Don't you still have to pay import duties? Doesn't your Postal office snag it and add the import duties?

 

Don't you still have to pay import duties? Doesn't your Postal office snag it and add the import duties?

No, packages declared as gifts you don't pay import taxes. However there is a limit, I read something about $50, including shipment. This is why even if it's a gift the person who ships has to describe its content and has to indicate prices too...

 

There is no duty on any electronic components (CPUs, MCUs, Memory, IC's, transistors, diodes, caps, resistors, etc..) or PCBs coming into Canada from any source. Tax yes, duty no.

UPS, Fedex and Purolator only have to respond to spot checks and infrequent audits. Mostly, all they do for their brokerage fees is file the particulars in a database and submit bulk data and duty to Canada Border Service and taxes to Canada Revenue Service. According to my brother in-law, a big-wig over at Purolator, it's a huge profit center for them.