Canadian Customs for US Online Orders: CUSMA Duty and Tax Limits (2026)

Ordering from US stores is part of everyday shopping for many Canadians: a bigger catalog, US-only colors and sizes, and sales like Black Friday. The part that causes the most surprises is what happens at the border. Will you pay duty? GST or HST? A brokerage fee?

This guide explains how Canadian customs treats online orders from the US in 2026: the CUSMA duty and tax limits, how courier and postal shipments differ, which taxes apply in your province, and the fees carriers can add.

The short answer: for courier shipments from the US, orders up to CAD 40 come in free of duty and tax. From CAD 40.01 to CAD 150 you pay GST or HST but no duty. Above CAD 150, duty and tax both apply. Postal shipments have a lower limit: duty and tax apply above CAD 20. These limits are per shipment, and some US-made goods can also face Canada's 2026 counter-tariffs.

Canada's CUSMA Thresholds for Orders from the US

Under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA, called USMCA in the US), Canada uses higher low-value limits for courier shipments from the US and Mexico than for other countries. According to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA):

• Up to CAD 40: no duty and no tax.
• CAD 40.01 to CAD 150: no duty, but GST/HST (and provincial tax where it applies) is charged.
• Over CAD 150: duty and taxes apply.

The value used is the value for duty of the shipment, converted to Canadian dollars. See the CBSA's page on CUSMA low-value shipments for the official wording.

Courier vs. postal shipments

The higher limits only apply to courier shipments, such as UPS, FedEx or DHL. Shipments sent by post from the US, for example through USPS and Canada Post, use the general CAD 20 limit: above CAD 20, duty and tax apply. Canada Post also charges a handling fee on mail items that owe duty or tax.

When you compare quotes, check whether a service is a courier or a postal service. It can change what you pay at the border.

The limits apply per shipment, not per item

CBSA applies the thresholds to the whole shipment. One order can't be split into several boxes to stay under a limit. If you combine several orders into one box with consolidation, the box is valued as one shipment, so check the total against the thresholds before you ship.

Above CAD 150: where the goods were made matters

Above CAD 150, goods that qualify as originating under CUSMA, generally goods made in the US, Canada or Mexico, can often enter at a 0% duty rate, but GST/HST still applies. Goods made elsewhere, such as in China or Vietnam, pay the normal Canadian duty rate even when they are shipped from a US store.

2026 counter-tariffs on some US goods

Canada applies additional surtaxes to a list of US-origin goods. These surtaxes are tied to the product and its origin, not to the value of the parcel, so they can apply even under the low-value limits. The list and rates change, so check the CBSA or the Department of Finance before buying US-made goods in affected categories.

GST, HST and PST on US Orders

When tax applies, it is charged at your province's rate:

• GST: a 5% federal tax across Canada.
• HST: combines GST and provincial tax in Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, roughly 13–15% in total.
• GST plus provincial tax: British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba charge PST, and Quebec charges QST, in addition to GST.
• GST only: Alberta and the territories have no provincial sales tax.

Example: you live in Ontario and order a jacket worth CAD 120, shipped by courier from the US. It's between CAD 40 and CAD 150, so there's no duty, but 13% HST applies: about CAD 15.60. The courier may add its own fee for collecting the tax.

Brokerage and Carrier Fees

Duty and tax go to the government. Couriers often add a separate fee for clearing the parcel and paying the duty and tax on your behalf. Fees differ by carrier and service, so compare them when you choose a shipping option.

If you'd rather not pay anything at the door, choose DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) at checkout where it's available. The estimated duty and tax are paid upfront and nothing is due on delivery. You still pay the tax; DDP only changes when you pay it.

What You Can't Import or Need a Permit For

Staying under a threshold doesn't make restricted goods allowed. Canada controls or bans items such as:

• Alcohol, cannabis and tobacco
• Certain prescription medications and health products
• Weapons, some knives and replica firearms
• Some food, plant and animal products
• Goods that need permits from Health Canada, Transport Canada or other agencies

Check the restrictions lookup and what we can't ship before you buy.

Popular US Stores for Canadian Shoppers

• Amazon US: a much larger catalog than Amazon.ca, especially from third-party sellers. See our Amazon US guide.
• Bath & Body Works US: semi-annual sales and US-only scents.
• Nike US: US-only colorways and releases.
• Sephora US: US-only sets and promotions.
• Target: Target doesn't ship orders placed with a forwarding address, so use our Personal Shopper to buy for you. See our Target guide.
• Mercari US: a US-only resale marketplace. See our Mercari guide.
• Costco US: see our Costco guide for how international shoppers buy.

How Forwardme Helps Canadians Shop US Stores

• Free US address in Delaware. Delaware has no sales tax, so orders shipped to your Forwardme address aren't charged US sales tax by the store.
• Fast processing. We process packages within 1–2 business days of arrival and send you box, label and content photos on every plan.
• Consolidation. Combine orders from several stores into one box and pay one international shipping fee instead of several. Remember the box is valued as one shipment at the border.
• Free storage. 15 days on the Free plan, 45 on Premium and 120 on VIP.
• Courier choice. Compare live quotes from several couriers. Our discounted courier rates are up to 80% below the carriers' standard prices. See US to Canada shipping rates.
• Personal Shopper for stores that decline Canadian cards or don't ship to forwarding addresses.

Estimate duty and tax before you buy with our duty calculator, and compare shipping options in the shipping calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I pay duty on orders from the US to Canada?

Not on courier shipments up to CAD 150. Above CAD 150, duty applies, though goods that qualify under CUSMA (generally made in the US, Canada or Mexico) are often duty-free. Some US-made goods may face 2026 counter-tariffs.

What is the duty-free limit for US orders?

For courier shipments from the US: CAD 150 for duty and CAD 40 for tax. For postal shipments: CAD 20 for both.

Do I pay GST or HST on US orders?

Yes, on courier shipments over CAD 40 and postal shipments over CAD 20. The rate depends on your province.

Can I split an order to stay under the limit?

No. CBSA applies the limits to the shipment, and one order can't be split to avoid duty or tax.

Does consolidation change customs charges?

A consolidated box is valued as one shipment. That lowers shipping cost, but the higher total value can move the box above CAD 40 or CAD 150.

What is a brokerage fee?

A fee some couriers charge to clear your parcel and pay duty and tax for you. It's separate from duty and tax.

Start Shopping US Stores from Canada

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