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How Are Customs and Duties Handled?

When shipping internationally—especially to Canada—Markful helps calculate and communicate all import duties and taxes upfront to ensure clarity and avoid surprise charges.

Shipping internationally involves more than just transit—it includes customs, duties, and tax implications that vary by destination. Here’s how we handle customs and duties when shipping to Canada and beyond:

Canada (Current Standard Process)

  1. Place your order using the “Offline Payment” method by selecting Check/Money Order at checkout.
  2. After your order is placed, email info@markful.com with your order number and the full Canadian address (including province and postal code).
  3. We’ll calculate applicable customs duties, GST, any HST or PST, and brokerage fees, then contact you with the total cost before finalizing your order. This ensures you know all charges upfront and avoid surprises upon delivery.

What You Need to Know About Customs, Duties & Taxes

  • Customs Duties: Calculated based on the product type (Harmonized System code), country of origin, and declared value. Some goods benefit from reduced or zero duty under agreements like USMCA.
  • GST / HST / PST: Most products incur a 5% federal Goods and Services Tax, with additional provincial taxes (or combined HST in some provinces).

Tools to Estimate Import Costs

  • The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) offers an estimator tool to preview duties and taxes for personal imports.
  • Third-party duty calculators like Easyship or CrossBorderShopping also help approximate costs based on product type and value.

Defaults, Responsibilities & Best Practices

  • We operate under Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) terms (also known as Delivered at Place, DAP), meaning the recipient is responsible for import duties and taxes upon delivery.
  • Customs brokers typically facilitate clearance and may charge handling or brokerage fees. These are included in our upfront cost estimate.
  • To avoid unexpected fees—like surprise tariffs or hidden brokerage charges—establish clear communication and transparency early in the process.

What About Other Countries?

While we currently only ship to Canada directly, we can consider other North American destinations on a case-by-case basis. All international orders still go through the same manual coordination process: offline payment, shipping details emailed to us, and upfront cost confirmation—ensuring you’re informed before finalizing your order.