In Out Parcel never charges duty, tax, tariffs or brokerage. Those are collected by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) — or by the carrier on CBSA’s behalf — when the goods actually enter Canada. What you pay us is the receiving fee and, if you ask us to ship something, the postage.
If You Pick Up and Drive Across
You declare your goods at the booth like any other purchase. CBSA works out what’s owed and you pay it there:
- GST and PST on the purchase value of what you’re bringing in.
- Duty, if it applies. Duty depends on the item’s country of origin — where it was made, not where you bought it — and on whatever surtaxes are in force at the time. Those lists change, so check CBSA’s current guidance for your specific item.
Personal exemptions apply once you’ve been out of the country long enough: CAD $200 after 24 hours and CAD $800 after 48 hours. A same-day trip has no exemption — you simply declare what you bought and pay the tax on it. There’s no brokerage on this route at all, because nobody filed a customs entry on your behalf.
If We Forward It to You
The two forwarding lanes handle customs differently, and the difference is visible in your quote:
- USPS — no brokerage. Any duties are collected at your door by Canada Post.
- UPS / FedEx — brokerage is bundled into the rate you approve, and customs is handled for you.
Every forward is quoted live for your exact parcel and destination before you approve it, so there’s nothing unexpected either way.
For the longer explanation of brokerage and the ways to avoid it, see UPS brokerage fees in Canada, or how cross-border pickup works.
Still unsure what your order will attract? Email us at support@inoutparcel.com and we’ll walk you through it.