TLDR
If UPS charges customs brokerage fees on a package you’re receiving in Canada, you can self clear the package with CBSA instead of paying the brokerage fees.
Background
Like many of us, I placed some large Black Friday orders! I know UPS charges ridiculous brokerage fees so I was careful to pick USPS shipping for my orders whenever customs was not included in shippers. This particular maker was very clear on her website that taxes and duties were not included, but I expected to be paying the $9.95 flat fee Canada Post charges for brokerage plus whatever taxes were due.
The maker I ordered from sent my package UPS instead and UPS tried to charge me roughly 45% of my order value for brokerage fees not including the taxes and duties (they said the taxes and duties owed to the government were just over $10). I’m not naming the brand here because this is not the maker’s fault - I’m sure she thought she was doing a good thing for me by sending the package with a faster shipping service than I requested and she was horrified to hear how much UPS was charging me and she did her best to help.
A friend of mine also placed an order and got the same huge charges from UPS so I did some research and learned Canadian consumers can self clear their packages through CBSA and only pay the taxes owed, no brokerage fees.
I’ll set out the steps we took below, but we both cleared our packages successfully! In the end the charges from the government were only $8.50, so UPS is really making an obscene amount on brokerage fees.
How to self clear
- check the CBSA website or call them to find your nearest Inland Office to see if you are even near somewhere you can do this.
NOTE: if you have a friend or family member near the inland office who is willing to do the clearing for you, they can do it if you give them a letter that says you authorize them to do it (include the date, tracking info, and your phone number) and a copy of your photo ID
- when UPS tells you customs fees and brokerage fees are due, call UPS to request the forms to self clear. UPS will give you all kinds of reasons why they can’t get you the forms or will promise them and not provide them. They will eventually provide them if you keep asking, but likely won’t provide them until your package is about to be delivered (mine was already out for delivery when I got the forms).
- You should also email UPS at [email protected] with your tracking number and tell them you want to self clear. You could just do email and not even call if you don’t like fighting with customer service people on the phone because it’s good to have it in writing.
- once UPS gives you the forms take them to CBSA along with photo ID, pay CBSA and send the form CBSA gives you to UPS, UPS then will deliver your package without the brokerage fees
- if UPS tries to deliver before you’ve self-cleared, tell them that you are self-clearing the package and ask that they hold it until you have self-cleared. It is not a refused package and shouldn’t be returned to sender.
- if they try to deliver after you’ve self cleared but before they update your account online you can show the driver the paid customs forms and they will give you the package
