Valuation

A "value for duty" must be declared for all goods imported to Canada. The value for duty you declare for your imported goods is the base amount on which you calculate the duty you may owe on your goods. Even if you don't owe any duty, you still need to identify a value for duty to calculate the Goods and Services Tax (GST) or Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) you may owe.

Value for duty must be established using one of the six methods of customs valuation identified in sections 48 to 53 of Canada's Customs Act. The requirements of each of these methods are based on the rules reflected in the World Trade Organization Valuation Agreement. These rules ensure imported goods are valued in accordance with commercial reality, and they prohibit the use of arbitrary or fictitious customs values. Most of Canada's trading partners also value imported goods with consideration to these rules.