CPAP Tax on Canadian Shipments?

limpy · Post by **limpy** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:53 pm

What is the tax situation if I order from an american online cpap company and then have it shipped up to canada? It is medical equipment and should be tax free I think but dont know. Does anyone have experience with this? Thank you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:59 pm

send an email to: sales@cpap.com they can answer your question.

CRMW · Post by **CRMW** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:50 pm

Customs charged me GST on a mask & software at the border.

Chris

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 9:42 pm

UPS tried to charge me PST and GST on my mask from the states (it was an Activa sold after Resmed told suppliers not to sell out of country so go eat your heart out Resmed ). No tax on medical equipment or supplies that enter Canada. I disputed the charges and they removed them. You can check Canada Customs and Revenue site which should tell you.

limpy · Post by **limpy** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 9:46 pm

Is there a way I can have them mark the package so I don't get the tax?

Selena (but really Julie) · Post by **Selena (but really Julie)** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 2:13 am

If they're a reputable co. they won't want to do that (and that's reasonable), but you can ask them to courier a package, which largely avoids inspection. However, companies have 'policies' about things and some do it and some won't. I got terrific service that way from a company that happens not to be the one sponsoring this site (though I can't remember what Cpap.com's policies are, and may be similar).

Bellcrest · Post by **Bellcrest** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 5:45 am

I have never been charged for any products coming from cpap.com because they mark the package as Medical Supplies.

I have however had to pay duty on the Australian Hose both times that I have ordered it. (Got one for my son in law).

Any products coming into Canada via Fed Ex or UPS is subject to their 'handling fee' with is exhorbitant. I always ask to have my product sent via the post office. Most places are happy to accommodate.

Any time I have purchased or made a swap with other users on this site, they were nice enough to put 'gift' and lower actual value with helps at the border.

The Canadian $$ is much higher now so there isn't as much difference now as there used to be. At one time it was nearly double the cost for us Canadian to purchase product in the US.

Bella · Post by **Bella** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:23 am

There should be no customs duty nor GST or PST (Ontario) on properly labeled medical devices such as CPAP's/bipap's or their integral attachments, i.e masks.

There is a tariff item for the duty-free importation of goods to assist with disabilities. The Customs Tariff allows for "Goods designed to assist persons with disabilities in alleviating the effects of those disabilities, and articles and materials for use in such goods". The tariff item is 979.00.00. There should be no GST. And on importations, if duty and GST is not assessed, neither will be PST.

And if none of those charges are assessed, Canada Post will not charge its five dollar handling fee. As someone mentioned the courier rates can be quite high. A lot higher.

I would ask the shipper to tell the truth of the declaration. And I think any reputable company would do so. They can describe it as a medical device, or medical interface, or an integral circuit for the medical device. What I would not do is have somebody describe it as a gift if the purchase actually took place, especially a commercial enterprise. I would think that even the heated hose, if properly described, could have been included as an integral part. After all, the hose is needed to go from the CPAP to the mask to the person.

Most of the information can be found on the Canada Revenue Agency site now. They've had a name change. Some of the other information can be found on the Canada Border Service Agency site. Another name change.

PS, if anything sounds unusually odd in here, I'm learning how to work with talk and type software, and I'm trying to proofread as best I can but things slip past me.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): hose, CPAP

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:24 pm

I have to agree with Bellcrest on the high handling and customs clearing charges that UPS charges. It cost me over $35 for my Resmed mask . It would be much cheaper to send via post. The other thing to remember is to have the store clearly mark the package as a medical device as Bellcrest also mentioned.

Bella · Post by **Bella** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 5:06 am

I have to make a correction to my post just above DVL's. The tariff item for goods to alleviate disabilities is 9979.00.00.

Also, if you are having someone ship you goods as a gift, they should include a card or a note saying it's a gift..........a birthday card, or a "just because you're you" note.

CPAP Tax on Canadian Shipments?

CPAP Tax on Canadian Shipments?

Canadian Customs, tax, etc.

Duty and taxes

Duties and taxes

Correction