Why do I pay a custom fee on Trevo but not Monavie (same products, shipped from the USA in Canada)?

When importing goods into Canada, several factors determine whether customs fees, duties, and taxes are applied. Here are some key points to consider in your scenario:

Value and Type of Goods

• For goods imported into Canada, you must pay a 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) unless the goods are specifically exempt. If the goods are worth CAN$20 or less, or if they are gifts from family members or friends valued at CAN$60 or less, they are exempt from GST1.

Duties

• Duties are calculated based on the value of the goods in Canadian funds and vary according to the type of goods and their country of origin. Different types of goods have different duty rates1.

Shipping Terms

• If goods are shipped with a Delivery Duties Unpaid (DDU) status, the recipient in Canada will need to pay the duties and taxes to receive the package. To avoid this, shipments can be arranged as Delivery Duties Paid (DDP), where the duties and taxes are collected at checkout and included in the shipping cost3.

Possible Reasons for the Difference

• If you are paying customs fees on Trevo but not on Monavie, here are a few possible reasons:
  • Value: If the value of the Trevo shipment exceeds the exemption thresholds (CAN$20 for general goods or CAN$60 for gifts), you would need to pay GST and possibly duties. If the Monavie shipment is within these thresholds, it might be exempt.
  • Type of Goods: Different products may have different duty rates. If Trevo and Monavie are classified differently under Canadian customs regulations, this could result in different treatment regarding duties.
  • Shipping Terms: The shipping terms (DDU vs. DDP) might differ between the two shipments. If the Trevo shipment is sent as DDU, you would need to pay the duties and taxes upon delivery, whereas if the Monavie shipment is sent as DDP, these costs would have been included in the initial payment.
  • Other Taxes: There could be other taxes or fees applicable to one product but not the other, such as excise duties or provincial taxes, depending on the specific regulations and the provinces involved1.

To clarify the specific reasons, you would need to check the details of each shipment, including the value, type of goods, shipping terms, and any applicable exemptions or special regulations.