International mail processing
Memorandum D5-1-1

Note to reader

Canada Border Services Agency is currently reviewing this D-memo. It will be updated in the context of the CBSA Assessment Revenue Management (CARM) initiative and made available to stakeholders as soon as possible. Find out about CARM.

Ottawa, February 20, 2020

Revised, July 22, 2020

This document is also available in PDF (417 Kb) [help with PDF files]

In brief

  • This memorandum has been updated to reflect the increase to the Low Value Threshold (LVS) for shipments imported into Canada. Effective , the CBSA has increased its LVS threshold for all commercial importations (in addition to those for express shipments) to an estimated value for duty not exceeding CAD$3,300.

This memorandum outlines and explains the legislation authorizing the examination of international mail and the obligations of the importing public to pay the duties and taxes owing. It also provides an overview of the processing and handling of both commercial and non-commercial importations. All monetary references quoted are in Canadian dollars.

Legislation

Customs Act Section 12, Section 32, Section 99, Section 101, Section 110, Section 147
Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act Section 12, Section 17
Canada Post Corporation Act
Customs Tariff
Special Import Measures Act
Excise Act
Excise Tax Act
Accounting for Imported Goods and Payment of Duties Regulations
Fees in Respect of Mail Regulations
Undeliverable and Redirected Mail Regulations

Guidelines and general information

Definitions

1. For the purpose of this memorandum, the following definitions and terms are provided:

CBSA Casual Refund Centre (CRC)

Describes the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office where Form B2G, CBSA Informal Adjustment Request, is processed. CRCs have the authority to refund any duties, goods and services tax (GST), harmonized sales tax (HST), and provincial taxes, which are assessed on non-commercial importations. CRCs are listed on the back of Form B2G.

CBSA Mail Centre (CMC)

Describes the CBSA international mail processing operation, where the primary verification, secondary processing, and assessment of any applicable duties and/or taxes take place. CMCs are located within the Canada Post Corporation (CPC) facilities in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver in order to centralize the importation of mail into Canada and to expedite the clearance and delivery of mail.

Commercial importations

Goods that are or will be imported into Canada for sale or for any commercial, industrial, occupational, institutional, or other similar use.

Form B2, Canada Customs: Adjustment Request

Document used to amend a paid assessment for commercial goods (see Memorandum D17-2-1, Coding of Adjustment Request Forms). Adjustment requests are accepted for assessments of postal importations made on Form B3, Canada Customs Coding Form, or Form E14. Form B2 is used to request re-assessment or refund of any duties and taxes that were collected on commercial importations. Form B2 is available at all CBSA offices or on the CBSA website.

Form B2G, CBSA informal adjustment request

Document used to request an adjustment or refund on duty-paid for non-commercial goods that have been imported by mail, courier, or on individual traveller's declarations. Form B2G is available at all CBSA offices or on the website. For goods imported by mail, Form B2G is also located on the back of the importer's copy of Form E14.

Form E14, CBSA Postal Import Form

Document used to assess duties and/or taxes and keep track of importations arriving through the mail.

Mail

As set out in section 2 of the Canada Post Corporation Act, means mailable matter, from the time it is posted to the time it is delivered to the addressee thereof.

Non-commercial importations

Goods for individual use, not intended for resale, commercial, industrial, occupational, institutional, or other similar use.

Publications

Includes books, newspapers, periodicals, magazines, and any similar printed publication including audio recording that relate to a publication that may accompany it.

Release

The authorization to remove goods from a customs office, sufferance warehouse, bonded warehouse or duty free shop for use in Canada, or in the case of international mail, occurs at the time the CPC is permitted by border services officers to effect delivery of it.

Undeliverable mail

Mail as per the Undeliverable and Redirected Mail Regulations that for any cause cannot be delivered to the addressee and includes any mail the delivery of which is prohibited by law or is refused by the addressee or on which postage due is not paid by the sender on demand.

General information

2. The following information is of a general nature only and is not a substitute for relevant legislation and regulations. The Customs Act, the Canada Post Corporation Act, and other acts and regulations relating to the international movement of mail should be consulted when interpreting and applying the law.

3. The postal system is designed to expedite processing and delivery of imported mail items to recipients by allowing the CPC to deliver as well as collect duties and/or taxes owing to the government. The CPC charges the recipient a handling fee for this service; however, there is no CPC fee for mail items that are duty-free and tax-exempt or for commercial items with a value over $3,300.

4. For more information on the CPC's role in processing international mail, visit the CPC’s website. You can also find out more about non-mailable goods or goods you cannot send through the mail.

