7 critical import tax and duty mistakes importers must avoid

Importing goods into Canada involves a variety of taxes and tariffs. Businesses that commit an import tax mistake can experience significant disruptions and financial consequences. Staying informed can help importers avoid customs duty mistakes.

Common tax and tariff-related mistakes that importers encounter range from misvaluing goods to applying the wrong tariff codes. Understanding these issues is essential for ensuring accurate tax payments, avoiding penalties, and maintaining compliance with customs regulations.

1. Incorrect declaration of goods

It’s a good idea to double-check your declaration of goods to ensure that it meets customs requirements. Errors in declarations include problems such as incomplete product information or misclassification of imports. Properly declaring imported goods is critical to avoid AMPs and delays and ensure that the appropriate duty and tax rates are applied to the product. Failing to declare goods correctly can also result in them being seized at the Canadian border.

2. Lack of product description on imported goods

Customs brokers rely on product descriptions to help apply the correct regulations and accurately classify goods. Canadian customs authorities depend on detailed product descriptions to conduct risk assessments. Importers should provide precise, detailed descriptions that provide detail to outline what the goods are, their purpose, and the materials that they’re composed of. Detailed product descriptions will help to facilitate smoother customs clearance while reducing the likelihood of customs disputes.

3. Assigning an incorrect harmonized tariff classification number

Using an incorrect Harmonized System (HS) number can lead to inaccurate duty rates, delays in customs clearance, and potential penalties. Tariff codes determine the duty rates applied to goods, so even a small error can create significant financial consequences. Importers must ensure that they use accurate tariff codes. If uncertain, it’s worth consulting with a customs broker to ensure accuracy.

4. Misvaluation of imported goods

An incorrect valuation of goods can lead to a significant overpayment or underpayment of import taxes and duties. Misvaluing goods can also result in significant penalties and Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) against an importer, regardless of whether the misvaluation was accidental or not.

5. Omitting items from the total landed cost

Importers must ensure that all price components are considered in their valuation of goods to ensure accuracy. The total landed cost includes more than the cost of the goods themselves. Shipping, insurance, added value, and any applicable duties and taxes must be priced in. Importers should ensure they have a full understanding of all costs involved in importing their goods to Canada. Failure to do so can result in unexpected expenses.

6. Accidentally applying outdated tax rates

Tariffs and tax rates can change relatively quickly, including GST, PST, and HST. Importers must ensure that their systems are adjusted to the latest duty and tax rates. Customs officials and brokers typically have up-to-date rates on their systems, so working with your customs broker is a great way to avoid errors. Staying updated on current tax rates is essential, so make sure to regularly review and update tax rates in your accounting and customs processes.

7. Fluctuating tax rates for identical or similar products

Different provinces in Canada have varying tax rates, and these can fluctuate for identical or similar products. Failing to account for these differences can result in underpayment or overpayment of taxes. Commercial importers must self-assess to determine the appropriate rate for the goods they import as part of their commercial activity. Importers should stay informed about the specific tax rates in the regions where their goods will be sold and ensure that they apply the correct rates for each jurisdiction.

Get the details right with an experienced broker

Cole International has more than a half-century of experience with companies operating across Canada and the U.S. Let an experienced professional broker handle crucial details and deliver insight into import tariffs and regulations. Reach out and connect with one of our customs leaders today.

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