Japan to Canada figure shipping, tax and landed cost
Landed cost is the real total you pay to get a figure from a Japanese shop to your door in Canada. It is the shop price plus shipping, tax, a collection fee and sometimes duty. This guide walks through each line in the order it hits your bill, so you can decide whether a preorder is worth it before you pay. It is plain language, not tax or legal advice, and rules and fees change.
If you are deciding what to buy this week, start with this week's list. If you are deciding when to commit, read wait or preorder.
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The six lines of a landed cost
1. Shop price in yen, converted to CAD
Copy the tax free yen price from AmiAmi or the maker shop. Convert it to CAD with a rate you trust on the day you pay. That is only the first line, not the total.
2. International shipping
Add the shipping method the shop offers to Canada, such as EMS or DHL. Bigger boxes cost more. Surface mail is slower and still not free.
3. GST or HST, and PST where it applies
CBSA says most imported goods are subject to the federal GST and provincial sales tax, or the HST in certain provinces and territories. For mail, CBSA says an item worth CAN$20 or less has no duty or tax payable. If it is worth more than CAN$20, you pay the applicable duty, GST or HST and any PST on the item's full value, not only on the amount above CAN$20. Canada Post adds that the provincial portion is collected according to your province of residence.
Practical meaning for figure buyers: almost every figure costs far more than CAN$20, so plan on paying tax on the full value.
4. The Canada Post handling fee
Canada Post states it applies a handling fee of CAN$9.95 per dutiable or taxable mail item, and collects the CBSA assessed duty and taxes when the parcel is delivered or picked up. You can pay online through tracking or the Canada Post app before delivery, or at the door. Our older checklist called this a brokerage or collection fee. Canada Post's own name for it is a handling fee.
Couriers such as DHL can charge their own brokerage fees, and those can be higher. Check your courier's current fee schedule before you pay.
5. Duty
CBSA explains that duty is a tariff set by the Department of Finance Canada and varies a lot between trade agreements. Our site note is that duty on Japan origin toys and figures is often low or zero under CPTPP when the origin is declared correctly. Often is not guaranteed. Confirm the rate for your exact item and shipment before you rely on it.
6. Write the sum before you click
Figure plus shipping plus tax plus handling fee, plus duty if any, equals landed cost. If that number hurts, wait. Do not invent a cheaper story in your head at checkout.
| Line | Your number |
|---|---|
| Shop price in yen | |
| Converted to CAD | |
| Shipping | |
| GST, HST or PST | |
| Canada Post handling fee (CAN$9.95 per taxable item, per Canada Post) | |
| Duty, if any | |
| Landed cost |
What does not apply to a shop order
CBSA's gift exemption is for items a friend or relative sends you personally with a note saying it is a gift. A figure you order from a shop is not a gift, so do not count on that exemption.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay tax on a figure from Japan?
For mail items worth more than CAN$20, CBSA says you pay the applicable duty, GST or HST and any PST on the full value. Figures almost always clear that threshold.
Who collects the tax and what is the Canada Post fee?
Canada Post collects the amount CBSA assesses and charges a CAN$9.95 handling fee per dutiable or taxable mail item. You can pay online before delivery or at the door.
Is there duty on Japanese figures?
It depends on the item and how its origin is declared. Our site note is that duty is often low or zero under CPTPP, but that is not guaranteed. Confirm with CBSA for your shipment.
Can I treat a preorder as a gift to avoid tax?
No. The CBSA gift exemption applies only to personal gifts sent by a friend or relative, not to shop orders.
What should I do before I pay for a preorder?
Write the full landed cost using the table above. If you are unsure about the timing, read when to wait.
Sources
Official sources, checked 11 Oct 2026:
- CBSA: Importing by mail or courier, determining duty and taxes owed
- Canada Post: Customs duty, taxes, and exemptions
Rules and fees change. Recheck both pages and your courier before you pay.
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