5. The CBSA examines international mail to verify the country of origin, quantity, value, type, and admissibility of the goods in relation to the Customs Act, the Customs Tariff, the Special Import Measures Act, the Excise Act, the Excise Act 2001, the Excise Tax Act, the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and other acts administered by the CBSA on behalf of other government departments.

6. The Customs Act authorizes the CBSA to detain imported goods that may be prohibited, controlled, or regulated under any Act of Parliament. The Memoranda D19 series, Acts and Regulations of Other Government Departments, outline the CBSA's responsibilities in this regard.

Postal imports remission order ($20 or less) / gift exemptions

7. The Postal Imports Remission Order (PIRO) grants remission of all duties and/or taxes paid or payable on certain goods imported by mail when the value for duty does not exceed $20. Refer to Memorandum D8-2-2, Postal Imports Remission Order, for more details on the conditions for granting remission.

8. Gift Exemptions - Tariff Item no. 9816.00.00 ($60). Individuals may receive certain gift importations not exceeding $60 duty-free and tax-exempt. For gifts valued at more than $60, the portion of a gift's value exceeding $60 is subject to duties and/or taxes at the appropriate rate. For more details on eligibility and policies regarding gift exemptions, refer to Memorandum D2-1-4, Casual Donations – Tariff Item No. 9816.00.00.

9. The $20 PIRO benefit cannot be combined with the gift exemption of $60.

Arrival of inbound international mail

10. The foreign postal administration arranges for the transportation of mail items from the country of origin to Canada. In accordance with the provisions of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), mail transferred from a foreign postal administration is documented on a delivery bill CN 37 (Surface mail), CN 38 (Airmail) or CN 41 (Surface airlifted mail). The onus is on the sender of the mail item to declare the origin, contents and value of the item on a CN 22 or a CN 23 - Customs Declaration. See Appendix A for required information.

11. Upon arrival in Canada, the mail remains under the control of the foreign postal administration until it is "exchanged" with the CPC at one of the International Mail Facilities located in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montréal. Mail is then sorted for movement within Canada and presented to the CBSA for admissibility determination and duty and/or tax assessment.

12. A distinction is made between non-commercial and commercial importations. Commercial importers are required to keep books and records of all importation transactions. Non-commercial or casual importers may wish to keep a copy of Form E14, CBSA Postal Import Form.

Processing international mail

Primary inspection

13. The CPC is responsible for presenting international mail to the CBSA. During primary inspection, the border services officer screens the mail items to determine which are duty-free and/or tax-exempt importations, and ensures the goods that require no further CBSA control are released to the CPC for immediate delivery.

14. All mail items containing goods that may be prohibited, controlled or regulated, subject to duties and/or taxes, or goods requiring examination by another government department or agency are separated and forwarded to the secondary area for further review.

Canada Post Data Entry

15. The CPC ensures each mail item that is directed to the CBSA secondary processing area has a unique bar-coded inventory number and exporter/importer data is captured in CBSA’s postal systems.

Secondary processing

16. In the secondary area, the border services officer verifies mail items to determine whether they are subject to duties and/or taxes, controls, such as permits or certificates, enforcement measures, or if they require examination by another government department.

Opening mail

17. Border services officers have the authority to examine goods under section 99 of the Customs Act. This authority may be exercised if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a mail item contains goods subject to the Customs Tariff, or any goods prohibited, controlled, or regulated under any other Act of Parliament.

18. Under subsection 17(1) of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, a border services officer may examine any mail that is being imported or exported and open or cause to be opened any such mail that the officer suspects on reasonable grounds contains currency or monetary instruments of a value equal to or greater than the amount prescribed. Refer to Memorandum D19-14-1, Cross-Border Currency and Monetary Instruments Reporting, for more information.

19. It is the sender's responsibility to accurately report the value and clearly describe the contents of any mail item. See Appendix A for the prescribed elements required for reporting.

20. Border services officers may open a mail item and review invoices to ensure the most accurate assessment is made. Mail items that are opened and subsequently assessed duties and/or taxes or released for delivery are normally closed with tape, Form E608, Opened by CBSA.

21. Form E605, Your Package Has Been Examined, should be included in mail items that are opened because there was not enough information on the declaration. E605 is used to advise importers of CBSA requirements to ensure future shipments are properly declared.

Duties and/or taxes owing on mail

22. The border services officer determines tariff classification and value based on information indicated on the customs declaration, invoices attached to the item, or an examination to appraise the value of the goods. The border services officer enters this information into the postal accounting system and the system automatically calculates the amount of duties and/or taxes assessed.

23. Duty rates may apply on imported goods based on trade agreements. While agreements may in certain cases exempt the duty, unless specifically exempted, the goods and services tax (GST) is applied.

