Allowances

Here is what you can purchase without having to pay duties and taxes at customs. If you do not stay abroad for the minimum required time or exceed your exemption, you must pay duties and taxes on the goods at Canadian customs. You must also be able to prove the length of your stay abroad (with, for example, a receipt from a Canadian duty-free shop) in order to obtain an exemption.

The quantities listed are per person (over 21 years of age for the purchase of tobacco and alcohol when traveling to the United States and 18 years of age when returning to Canada).

Allowances for Canadians

1 liter of spirits or
1 liter of wine or
1 liter of beer
200 cigarettes and
100 cigars

No allowance

No tobacco or alcohol products

Up to $200 CDN worth of goods

1.14 liter of spirits or
1.5 liter of wine or
24 beers
200 cigarettes and
200 tobacco sticks and
200 gr of tobacco and
50 cigars
Up to $800 CDN worth of goods

Allowances for americans

No tobacco or alcohol products

Up to $200 USD worth of goods

1 liter of spirits or
1 liter of wine or
24 beers
200 cigarettes and
100 cigars
Up to $800 USD worth of goods

You may be required to pay taxes and customs duties on purchases exceeding your personal exemption. This amount will be calculated by a customs officer following your declaration.

If you exceed the allowances and exemptions permitted on products entering the United States, the approximate tax rates on goods are as follows:

$2 to $3 US dollars per bottle of alcohol, on average

$1.90 US per case of beer, on average

US$10.07 per carton of cigarettes, on average

Products other than alcohol and tobacco may also be subject to customs duties.

If you are a Canadian citizen returning to Canada, you may be required to pay regular taxes and customs duties on the value of items exceeding your personal exemption limit.

Be aware that many items qualify for reduced or zero duty.