Death and Taxes - Trophy Fees & Canada Customs

[BRICKBURN]

Is that giraffe wrap in this one?

I still want to see how that looks when you get it hung. Since my wife will have a say in how it looks it may make a difference on whether I ever hunt one or not.

Giraffe is home and I have not made the time to wrap the office yet. Excuses, excuses......

 

[BRICKBURN]

Brickburn, thanks very much for your involvement in this. I was one of the ones forced to pay GST on trophy fees last year, but since it was a hunt in Cameroon, the trophy fees (on bongo and sitatunga) were small enough (compared to the cost of the hunt, which I was threatened with) that I let it go. I ought not to have done that.
............

We all have busy lives and it just gets tiring fighting someone that takes it as their sole goal to be a PIA and has the authority to make your day a living hell.

You are held hostage when your trophies arrive and you will be charged money for storage while the fight is on and then you have to pay the tax and then submit your objection through the required channels. Who has the time for that?
Hence why the avoidance strategy has been my method of operation. (Stubborn enough to do that at least.)
I'm still nervous and will only truly believe when I have my trophies in my hands.

I the local SCI chapter was collecting information on the subject and I never heard if they were playing a part in the solution.

I'm going to ask if they happen to have an email or some determination that can be shared. I can still see someone trying to do it and if a hunter is unaware, just pays.

The last time I was in that office I was offered the veiled threat about an "audit" being performed. I just looked at the guy and said I had nothing to worry about and if they would like to come on over they were welcome to do so.
That ended that conversation.
I HATE BULLIES!

 

[G Skinner]

CANADA CUSTOMS ! You say ..........I had to argue if my compound bow , was a crossbow(also had to produce my PAL .....WTF ! ) and whether my broad heads were considered to be knives. Needless to say my Buddy said he would pick up our trophies and I should stay at home .
Glen

 

[BRICKBURN]

CANADA CUSTOMS ! You say ..........I had to argue if my compound bow , was a crossbow(also had to produce my PAL .....WTF ! ) and whether my broad heads were considered to be knives. Needless to say my Buddy said he would pick up our trophies and I should stay at home .
Glen

Good plan.


They are certainly not all experts in all areas.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I just sent an email requesting any determinations that the agent might be willing to share to educate us all and get us prepared for eventual day when we get to meet that problem child.

 

[G Skinner]

I ve been told I have a problem with authority figures ?
Glen

 

[lcq]

I ve been told I have a problem with authority figures ?
Glen

That is because you are dealing with the monkey not the organ grinder Petty bureaucrats are dumber than dog crap and try and resolve their inferiority complex by abusing their authority

 

[Hank2211]

That is because you are dealing with the monkey not the organ grinder Petty bureaucrats are dumber than dog crap and try and resolve their inferiority complex by abusing their authority

They aren't all like that - I've run into many who are truly trying to be helpful, and will solve problems I've created. On the other hand, even one is too many of the type you describe, and there are far more than one.

 

[G Skinner]

NO JOKE ......It comes down to Hunters and Non hunters .
Glen

 

[Spooksar]

Brickburn I have been using Talon distributing for a broker. I just got to shipments in from RSA total cost was $1250 for customs, brokerage fees and shipping to Grande Prairie. Nice part is I don't have to fight with customs, or drive to Edmonton 3 times before I get my trophies.

 

[adgunner]

Last crate i cleared was in Montreal and it was taxidermied in RSA. We paid tax on the cost of the taxidermy. I was fully prepared for the fight and happy i didn't have to engage. Hopefully what you have done will only make it easier in the future.

A little while ago i brought back from France a Verney-Carron O/U that i had inherited and had to have it inspected by the experts in the little room whilst clearing customs in Montreal. After watching the experts try to crack open the barrel with everything but a hammer i moved forward and said "let me help you open that". Big mistake. "move behind the red line sir" police called. Luckily the Officer was former military, saw my army issue luggage ... promptly cracked open the shotgun, inspected it, closed it properly, gave a dirty look to the customs guys and said "have a good day sir".

Point is, you just never know who you are going to have to deal with and a little extra paperwork in hand might just go a long way.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Brickburn I have been using Talon distributing for a broker. I just got to shipments in from RSA total cost was $1250 for customs, brokerage fees and shipping to Grande Prairie. Nice part is I don't have to fight with customs, or drive to Edmonton 3 times before I get my trophies.

Dale is the man for sure and he knows his stuff. If I were up north he is the choice.

It's nice when you are closer to the airport and you can choose to do it yourself or not.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Last crate i cleared was in Montreal and it was taxidermied in RSA. We paid tax on the cost of the taxidermy. I was fully prepared for the fight and happy i didn't have to engage. Hopefully what you have done will only make it easier in the future.

I hope the huge combined effort of all the individuals complaining about the unfair treatment has finally done it. I am hopeful. I am glad you did not have to engage.

A little while ago i brought back from France a Verney-Carron O/U that i had inherited and had to have it inspected by the experts in the little room whilst clearing customs in Montreal. After watching the experts try to crack open the barrel with everything but a hammer i moved forward and said "let me help you open that". Big mistake. "move behind the red line sir" police called. Luckily the Officer was former military, saw my army issue luggage ... promptly cracked open the shotgun, inspected it, closed it properly, gave a dirty look to the customs guys and said "have a good day sir".

Point is, you just never know who you are going to have to deal with and a little extra paperwork in hand might just go a long way.

I finally discovered after long observation that the Customs folks have a policy of diversification of labour. They can not ALL be experts in EVERYTHING, so they have specialists. Immigration, Animals, firearms, drugs, etc, etc.
Hence, when you get someone who might know how to open a handgun they may know zero about a rifle, shotgun.
(Hell, I don't know about some of the crazy calibers that come up on AH)

My last trip through I was into secondary and the gun case was opened while I watched from behind that red line. As the lady officer was physically searching the foam in the gun case by pressing on it, I spoke up quickly and told her to be very careful as I had broad heads stored in the foam and I did not want her to hurt herself.
I physically restrained myself from jumping forward over that line and just spoke up. I have learned to suggest help and not move.

 

[Spooksar]

Last year coming home through Calgary they just ran my case through an X-Ray. And I had to talk her into signing my export papers. The biggest problem was when I took it to over size check in, spent half an hour convincing the so called tech that the span caps in my double rifle weren't loaded ammo.

 

[adgunner]

I physically restrained myself from jumping forward over that line and just spoke up. I have learned to suggest help and not move.

Wise advice indeed.

 

[robertq]

When clearing trophies in the USA we list them as Personal and there is no tax or duty......

 

[BRICKBURN]

When clearing trophies in the USA we list them as Personal and there is no tax or duty......

Rob, we get taxed on anything of value being brought into the country. This fight is all about determining the value.

 

[robertq]

Brickburn,

Tell them there DEAD !!!!!

No value.....lol

 

[BRICKBURN]

Brickburn,

Tell them there DEAD !!!!!

No value.....lol

That is exactly what I try and argue. No sane person would want this damn junk.

 

[robertq]

Brickburn
PM me.....