Plus, there'd probably be penalties in addition to the taxes at that point, especially for a large amount of beer, which the authorities might decide to treat as a case of having caught a full-on smuggler, at which point paying the taxes up front will seem like a great idea.

Shipping a portion of his cellar might be his best option.

 

I can't speak from experience, but it sounds like there is a provision for folks moving through Canada. I would suggest contacting CBSA to be sure. Safe travels!

"In-transit Travellers Through Canada
57. From time to time, non-residents have occasion to personally transport their household effects, tools of trade, or other goods in transit through Canada. In such instances when these goods are not intended for use in Canada, the traveller is advised to prepare, in advance, a list in triplicate of all the in-transit goods, indicating their values and any identifiable serial numbers. If it is not practical to seal the vehicle, consumable goods intended for use outside of Canada should be packed in containers that can be sealed by a border services officer at the time of arrival.

58. Border services officers use metal seals that resemble tie wraps. The lid and container used should have a hole in which the seal can be inserted and tightened. Should it not be possible to seal the container, a security deposit might be required and a copy of your list of goods will be attached to a Form E29B. The goods along with the E29B must be presented for acquittal at a CBSA office prior to exporting the goods from Canada. For more information on the security deposit, refer to paragraphs 4 to 7."

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-1-1-eng.html#a4x19