Customs FAQ

Customs Home Page

Expandable List

The customs charges are brokerage, taxes, and duty if applicable.

  • Brokerage fees will always be $11.89 CAD after the University’s tax rebate.
  • Tax is the GST portion of the HST.
  • Contact Customs & Traffic to determine if duty is applicable. Most items are duty-free, or there are provisions in place to waive the duty.
  1. Convert the purchase price of your good to CAD. You can find the current exchange rate on the Bank of Canada website.
  2. Multiply the CAD price by 5%; then 33% (this is the amount you are required to remit after the University’s rebate)
  3. Add the brokerage fee of $11.17 CAD.

This is the approximate total customs charges you will be billed, after University rebates have been applied.

CERS is The Canadian Export Reporting System; used for Export Declarations on goods valued over $2000 CAD being exported by McMaster. This is completed by the Customs & Traffic Department

Shipments to the USA do not require a CERS declaration.

If shipping online with FedEx to a country other than the U.S, and goods are less than $2000, no declaration is required, use exemption code 02.

Every shipment entering Canada has to be declared to the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA). When shipments indicating McMaster University as the receiver arrive at customs, the CBSA requires McMaster University to remit the customs charges.

In some cases, there are provisions in place which may waive applicable duty and taxes, but the brokerage fee will remain.

McMaster University should not account for unsolicited shipments. Notify the customs & traffic office immediately if you are contacted about, or receive, a shipment you have not solicited.

 

Most countries are using a harmonized system of names and numbers to classify goods imported and exported. This code determines the applicable duty when accounting to customs in any country.

To find your Harmonized Code select: Canada Tariff Finder 

  • Commercial Invoice- goods are being sold
  • Pro-Forma Invoice- goods are not being sold

The shipment has to release customs before delivery can be made. Please e-mail customs@mcmaster.ca with the tracking number, and the Chart Field for the customs charges. The Customs and Traffic office will respond with the status of your shipment.

There may be a variety of factors causing delay. Usually, the shipment has to be released from customs before it will deliver. This is based on the commodity or the value and will typically add one day to the shipment process.

Example: A ‘Next Day’ shipment is shipped on a Monday from the USA. It will arrive in Canada on the Tuesday and will require CBSA Release before delivery. Delivery will be on Wednesday with the courier.

The customs and traffic office can arrange for same-day delivery upon release from customs. A courier can be arranged for a fee of $60 – $125 CAD.

Please note that delivery cannot be expedited with UPS or DHL.

 

There are too many customs charges across the university to bill each individually. Instead, the university uploads journal entries into Mosaic collectively. A chartfield account is required to process the customs fee for each shipment.

McMaster University uses Bronco Warehousing to receive goods in the USA on our behalf.

To use Bronco Warehousing, please consult customs@mcmaster.ca prior to giving out this address.

Brono Warehousing

59 John Glenn Dr

Buffalo, NY. 14228

Attn: John Bentley/McMaster

PH# 716-427-6626