What is the duty-free limit for parcels from China to Canada?
Parcels from China enter Canada free of duty and tax when their value for duty is CA$20 or less, by mail or by courier. This is the general limit for every country except the US and Mexico, set by the Postal Imports Remission Order and the Courier Imports Remission Order. As of October 19, 2026, there is no separate China-only limit: the CA$20 figure you may have seen for Chinese parcels is this general rule.
- Over CA$20: duty and tax apply to the full value, not just the part above CA$20. Splitting one order into several parcels to stay under the limit is not allowed.
- US or Mexico goods by courier: no duty up to CA$150 and no tax up to CA$40, under CUSMA. These higher limits apply only by courier and only to goods that entered commerce in the US or Mexico.
- Chinese goods shipped from a US warehouse: goods that only pass through the US without entering its commerce get the CA$20 limit, not CA$150.
- Gifts: a gift sent from abroad is free up to CA$60, which cannot be combined with the CA$20 limit.
How are GST, HST and PST charged on imports?
GST is 5% of the duty-paid value: the value for duty plus the duty. In Ontario and the Atlantic provinces, HST replaces GST at the combined rate. For personal imports, the CBSA also collects provincial sales tax for British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec.
| Province or territory | Tax at the border, over the limit |
|---|---|
| Ontario | 13% HST |
| New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island | 15% HST |
| Nova Scotia | 14% HST (since April 1, 2025) |
| British Columbia | 5% GST + 7% PST |
| Manitoba | 5% GST + 7% PST |
| Saskatchewan | 5% GST + 6% PST |
| Quebec | 5% GST + 9.975% QST |
| Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut | 5% GST |
The CBSA's provincial tax collection covers non-commercial (personal) imports, so a business importer should check its own province's PST rules and can untick the PST box. A GST/HST-registered business can usually claim the GST or HST back as an input tax credit.
Is shipping included in the value for duty?
No: Canada does not include transport from the place of direct shipment to Canada in the value for duty. The calculator adds your shipping to the landed cost but leaves it out of the duty and tax base. If the price you paid already includes that transport, it can be deducted from the price under the transaction value method.
What fees do Canada Post and couriers charge?
Canada Post charges a CA$9.95 handling fee per mail item that owes duty or tax. Items that owe nothing pay no fee. Couriers charge their own brokerage fees for clearing the parcel, which vary by courier and value, so enter yours in the calculator.
Are there extra surtaxes on goods from China?
Yes, but only on certain steel and aluminum products: a 25% surtax since October 22, 2024. Steel over the quota can pay 50%. The 100% surtax on Chinese electric vehicles was repealed on March 1, 2026. Most consumer goods in small parcels pay only the normal MFN rate. If your goods are on the surtax list, add the surtax to the duty rate.
Example: a CA$50 parcel from China to Ontario by mail
The value for duty is CA$50, over the CA$20 limit. Duty at 8% is CA$4.00. HST at 13% on CA$54.00 is CA$7.02. Canada Post adds its CA$9.95 handling fee. With CA$8 of shipping, the landed cost is CA$78.97, so the parcel costs about 58% more than the goods. These are the calculator's default numbers.
How do I find my duty rate?
Find your goods' tariff item in the Canadian Customs Tariff and use the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) rate for China. Many goods are 0%, and clothing is often 18%. Our guide on HS codes shows how to classify a product. For a larger shipment by sea or air, use the landed cost calculator or the China tariff calculator for the USA and Canada.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I pay duty on a CA$20 parcel from China?
No. A parcel from China worth CA$20 or less in value for duty pays no duty and no GST/HST, by mail or by courier.
What happens if my parcel from China is worth more than CA$20?
Duty and GST/HST, plus PST in some provinces, apply to the full value, not just the amount over CA$20. Canada Post adds a CA$9.95 handling fee, and couriers add their own brokerage fee.
Does the CA$150 limit apply to goods from China?
No. The CA$150 duty and CA$40 tax limits apply only to courier shipments of goods from the US or Mexico that entered commerce there. Chinese goods get the CA$20 limit.
Is GST charged on the duty too?
Yes. GST or HST is charged on the value for duty plus the duty.
Does Canada charge duty on shipping costs?
No. Transport from the place of direct shipment to Canada is not part of the value for duty.
Estimate, not customs advice; CBSA decides at the border. Rules and rates as of October 19, 2026, from the official sources above. Duty depends on your exact tariff item and origin, and fees depend on your carrier.