US Purchases Canada Duty: Taxes and CBSA Basics for Shoppers

For US purchases, Canada duty and tax are assessed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) when the parcel arrives, and the buyer pays whatever applies. Our shop prices and delivery fees do not include those charges. This guide explains the general process and how each Amaboxly service works for a Canadian address.

US purchases and Canada duty: how CBSA assesses a parcel

Every parcel entering Canada from the USA travels with a customs declaration. It states what the goods are, what was paid for them and who is receiving them. CBSA uses that information to decide whether duty or tax applies.

The amount depends on the goods and their value, and the rules are set by Canada. We do not publish duty or tax figures for Canada because they are CBSA’s to set and they can change. Check CBSA’s current guidance for your type of item before you place a large order.

Two things hold on every route. The declaration has to be accurate, and any duty or tax is the buyer’s responsibility.

What Amaboxly prices include and what they leave out

Customs, duties and taxes on international orders are not included in our shop prices or delivery fees. We declare the accurate item value on customs forms, so the paperwork CBSA sees matches what you paid.

Our US buying base is in New Hampshire, which has no general state sales tax. That can benefit eligible purchases delivered to the confirmed New Hampshire receiving address. It does not remove Canadian import duties, taxes or clearance charges.

Prices on our site can be shown in your local currency as an estimate. We charge in ringgit at checkout and your bank converts, so the final amount can differ slightly. Card payments work from anywhere we deliver.

Three ways to shop US stores from Canada

Routes outside Malaysia need a destination-specific quote before you buy or ship. Canada being a served destination does not mean every item, carrier route or postcode is accepted, so ask first. The Buy for me page and the worldwide parcel forwarding page explain each service in full.

Shop orders to Canada: delivery, deposit and balance timing

Every product page shows its category. Ready Stock USA items are already held at our US location and take about 30 days from the order date. Pre-Order items are bought from the US store after you order, usually within 1 to 3 business days, with estimated delivery 30 calendar days from the order date.

Those dates are estimates. Peak seasons, US store delays and customs inspections can add a few days.

Delivery to Canada is a live shipping quote per item, shown at checkout before you pay. We use FedEx for countries outside Malaysia and Singapore, and international parcels are usually in transit 1 to 5 working days after dispatch.

On Pre-Order items you can pay a 50% deposit. Choose the colour, choose "Pay 50% deposit" and add to bag. The cart and checkout show what you pay today and the balance due later. Ready Stock items are paid in full.

Balance timing depends on which hub serves your country. Orders for the Americas, Canada included, ship straight from our New Hampshire hub, so the balance is paid before the item ships from the USA. The payment link arrives by email and WhatsApp, and the item ships once the balance is paid.

Forwarding to Canada: benchmark-based freight

Standard worldwide air freight is priced at twice the corresponding Malaysia USD per kg rate. Canada is priced differently. It is one of seventeen destinations on a benchmark-based rate, which is a published competitor benchmark minus US$0.10 per billable kg, and the figure is confirmed in your quote.

Billed weight is the higher of actual weight and dimensional weight, with a 1 kg minimum per box. Dimensional weight is length x width x height in inches, divided by 166 to give pounds, then multiplied by 0.4536 for kilograms.

Take a box measuring 20 x 16 x 12 inches. That is 3,840 / 166 = 23.13 lb, and 23.13 x 0.4536 = 10.49 kg. If the box weighs 6 kg on the scale, the 10.49 kg figure is the one used for billing.

The calculator on our shipping fees page estimates Malaysia forwarding, so its rates and timing should not be assumed for Canada. Your quote lists measured weight and dimensions, freight, delivery, import treatment, timing and services, and you review it before authorizing shipment. Shipments over 30 kg need a separate quote.

We do not sell freight insurance, and forwarding terms give no loss or damage cover. Glass, ceramics and liquids travel at your risk, though you can arrange cover elsewhere.

Paperwork to prepare before you buy

Get the complete receiving address and suite details from your forwarding account before checkout, and never ship to an incomplete address. After you buy, keep the receipt and the retailer tracking number, then declare the parcel in your account with accurate contents and paid value.

That declaration and receipt are what an accurate customs entry is built on. Our tracking and declaration guide walks through each field.

Some items need extra review before you buy: batteries (installed or spare), power banks, liquids, aerosols, cosmetics, magnets, items with radio functions, fragile glass or ceramics, and bulky household items. Prohibited items can be held and disposed of, so send us the product link first if you are unsure.