Fun at the Border

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Got stopped at the border between Juarez and Mexico after I ventured down there for a beer tasting. I got a hold of a few craft beer made in Juarez and was driving with them in my car when it occurred to me I shouldn't have them in plain sight. I hastily put one in the glove box as I pulled up to the border. Traffic was backed up so I sat waiting to cross for over an hour in 100 degree heat. I heard a pop and saw my glove box leaking...the beer I'd put there had exploded and now my car smelled like beer.

When I finally got to the border the agents flagged me since I was a lone person crossing the border into the US after going down for no apparent reason (they didn't buy I went down there for a beer tasting, which as I said it, even I realized sounded like BS). I got the full on interrogation, the drug sniffing dogs went through my entire car, and then I had to pass through a massive x-ray machine. I was nervous as all hell and at a certain point thought for sure I was going to jail (they make you so guilty that you start convincing yourself your guilty of something) but after about another 45 minutes of high drama where they left me sitting there shitting bricks, I was allowed to go.

 

When I first got my Nexus card, I never ever thought to tell them that I go to the US for beer releases, festivals etc. Wonder what their reaction would have been?

 

I've never had to pay duty on quick day trips...my girlfriend and I a couple weeks ago after raiding Warren/Ferndale came back with 24 bottles of beer, 3L of mead, and a bottle of wine. They didn't care about the booze or the dollar amount.

 

Years back I did a trip to Seattle and Olympia, WA. Visited a few breweries and loaded up the trunk of my rental car with about 12 to 15 cases of beer.

Driving back via Aldergrove on a sunny, Friday afternoon. No traffic coming into Canada, an apparently frustrated CBSA officer ad the window, you could see he just wanted this shift to end and go home, I hand him passport...

Him: where you coming from?
Me: Seattle and Olympia
Him: For how long were you gone?
Me: for 3 days
Him: Anything to declare?
Me: Yes, I have a trunk full with beer.

He hands me back my passport with the words:" Fuck off and go..."

I was honest and declared it...

 

Yeah...I cross and buy beer pretty much weekly.

 

Had to pay duty once only in about 10 trips to the U.S. for beer. Coming back from Vermont was the only duty paid, which was far too confusing for the CBSA officer b/c I live in Ontario but crossed the border in Quebec, so different tax regulations, etc. He got fed up and just said 'pay $5 each and you can go'.

 

Wow, $40 for $250 is not that bad. I was expecting more. Hoping to make a run to Buffalo soon and pick up some lambics and stouts.

 

Yeah I wish I was that lucky.

But always declare, even if you have to pay a bit you win in the long run.

 

Nexus on the way in to the US, regular lines on the way back

 

I told a border guard I was heading down to Kuhnhenn, Dragonmead, etc one time and he responded with "I love Dragonmead! I used to work at the car shop next door and they used to give us free samples. Have a good time!"

 

When my friend and I were coming back from Vermont this summer we had about 4 cases worth of bottles and growlers and were only there for the day. When we got to the border the agent asked us if we were bringing anything back. We showed him the extensive receipts and he said I'll be right back. Comes back, tells us have good day. He probably looked at the receipts and said fuck this shit!

 

As to "how" the Duty and Tax has to be paid at border crossings across Canada - here's an explanation - hope that helps.

Beer (from whatever country you're bringing it in) is always "duty free" - that is customs duty - there is none in Canada for beer. This is a federal regulation and is valid everywhere, at every border crossing, Land, Air or Sea.

If you are being asked to pay "duty" here's the things that have to be paid at the border, and what you actually pay for:

1. Federal Excise Duty, which isn't really a duty per se, it's a tax that Canadian producers as well as all imports have to pay to CRA. This one is based on the liter amount you have - at the border always assessed with the highest amount possible, which is $0.3122 per Liter (see here http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/em/edbn8/edbn8-e.pdf)
2. 5% GST - no exemption (Here's a Tip: If you buy in the US, ask the retailer if you get a Federal and State tax exemption on your beer purchase, because you're bringing the beer back to Canada - some retailers do that - with Canadian Passports/IDs - that way you don't pay US tax AND Canadian Tax if you plan on declaring it)
3. HST/PST - depending on where you live and re-enter to Canada. If you enter from the US into BC, but live in Alberta (and have proof of that), you only need to pay the GST, the provincial tax part is then possibly waived (depending on the CBSA Officer) same is for all other provinces.
4. Provincial Liquor Markup - that again depends on where you live - if you enter in Alberta it's $0.98/Liter, if you enter in other provinces a percentage of the price you've paid. These will not be calculated for the province you live in, these will be calculated for the province you enter (not as HST/PST). always keep receipts, beer in the US is cheaper, and CBSA officers tend to calculate with higher estimated retail prices if you don't have the receipts to show.

FYI, there are NO "duty free" amounts of alcohol if you stay less than 48 hours. Only if you stay longer than that you are entitled to a certain amount per person. The CBSA free amount is up to 8.5 liters of beer or 1.5 liters of Wine or 1.14 liters of spirits - and you can only have ONE of the above free amounts - not all combined. Details can be found here http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/ifcrc-rpcrc-eng.html

It's always better to declare and pay the small amounts of fees. It's really not a lot. Because if you get caught, you cannot revoke your statement "nothing to declare" - it's too late. On top of all above fees that you'll have to pay, there might also be a hefty fine with that, making the beer more expensive than if you would have bought it in Canada... Plus - remember - you will be marked in the CBSA system, so next time you re-enter Canada CBSA already knows you've been caught once and will likely check you again...

All of the above is also depending on the CBSA Officer. Some are strict and enforce all of this, some are more relaxed and it's not worth their time to do 15 mins of paperwork for $10 in taxes and fees.

 

Yup. BC is terrible as well. A $10US shelf beer will end up costing you close to $20CDN if you are asked to pay excise.duty/tax/markup.

 

great story, my wife I am sure can relate..

I haven't had any beer related stories over the border, but lord in the past I had plenty with CCs when traveling.

They are the worst in my experience particularly if you are travelling alone.

 

I came across the border into Ontario from NY after visiting family in Michigan and Ohio for 7 days. I picked up a bunch of baby stuff (cloths, toys, excersaucer, etc.) from my sister-in-law and a bunch of my old homebrewing equipment from a friend’s basement. When I got to the border, the guard asked me what I had to declare. I was honest, “A bunch of baby gear for my first kid, a bunch of equipment to make beer, and 4.5…”. The guard interrupted me asking me if I realized that having a newborn was mutually exclusive to having time to make beer and drink it! We had a good laugh! She asked what else I had to which I added that I also had 4.5 cases of store bought beer.

“You’re going to need it!” she said and waved me through! Awesome.

 

I live in NS, which means I always end up crossing the border in NB. Every time I go over the limit (which I always declare), they pull me over and I end up paying 100-110% markup on the value of what I'm over. That being said, I always seem to cross when it's absolutely dead and the agents are looking for something to do. Gotta hit up busier crossings, since they have let my friends through a few times.