24. In the provinces of Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, the federal-based GST and the provincial sales tax (PST) have been combined to create the harmonized sales tax (HST). The HST is applied to non-commercial goods which are destined to these provinces. Imported commercial goods destined to these provinces are only subject to the 5% federal portion of the HST.

25. For non-commercial goods, in the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec or Saskatchewan, you must pay the applicable rate of sales tax for the province in which the goods are delivered. Certain imported goods may not be subject to the PST in your specific province. For further information on PST collection, see Memorandum D2-3-6, Non-Commercial Provincial Tax Collection Programs.

26. For tobacco products, provincial tobacco taxes are also collected in New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia. The tobacco tax rate is set by the provincial legislature. See Memorandum D2-3-6, Non-Commercial Provincial Tax Collection Programs for more information.

Handling fee

27. To process goods imported as mail that are subject to duty and/or tax, the CPC charges the recipient a $9.95 handling fee. This fee is applied to each dutiable or taxable item, which is collected from the recipient in advance of or upon delivery or pick up of a mail item. If the mail item is duty-free and tax exempt, no amount is charged.

CBSA Postal Import Form

28. Details of the assessment of duties, taxes, and handling fees are affixed to the mail item on Form E14, CBSA Postal Import Form. The CPC is responsible for delivering mail items and for collecting duties and/or taxes on behalf of the CBSA.

Commercial goods

29. In the case of commercial importations where goods have an estimated value for duty exceeding $3,300, the CBSA will advise the importer when a mail shipment arrives. The importer is then required to present the appropriate documentation to the CBSA to obtain release of the goods. Release on Minimum Documentation (RMD) is allowed, provided the importer/owner or customs broker has posted the required security for release prior to payment privileges. Form B3-3, Canada Customs Coding Form, Type M (Mail) cash entries are required for importers who have not posted security for release prior to payment. Once the release documentation has been approved, the CBSA commercial office advises the applicable CMC to release the mail shipment to the CPC for delivery.

Adjustments

Before payment of duties and taxes

30. An importer, either commercial or non-commercial, who does not agree with the assessment of duties and/or taxes, may request a reassessment before payment of duties and taxes by checking the "Return to CBSA" box of Form E14.

31. Canada Post then returns the mail item to the CMC located closest to the addressee. The CBSA may contact the addressee to discuss the request for reassessment. If duties and/or taxes still apply, an adjusted Form E14 is attached to the mail item and released to the CPC for delivery. If the goods are deemed duty-free and tax-exempt, the CBSA releases the mail item to the CPC for delivery.

32. An importer, either commercial or non-commercial, may refuse a mail item by checking the "Return to Sender" box on Form E14. The CPC will then return it to the sender.

After payment of duties and taxes

33. A commercial importer may request an adjustment or refund after payment of duties and/or taxes for imported goods using Form B2, Canada Customs: Adjustment Request. For more details on Form B2 submission and processing, refer to Memorandum D17-2-1, The Coding, Submission and Processing of Form B2 Canada Customs Adjustment Request.

34. A non-commercial importer may request an adjustment or refund after payment of duties and/or taxes using Form B2G, CBSA Informal Adjustment Request, located on the reverse side of the importer's copy of Form E14. Form B2G should be submitted to the nearest CRC listed on the form along with supporting documentation, such as a credit note or any other documentation concerning the request for adjustment or refund. For more details on non-commercial refunds and Form B2G, refer to Memorandum D6-2-6, Refund of Duties and Taxes on Non-Commercial Importations.

35. The $9.95 handling fee charged by the CPC on postal shipments may be refunded when it is determined that the goods should have been duty-free and tax-exempt at the time of importation. The CBSA does not refund any part of any fees for Express mail items.

Voluntary accounting

36. Voluntary accounting is accepted when an importer reports to the CBSA that dutiable goods have been released in Canada without a Form E14 and payment of duties and/or taxes. The importer should prepare a Form B3-3, Canada Customs Coding Form, V type document for commercial goods, or Form BSF715, Casual Goods Accounting Document, for non-commercial goods, and duties and taxes owing will be collected. The documents will bear the notation "Voluntary Accounting" in the field reserved for the cargo control document number. Refer to Memorandum D17-1-3, Casual Importations, for Form BSF715 instructions, and Memorandum D17-1-10, Coding of Customs Accounting Documents, for Form B3-3 instructions.

