tariff codes for vintage car parts

[skory67]

Morning,
I'm trying to ship a vintage car part to the USA from Canada. I'd like to use the tariff code that'd be best for the buyer, but not break any rules. From my research I think I'm supposed to use 8708, but I'm at a lost at what I should choose for the next two digits. The part is a 63 power window harness if that matters, but I'm more interested in the code for USA made vintage car parts. Anybody figure this out themselves? Any input is greatly appreciated, Michael.

 

[Boydsdodge]

Are you selling the part from a business? If not, I don't think I would open that can of worms with customs. You are just sending an old part to a friend that needs it.
Maybe this post from the AACA forum will help. The post gets flipped to importing to Canada.

https://forums.aaca.org/topic/404318-crossing-into-the-us-with-canadian-car-parts/

October 1, 2023

• ACTIVE USER

A few years back I got my sister to take a 28 Chrysler axle from Sarnia Ontario into the states for onward shipping. She explained to customs that the parts were not for resale and she had no issues.

Also if you say the Ford parts are of USA manufacture being reimported to the States there should be no issues or duty.



If you are importing parts or tires from USA into Canada, to be used on a vehicle that is older than 25 years old, there is no duty, as long as the exporter or importer uses the right HS code.

Some information about duty and brokerage fees into Canada​

Auto parts for vehicles >25 years old are duty free into Canada no matter the country of origin. Ask the shipper to indicate HS code 9966.00.00 on the customs declaration. This Tariff Item of the Customs Tariff gives duty free status to "articles for use solely or principally with those vehicles manufactured more than 25 years prior to the date of importation". Information about the interpretation of this tariff item can be found at Memorandum D10-15-20 - Interpretation of Tariff Item 9966.00.00

As stated in this memo, eligible articles are limited to those solely or principally for qualifying vehicles and would have to be in keeping with the original appearance and configuration of the vehicle. These may be either original articles or reproductions.

Articles that incorporate modern safety features or other technological developments can be considered under tariff item No. 9966.00.00, provided that they are solely or principally for use with qualifying vehicles and do not compromise the original configuration of the vehicle. An example would be disc brakes designed specifically for a 1936 Chevrolet Coupe.

General purpose articles that can be used in vehicles covered and not covered under tariff item No. 9966.00.00 are not eligible for consideration.

So reproduction door panels would be eligible as they are specific to a vehicle over 25 years old, but tires that fit both a TR6 and a 2011 Ford would not.

On the brokerage/handling fee issue, Canada Post will collect a fee of $9.95 as a handling fee, if duties and/or taxes were collected on the shipment.

On shipments with a value of <$2500, there are ways to avoid the brokerage fees charged by UPS, Fedex etc, by clearing the shipment yourself. There are 2 ways to do this:

1. Prior to receiving your shipment, you can contact the courier company and inform them of your wish to self-clear any shipments that are addressed to you and on which brokerage fees are applicable. The company will explain their procedures to you.

2. As an alternative, when a casual shipment is delivered to you, you can refuse delivery and advise the courier company of your intention to self-clear directly with the CBSA. In this case, please ensure that you take note of the unique shipment identifier number on the package, as the shipment will be returned to the courier’s warehouse.

With both options, you will need to visit your local CBSA office to complete a B15 (Casual Goods Accounting Document) and provide them with specific details, including the courier’s name, the unique shipment identifier number, a description of the goods and their value so that the CBSA can correctly assess the goods. This information is usually indicated on the shipment’s invoice, which will be provided to you by the courier company. When you have paid the applicable duties and/or taxes to the CBSA, you will be given an official receipt indicating that the goods have been accounted for. You will need to present this receipt to the courier’s warehouse where your shipment is stored, in order for the courier to release your shipment to you.

Despite what you may be told by the courier, you have the right to do this and clear the goods yourself. See http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d17/d17-4-0-eng.pdf and in particular paragraph 56.​

 

[skory67]

Thanks for the reply, I’m not a business but I was selling on average a part a week before a few months ago when I decided slowed things down a bit. I always shipped Canada post in the past, but it’s no longer an option. Now I’m shipping through ups, which actually asked me for a tariff code. I skipped it last time around, and the buyer messaged me about the high amount he had to pay for tariffs, we wasn’t too happy. Just trying to avoid this in the future.

 

[MoPar~Man]

Morning,
I'm trying to ship a vintage car part to the USA from Canada. I'd like to use the tariff code that'd be best for the buyer, but not break any rules. From my research I think I'm supposed to use 8708, but I'm at a lost at what I should choose for the next two digits. The part is a 63 power window harness if that matters, but I'm more interested in the code for USA made vintage car parts. Anybody figure this out themselves? Any input is greatly appreciated, Michael.

A few years ago I shipped some arm rests to a guy in I think Florida, using Canada Post, and I thought I used a 9966.xx (or 99.66.xx) code. Canada tariff code list has that for cars and parts of cars that are 25+ years old. I look at that now, and see that the US code list does not have a 9966 section.

But there's more going on here. And it's probably the reason why Canada Post and their financial problems have come into play so quickly recently in Canada.

The US tariffs on Canada don't apply to items covered under USMCA (or CUSMA) aka NAFTA. But here's the kicker:

====================
CUSMA-originating goods from Canada and Mexico are not exempt from IEEPA tariffs for postal shipments,” Canada Post spokesperson Lisa Liu said in a statement, referring to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the law Trump has cited to justify most of his tariffs.

Liu pointed to Section 3 of Trump’s July 30 order, which lays out separate rules for parcels shipped to the U.S. through the international postal network. Unlike those sent through private couriers, postal shipments from Canada face either a 35 per cent tariff on the value of the package, or, for the next six months, a flat fee of US$200 per item. (A fact sheet released with the order states gifts worth less than US$100 can still cross the border duty-free, no matter the shipping method.)

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for information about why the international postal network was singled out.

However, people with knowledge of cross-border trade say the move puts Canada Post at a serious disadvantage, as merchants switch to other shipping and delivery options. The language in the order for private couriers says only that those shipments face all “applicable” duties, meaning the carve-out for USMCA-compliant goods still applies.

The end of de minimis deals a brutal blow to Canada Post - The Logic

The postal service 'will have no commercial business’ to U.S. as small businesses scramble for alternatives, customs expert warns

thelogic.co

=====================

In my experience, using the postal system to ship non-duty, non-taxable small items (ie 1 cubic foot box) to the US was convienent, easy, reliable and relatively inexpensive. The US buyer had paid me through paypal, and since I semi-regularly used paypay to buy things, I was able to keep that money within my paypal account and didn't need to actually cash it in. Many other person-to-person payment systems that operate in the US don't operate across the border to Canada

If your buyer can pay you in advance, you might consider sending it as a gift using the postal system. I don't know if you still need to fill in a tariff code in that case. Otherwise you're looking at probably Fedex.

Regarding the exact HS code, your best starting point is here:

Harmonized Tariff Schedule

hts.usitc.gov

I poked around a little, and it seems that for items that have some age associated with them (ie "years" or "exceeding" or "antique" is somehow part of the description) the US codes don't recognize any age for anything under 100 years. Canada HS codes do have such codes, including for cars and parts, with ages starting at 25 years.

 

[skory67]

Thanks for the reply, it definitely use to be a lot simpler to ship stuff to the USA. I did actually use the tariff schedule site to come up with the 8708 code to begin with, but was told I needed a 6 digit code. Tough site to search, typical government site that over complicates things. I shipped today so we'll see how things go when I hear from the buyer.