Moving back to Canada : B4 PERSONAL EFFECTS ACCOUNTING DOCUMENT

[Yoonglai]

Hello,

After 20 years overseas, I am now moving back to Canada and am undergoing the tedious process of filling in the above form for our container, which will not accompany me. It is my understanding that I must present this form immediately upon arrival in Canada even if the goods are not with me. No problem, so I have several form related questions:

1.Importer's address? Since I a, moving from Laos, do I give my current address even though we will be here for only five more days? Or should I give the address of my intended home in Canada?

2. Country of origin.Laos? country of export...Canada?

3. Classification type: former resident?

4. Since the form has only 8 fields, I will attach an Excel spreadsheet to itemise the goods in the shipping container..they will follow the shipping manifest, which also shows which items we have insured. This leads to the next question,

5. Do I have to count every spoon, dish, shirt, book of our families personal effects? This stuff is not insured. Or can I just put a general estimate of numbers of these things...I know the shippers do something like this when packing. I really don't want to do this, but does it matter to CBSA?

6. Form B4a is for goods accompanying...we will just take personal effects...is it necessary to fill this in for normal stuff in our suitcases?

7. My wife only has a bit of jewellery which she can wear...is that ok?


Lots of little queries, but your accurate answers will greatly reduce this headache!

Cheers,

John

 

[steaky]

1) Your address in Canada
2) Laos
3) Former Resident for yourself and settler for your wife (if she is a new immigrant)
4) Yes, attach spreadsheet
5) I wrote how many boxes/suitcase of clothes, spoons, books, etc. instead of counting them one by one. My shipper also did something like this when packing and gave me the list for the custom clearance later on when the goods arrived in Canada
6) You could list in the form which boxes/suitcases are accompany and non-accompany.
7) Yes

 

[Yoonglai]

Thanks! Helped a lot...just two clarification questions..

Re: question 2...I assume country of export is Canada? Obviously country of origin is Laos

Could I use the shipper's spreadsheet that itemizes everything and just attach it to the B4 as a first page? It shows what is insured and what isn't.

Thanks again!!

 

[steaky]

Mine was country of origin and export the same, so for you, it should be Country of Origin: Laos ; Country of Export: Laos

You can leave it blank and have the customs officer complete it for you.

B4 will always be the first page. I do not know if you can use the shipper's spreadsheet as attachment. You can try though. Good luck!

 

[torontosm]

Could I use the shipper's spreadsheet that itemizes everything and just attach it to the B4 as a first page? It shows what is insured and what isn't.

You could use the shipper's spreadsheet but in my experience, it's not detailed enough. It also doesn't have the value associated with each item or serial numbers for the more valuable items, which you may wish to break out.

 

[steaky]

You could use the shipper's spreadsheet but in my experience, it's not detailed enough. It also doesn't have the value associated with each item or serial numbers for the more valuable items, which you may wish to break out.

Also you need to state how long you had been using these items.

 

[Yoonglai]

I am using the shippers valuation, which shows value of insured items along with serial numbers. Of course, I have included non-valued items too, such as kitchen stuff, clothes, toys, etc to which I am not assigning any value. It is my understanding that if I have been oveseas for more than five years, then I don't have to worry about valuation for tax purposes. Is this correct?

 

[steaky]

Is this correct?

But for customs purposes, you still have to estimate the value of those items.

 

[Yoonglai]

Ok, then...I just will attach an estimated value for them on the form.

Thanks!!

 

[Yoonglai]

Okay, B4 list completed on a separate spreadsheet to accompany the first page. I am wondering about the B4a,,,goods accompanying. We will just have personal effects like clothes, toiletries and our used laptops...do we have to fill this in as well?

 

[steaky]

You don't have to but it's better to complete that as well especially if you are bringing jewelries or anything of value.