37. Importers who receive mail items with Form E14 attached, without having paid the applicable duties and/or taxes indicated, should remit payment to:

Commercial Revenue Section
Canada Post Corporation
Suite E0640
2701 Riverside Drive
Ottawa ON K1A 0B1

38. Importers who determine that insufficient duties and/or taxes were assessed on their Form E14 may request an adjustment by submitting Form B2G for non-commercial goods to the nearest CRC to account for payment of additional duties and taxes. For commercial goods, Form B2 is submitted to the Regional Client Services Division to account for the additional payment of duties and taxes.

Multiple, lot, or split shipments

39. When a shipment contains more than one mail item to make up a complete order, CBSA tries to assess duties and/or taxes on one invoice (Form E14). However, if the items are not presented to the CBSA at the same time or do not arrive together, there may be more than one form issued. If this is the case, the importer may wish to pay for each item and then submit a refund request for the duplicate payment.

Firearms

40. Non-restricted firearms, restricted firearms, and prohibited handguns may be imported by mail if the importer has the appropriate licence and permit(s). Shipping prohibited handguns by mail is permitted only if the destination is within Canada and if the firearm is sent by the most secure means offered by the CPC which includes the requirement for a signature upon delivery. Refer to Memorandum D19-13-2, Importing and Exporting Firearms, Weapons and Devices, for more information.

41. Commercial importers of firearms must have a valid Business Firearms Licence that authorizes the possession of the class of firearm being imported and a copy of that licence should be included with all commercial importations of firearms.

42. All military weapons require an import/export permit, which can be obtained from Global Affairs Canada. Visit their website for additional information.

43. For more information on firearms, please contact the Canadian Firearms Program by phone at 1-800-731-4000 or visit their website.

Importing public’s rights

44. The CBSA makes every effort to apply the law fairly and impartially. If you believe the laws have been applied unfairly, you have the right to a review.

45. For non-commercial importations, if you are not satisfied with the reassessment or adjustment, you should submit a dispute of the reassessment or adjustment to the address of the local regional Recourse Division indicated on the letter denying your refund claim, or to any CBSA office in Canada, by addressing to the attention of Recourse Division. Refer to the instructions for filing contained in the letter of denial and in Memorandum D6-2-6, Refund of Duties and Taxes on Non-Commercial Importations.

46. In the case of a commercial shipment, you should submit a dispute on Form B2 to the local regional Recourse Division as outlined in Memorandum D11-6-7, Request under Section 60 of the Customs Act for a Re-determination, a further Re-determination or a Review by the President of the Canada Border Services Agency and Memorandum D17-2-1, The Coding, Submission and Processing of Form B2 Canada Customs Adjustment Request.

47. Both commercial and non-commercial importation dispute notices must be filed in accordance with the form and manner requirements prescribed under subsection 60(3) of the Customs Act.

Additional information

For more information, within Canada call the Border Information Service at 1-800-461-9999. From outside Canada call 204-983-3500 or 506-636-5064. Long distance charges will apply. Agents are available Monday to Friday (08:00 – 16:00 local time / except holidays). TTY is also available within Canada: 1-866-335-3237.

Appendix A

Prescription of information pertaining to the reporting of goods imported as mail

Pursuant to subsection 12(6) of the Customs Act (the Act), and in accordance with the authority vested in me by the delegation instrument signed by the Minister of National Revenue on , pursuant to subsection 2(4) of the Act, I hereby prescribe the following information to be provided for the purposes of reporting goods imported as mail:

(i) For "casual" goods as defined in section 2 of the Accounting for Imported Goods and Payment of Duties Regulations:

(ii) For "commercial" goods as defined in section 2 of the Accounting for Imported Goods and Payment of Duties Regulations:

This information is to be provided in English or French on a customs declaration form/dispatch note approved by the postal administration in the country of export in accordance with accepted Universal Postal Union (UPU) standards and affixed to the mail item. In the case of exporter and importer name and address, this information must be clearly provided as part of the labelling of the parcel, if it does not form part of the customs declaration/dispatch note. The name and address information of the sender and the addressee must be provided in Roman letters and Arabic numerals.

References

Issuing office:
Postal and Courier Programs Unit, Program and Policy Management Division, Commercial Program Directorate, Commercial and Trade Branch
Headquarters file:
 
Legislative references:
Customs Act, sections 12, 32, 99, 101, 102, and 147; Canada Post Corporation Act; Customs Tariff; Special Import Measures Act; Excise Act; Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act; Accounting for Imported Goods and Payment of Duties Regulations; Fees in Respect of Mail Regulations; Undeliverable and Redirected Mail Regulations
Other references:
D2-1-4, D2-3-6, D6-2-6, D8-2-2, D11-6-7, D16-1-1, D17-1-3, D17-1-10, D17-2-1, and D19 series
Superseded memorandum D:
D5-1-1, February 20, 2020
Date modified: