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Buying in Canada, bringing back to US

I have found scads of threads on this question but I can find no easy answer. I've looked at government website, other forums, and it's astonishingly confusing. 

I live in northern New England and Montreal is the closest city. Here's the basic question: if I drive into Canada, buy a NEW piece of stereo equipment, and drive back into the US, what will I pay in taxes, tariffs, customs, duty, whatever the fees are? (Will I pay taxes in Canada, too?) And what if I buy a USED piece of equipment? (Let's assume at least $4000 CAD.) Does it matter if the item was manufactured in the US? 

I've spent a fair amount of time looking at the US government's website. It's ... overwhelming. It looks like the "rate of duty" for loudspeakers is either free or 35% (quite a difference). There simply has to be a simple answer. 

I've crossed the border many times and I know they don't always check, etc etc. But I would declare whatever I buy. And also: I'm not talking about having something shipped. 

Thanks! I know this has been discussed out here for over a decade. But I am hoping someone can tell me in simple terms what the duty (tax, customs, tariffs) rates are for stereo equipment in 2020.


northman

Showing 2 responses by northman

northman OP
236 posts
 
Thanks! I have read that anything under $200/person is duty free. Most of the information out there seems to be about alcohol/cigarettes/cars, and most of it seems directed at Canadians (I almost typed Canadiens) bring goods back to the US. 

My worry is getting to the customs/border crossing and getting walloped. 

If I buy used, then ... maybe there's no sales tax? Inquiring minds...
northman OP
236 posts
 
I think I looked through the same "phone book" of regulations online, the "harmonized tariff schedule." It's baroque, the whole thing. And what if she had said, "that will be $533"? It feels utterly random. I find it incredible that a simple question--"what will the duty be on a pair of used speakers?"--doesn't have a simple answer. I wouldn't want to get to the border crossing with an expensive purchase not having any idea what I was about to pay.

This thread, then, is like all the other threads on this topic out here--fairly useless. (That's on me, not on the helpful responses.) The answer is that no one knows what I would pay in duties/tariffs/etc on a pair of used speakers, perhaps not even the customs agent. 

I think I'll keep my purchases stateside.
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