Hi, group. I may be facing a relocation. I am interviewing for a new job opportunity, some in the USA, where I currently live, and one in Ontario, near Toronto. If I move to Canada -- which my American wife and children are not sure about yet :-) can my homemade wine move with me? Does anyone have any knowledge or info on that? Thanks. Rick
Rick, I presume you are an American? In that case you can move your wine cellar into Canada for a small duty (I can't remember the actual cost but when we did it I brought in ~400 bottles of commercial wine for less than $100 CDN). I don't think it will be any different with your homemade wine. Tim PS- I would bottle it all first.
Actually, I am a Canadian - with resident alien status here in the usa b/c of my wife's citizenship! I don't know if that would make a difference. Thanks for your reply.
Well you'll be a returning expat with a gringo spouse (oops that's for Mexico). If you are bringing children with you, you'll be ok because there is no tax on half-breeds :) As for your wine: bottle it and label it. Call Canadian customs and ask them if there is a tax on bringing homebrewed wine home with you. There is a duty free limit and my experience bringing five times the duty free limit into the US and into England is Customs Agents don't want to be bothered with the paperwork unless there's at least $500 in taxes due.
My attitude is to declare everything and make it their problem.
That is the safe play, I do think there will be duty since the base product was made in the US; Canadian Customs has a website where you can pose the specific question. The duty would be on the actual cost, not value since you are not allowed to sell it. It would be pretty small. I declare homemade wine when i cross and they wave it through but the quantities i bring and you would be talking about don't compare...
The following is from about.com. The figures suppose that the individual is taking the wine from Washington State to British Columbia. The amount of taxes, duties, and fees varies wildly from province to province but are staggering - the lowest is Alberta at 97%, the highest is one of the territories at - are you ready? - 325%.
If your wife is an American then she can bring in her wine cellar. I am sure about this regarding commercial wine, so I am assuming the same would be for your homemade wine. As another poster pointed out, the difference between you versus your American wife bringing in wine (when moving to Canada) is staggering. So, if I recall correctly, this is your wife's wine isn't it?
Tim (PS- Just to be clear, the above pertains to commercial wine that you bring into Canada, I am only assuming the same would be true for home bottled. Also, this is your only chance to bring your cellar across so your wife may want to stock up before you move. Lastly, we checked with customs numerous times about this (and other things) before moving, so I would suggest you do the same. It made the process seamless.)
Oh YES!!!! It is my wife's wine.... i've just been making it for her all along!!!! silly me, I seem to have forgotten that little detail. thanks, Tim, for reminding me to be the husband I need to be!!!
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