As everyone knows we have custom exemption limits when importing goods to Canada, ie $800 per person after 48 hours. However this limit only exempts you from paying custom duty, they can still make you pay sales tax on everything that is subject to HST. Is my understanding correct?
I heard that the border officer generally will let you pass if the tax they could collect from you is less than $30. What happens if you buy a big item even the price is less than the exemption limit? For example, if you stayed more than 48 hours in US so you have $800 limit, you bought a $750 item (a camera or a computer or some cloths/shoes for example) which they may be able to charge $90 HST on it. I'd like to know if anyone in a similar senario had experience at the border that the border officer made you go into their office building to pay HST?