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Customs fees on a parcel coming into Canada are mostly GST or HST plus duty, and the first $20 is free. A mailed item worth $20 or less carries no duty or tax, while anything above that can trigger both, based on its full value.
What customs fees apply to something you order from abroad?
There are three layers. Duty depends on what the goods are and where they were made, and the CBSA works it out on their value in Canadian dollars. Sales tax follows: 5% GST, or HST in the provinces that have one. And some goods, such as alcohol or tobacco, can carry excise duty or other taxes on top.
We left duty rates out on purpose. They vary by product and country of origin, and we couldn’t confirm current tariff changes for specific goods, so check the CBSA’s estimator before you buy anything expensive.
Courier and postal companies can also add their own handling charge for clearing the parcel. We couldn’t confirm any amount. Read the carrier’s terms, since that charge isn’t a government fee.
Where is the free limit, and does it depend on how the parcel arrives?
It does. The thresholds below come from the CBSA.
| How it arrives | Value | What applies |
|---|---|---|
| Mail, any country | $20 and under | No duty, no tax |
| Mail, any country | Over $20 | Duty and taxes |
| Courier from the US or Mexico | Up to $40 | No duty, no tax |
| Courier from the US or Mexico | $40 to $150 | No duty, taxes still apply |
| Courier from the US or Mexico | Over $150 | Duty and taxes |
| Courier from other countries | Up to $20 | No duty, no tax |
| Courier from other countries | Over $20 | Duty and taxes |
Some goods, such as alcohol and tobacco, don’t get these thresholds. There’s also a separate rule for mail: gifts from family or friends abroad worth $60 or less are exempt from the GST.
Which sales tax will you pay in your province?
The CBSA lists it by province. HST at 13% applies in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Prince Edward Island. British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec and Saskatchewan charge GST plus their own provincial tax. Alberta and the three territories charge GST only.
Say you order a $200 item from Germany and it comes to Ontario by courier. It’s over the $20 courier threshold for other countries, so tax applies. The GST/HST calculator shows $26 of HST on $200. That’s the tax on the goods alone. Any duty comes on top, and we haven’t confirmed whether it also changes the tax figure, so treat $26 as the floor.
The same order to Alberta would carry 5% GST, which is $10. If a seller’s price already includes tax and you want to know what’s inside it, the HST reverse calculator backs it out.
How do you work out the real cost of an import?
Add the item, shipping, duty, tax and any carrier charge. That’s your landed cost. If you’re buying to resell, divide your profit by the selling price to get a margin, and the profit margin calculator does it in one step.
Is a cheap overseas price still cheap once the tax is added? Sometimes it isn’t. Set the landed cost next to a Canadian seller’s tax-included price before you click buy, and the gap may be a lot smaller than the sticker suggests.
What mistakes cost people money?
The big one is assuming the threshold is per item. The CBSA page speaks of the value of the item or shipment, and we haven’t confirmed how it treats several items in one box, so ask the carrier before you split an order.
Undervaluing goods on a form is another. It’s not a trick that works, and this page won’t help you with it.
Business imports run on different rules, with their own accounting deadlines that change at $3,300. A customs broker is the person to ask about those.
Where the numbers come from
The mail and courier thresholds, GST exemptions and provincial tax lists come from the Canada Border Services Agency pages on importing by mail and on low-value shipments, read in 2026. HST and GST examples come from the calculators on this site.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a customs-free amount?
By mail, $20 and under is free of duty and tax. Courier parcels from the US or Mexico are free up to $40, and from other countries up to $20.
Do I pay tax if duty is waived?
Sometimes. A courier parcel from the US or Mexico between $40 and $150 is duty free, but taxes still apply.
Which tax do I pay on an import?
GST at 5% in Alberta and the territories, HST at 13% in five provinces, and GST plus provincial tax in BC, Manitoba, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
What are the duty rates?
They depend on the goods and where they were made. We didn't confirm rates, so use the CBSA's estimator or ask your carrier.
Does the courier charge a handling fee?
Carriers can add their own charges. We couldn't confirm any amount, so read the carrier's terms before you order.
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Information only. This page is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax-Services.ca is an independent publisher: we don't prepare or file tax returns or offer tax services, and we have no connection with the CRA, Revenu Québec, any government or any company named on this page. Check the figures that matter with an official source or a qualified professional.