Canadians buying diamonds and settings online from US... Q''s

[Marie25]

There are so many fantastic websites and places to buy diamonds and settings online but in the back of my mind I have this nagging feeling that we''ll be taxed to death over the border.

If there are any Canadians who have purchased a ring or diamond or setting recently, what do you know about the duties and taxes for each case:

1. Buying only the diamond.
2. Buying the diamond set in a setting.
3. Buying the setting only.

Thanks in Advance for your help!

 

[SBee]

As far as I know (and from personal experience):

-no duty on anything.
-GST/PST (the latter, if applicable) on everything.

 

[Marie25]

That''s awesome. Thanks for the tip. In Alberta we''d only pay the GST but it sort of seems too good to be real.

 

[happilyeverafter]

I had the same experience as SBee, I recently ordered a finished ring with the diamond set from WF (haven''t received it yet). I called the local customs office twice to make sure that all I have to pay gst and pst for my province. He assured me there was no extra costs. With the dollar being so good and the PS/bankwire discount, and shipping included, it came out to be the same dollar value I would have spend if I bought locally. But I got a much better price by buying online!!

 

[shimmer]

I''m in AB too! I ordered my ering from WF last week and it''s supposed to be here TODAY! However, right now it is being cleared through customs which may take 2-48 hrs

I will keep you posted on what I have to pay when I pick it up! (*so excited* can you tell?)

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 7/3/2007 12:33:07 PM
Author: Marie25
That's awesome. Thanks for the tip. In Alberta we'd only pay the GST but it sort of seems too good to be real.

HI:

Sadly some things in life are "too good to be true", but this is not one of them. You pay only the shipping and GST while cross border shopping. As an aside, there seems to be a lot of AB'ans on this forum!

cheers--Sharon

 

[mela lu]

I''m in ON, and bought a loose stone from WF - I expected to pay both GST and PST but I just got the invoice (here at work) and it turned out to only be the 6% GST!

Hooray!

 

[Marie25]

With more and more responses leading me to believe it''s true (GST only) I am super excited about putting together my ring.

Thanks

 

[blingergrrrl]

Hey there! I am from Manitoba, and while I haven't bought anything (yet from the US, I seem to remember a post a few months ago stating they dropped the excise tax on jewellery.


ETA: Ahh! Here's the post by Canuk-Gal!! lol. "...exicise tax was abolished. You can read the document dated May 2006, on the Canadian Jewellers Association website.
www.canadianjeweller.com
If in doubt, call or check the Can. Gov't website. Besides your Provincial tax and GST you will be responsible for the exchange rate. Hope this is helpful."

It WAS helpful Canuk-Gal! I still remember this post!

 

[Jewels]

I bought my Tiffany ring 1.35c and a Tiffany band 0.27 tcw from Signed Pieces late last year and went through the same process. I even called the Canadian Gem Society. There used to be a 10 or 12% luxury tax in addition to GST and PST, but it was scrapped in the Summer of 2006.

Anyway, I only paid GST and PST. You will only have to pay the GST since you are in Alberta.

 

[blingergrrrl]

Found this here: http://sbinfocanada.about.com/od/pst/a/PSTecommerce_2.htm

"Online Sales: Which Taxes Do You Collect for Each Province?

In sum, as an online retailer accepting and shipping orders across Canada, the list of taxes you should be collecting and remitting currently looks like this:

BC – GST & PST
Alberta – GST
Saskatchewan – GST & PST voluntarily (unless is home province)
Manitoba – GST & PST (ahhh cr*p...but my sis lives in Ontario..hmmm)
Ontario – GST & RST if have a “business presence” (unless is home province)
Quebec – QST
New Brunswick – HST
Nova Scotia – HST
Newfoundland & Labrador – HST
Prince Edward Island – GST & PST voluntarily (unless is home province)
Northwest Territories – GST
Nunavut – GST
Yukon – GST"