Canadian selling artwork to U.S. buyers

[mtomalty]

Hi,

Would appreciate any information from anyone who has experience in this area.

Specifically, i'm looking for information regarding what to expect in the way of U.S  customs
and import duties charges that would be charged to a U.S. buyer when buying from a
Canadian based photographer.
Prints will be shipped and not hand delivered or carried out of Canada by buyer.

Thanks in advance,
Mark

[DougMorgan]

Hi,

Would appreciate any information from anyone who has experience in this area.

Specifically, i'm looking for information regarding what to expect in the way of U.S  customs
and import duties charges that would be charged to a U.S. buyer when buying from a
Canadian based photographer.
Prints will be shipped and not hand delivered or carried out of Canada by buyer.

Thanks in advance,
Mark

If properly marked with the HS code there is no tax or duty on an art print.  The code I use is 9702.00.0000.   I have a whack of printed stickers I stick all over the tube.  The table of the codes is available on line from Revenue Canada at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/...3-01-99-eng.pdf.  

Beware though that courier companies may try and classify the item as attracting duty in order to justify a brokerage fee.   I've found FEDEX to be the most fair and reliable when it comes to this and never trust UPS crossing a border.

I usually send unstretched canvas and have good luck shipping directly to a frame shop or stretcher.   Different rules seem to apply when shipping to a business rather than an individual.

Be sure to let the buyer know of course any taxes are the responsibility of the recipient but I understand wanting to cover your bases --- mention taxes and a US buyer heads for the hills.

Good luck
Doug.

[neile]

Hi,

Would appreciate any information from anyone who has experience in this area.

Specifically, i'm looking for information regarding what to expect in the way of U.S  customs
and import duties charges that would be charged to a U.S. buyer when buying from a
Canadian based photographer.
Prints will be shipped and not hand delivered or carried out of Canada by buyer.

Thanks in advance,
Mark

Doug's already given you good info on the HS code to use. I'll second his comment about shippers. Do not, ever, use UPS to ship goods across the border. They charge completely asinine brokerage fees to the recipient, often $100+. FedEx is FAR more reasonable. Canada Post is even more reasonable.

Neil

[DougMorgan]

Doug's already given you good info on the HS code to use. I'll second his comment about shippers. Do not, ever, use UPS to ship goods across the border. They charge completely asinine brokerage fees to the recipient, often $100+. FedEx is FAR more reasonable. Canada Post is even more reasonable.

Neil

Canada post is a perfect choice within Canada, I agree.   The wrinkle I've had sending goods south is that once the package gets in the hands of the USPS it kind of disappears and is un-trackable until delivery, which can be later than Canada post promises.    The upside is that Canada post will refund the postage if it's substantially late but the experience can unnerve the skittish buyer.

If you wanted to give the purchaser a choice, maybe quote Canada Post (with the above cautions) as well as Fedex for a faster option.   Also note that in my experience Fedex is often quicker than quoted for ground service, especially to a business with a fedex account.

Doug

[mtomalty]

Thanks very much Doug and Neile

Your info was of great help.

One other thing,Doug.
In the table of codes link you attached do you know, offhand, which page photo print/fine art print related begin as the document has 1745 pages  :>))
EDIT: found it.  Of course it is on page 1639.

I did learn, however, that there is an 8% duty on nuclear reactors and 25% duty on cruise ships !

Mark

[DougMorgan]

Thanks very much Doug and Neile

Your info was of great help.

One other thing,Doug.
In the table of codes link you attached do you know, offhand, which page photo print/fine art print related begin as the document has 1745 pages  :>))
EDIT: found it.  Of course it is on page 1639.

I did learn, however, that there is an 8% duty on nuclear reactors and 25% duty on cruise ships !

Mark

So much of the duty situation is political so it makes little sense to a person prone to thinking about these things.  

The worst I had was UPS classified a normal Canon external flash (550EX)  as a disposable flash cube (remember those things?).   The box was properly marked with the contents and somehow I can't help but suspect UPS selected the only item remotely similar that had a duty attached to justify the 500% brokerage fee.    Another thing to be aware of is that UPS refuses to give any refunds.  The best I could do was a credit that I could never get them to apply.    Crooks.

Good luck!
Doug

PS: If your picture is printed on canvas, I'd use the HS code I gave you above.

[frugal]

Canada post is a perfect choice within Canada, I agree.   The wrinkle I've had sending goods south is that once the package gets in the hands of the USPS it kind of disappears and is un-trackable until delivery, which can be later than Canada post promises.    The upside is that Canada post will refund the postage if it's substantially late but the experience can unnerve the skittish buyer.

I've seen both the "disappearing package" trick with Canada Post once it crosses the border (agree that this is really an issue with it changing hands to USPS) and once I even had a case where the package was marked as "out for delivery" when the recipient didn't receive it for several days after then (or a delivery card that they'd made an attempt) so I'd agree that while Canada Post is usually good I wouldn't use it for cross border shipping.