This article explains how to handle an incorrect duty charge yourself and how to file a B2 form to request a refund of Canadian customs duties.

Why were your goods charged the wrong duty?

Canadian customs handles millions of parcels a day, so mistakes are unavoidable. The most common reasons for incorrect duty charges are:

• Wrong valuation: The officer suspects the value on the declaration is too low and applies a much higher market value.
• Wrong tariff classification (HS code): Your goods are ordinary clothing but are classified as luxury goods or in a category with a high duty rate.
• Exemption not applied: Gifts from one individual to another in Canada worth less than $60 CAD are usually exempt. However, the officer may miss this and charge duty as if the goods were commercial.

How to file a B2 Adjustment Request for a refund

To get back overcharged duty, you need to request an adjustment by filing Form B2 (B2 Adjustment Request) with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The process is as follows:

Step 1: Gather supporting documents

Canadian customs works only on paper and clear evidence. Collect all of the following:

• The original customs declaration (usually on the box or provided by the carrier).
• The purchase invoice or payment receipt: The strongest evidence of what you actually paid for the goods.
• Bank or credit card statement: Showing a transaction that matches the amount on the invoice.
• Photos of the goods: To show the material and use of the product so the correct HS code can be determined.
• Receipt for the duty paid: You must pay the incorrect duty first to receive the goods, and then apply for the refund.

Step 2: Complete CBSA Form B2

Download Form B2 from the official Government of Canada website. On the form, fill in:

• The importer’s details (name and address in Canada).
• The original transaction number shown on the customs declaration.
• The adjustment requested: specify which duty line was wrong, what the correct rate should be and the difference you want refunded.
• The reason for the adjustment (for example, incorrect HS classification or incorrect value applied).

Step 3: Send the file to the CBSA processing centre

Once the B2 form is complete and attached to the documents from Step 1, mail everything to the CBSA processing centre indicated in the B2 instructions for your province.

Refund requests usually take 30 to 90 business days to process. If approved, CBSA will mail you a refund cheque.

Key tips to avoid incorrect duty charges

Claiming money back from a government agency always takes time and effort. Prevention is better than cure, so keep these tips in mind when packing and declaring your goods:

• Declare honestly and in detail: Don’t write a vague “clothing” or “food”. Write “cotton T-shirt” or “ready-to-eat dried squid”.
• Attach the invoice to the outside of the box: Put the purchase invoice in a clear plastic pouch on the outside of the carton so customs officers can check it without guessing the value.
• Use a duties-included shipping service: The safest and easiest option for individuals and small shop owners is a service that includes import duties.

Soleil Transportation offers two-way Vietnam–Canada air shipping with an average transit time of just 7–12 business days. Our Vietnam to Canada service (from $16/kg) includes all import duties. Customers receive their goods at home in Canada without worrying about extra charges or complicated duty disputes with customs.

For small parcels and gifts under 2 kg for family, Soleil Transportation’s ePacket service from just $8.50 CAD per parcel is the best choice, helping your goods clear quickly with a minimal chance of inspection holds.

For more advice on declaring goods safely or help checking an order, visit the Soleil Transportation office at 2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5A 3K6. Call our toll-free line +1 888-998-5199 or email info@soleiltransportation.com and our team will guide you through your case.

Step 1: Classify your goods correctly under the new rules

One of the biggest reasons shipments to Canada are held for inspection at the Vietnamese border is an incorrect goods code.

New goods classification rules from July 30, 2026

From July 30, 2026, Vietnam is applying new rules on classifying export goods to simplify customs clearance. However, shippers, especially shop owners who pack their own goods, must understand the new classification to declare accurately. Declaring the wrong product group can get the whole shipment held at the border for inspection, seriously delaying delivery.

Important note for electronics from July 13

If your business sells technology products, smart devices, storage devices or hardware with security features (civil cryptography products), you must declare the correct regulated code from July 13. Customs will stop clearance or impose administrative fines if these tech products are not declared with the correct technical code when exported. Ask your Vietnamese supplier for clear technical specifications before shipping to Canada.

Step 2: Prepare origin documents and file with the right office from August 1

For your goods to receive tariff preferences when imported into Canada, preparing a certificate of origin (C/O) is extremely important.

Since August 1, the authorities have tightened the rules on where applications are accepted. Businesses that want tariff preferences must identify the correct office to issue the certificate of origin for their goods. Filing in the wrong place leads to long clearance delays and late deliveries to buyers in Canada. Check in advance which authority is responsible for your product category so you file correctly the first time.

Step 3: Avoid prohibited goods under the latest decree

Canadian customs (CBSA) and Vietnamese customs both have strict rules on imports and exports. Under the latest decree, the list of goods banned from export and import now includes many stricter provisions that directly affect shippers:

• Cosmetics and dried foods: These are easily held or destroyed if they lack clear inspection permits or don’t meet food safety standards. Food products and lithium batteries each have their own rules on every shipping route, so research them carefully before packing.
• Strictly prohibited goods: Our entire shipping network prohibits drugs, cash, dangerous goods and cremated remains. Deliberately shipping these items leads to immediate confiscation and legal liability.

Step 4: Optimise shipping costs and use storage in Canada

With ocean freight rates swinging wildly and soaring, sea shipping is no longer the best option for small and medium-sized shops that need to turn over their capital quickly. Instead, many household businesses are switching to fast air freight combined with fulfillment in Canada to keep their cash flow steady and their retail customers happy.

Soleil Transportation offers flexible solutions to help you optimise costs:

• Two-way Vietnam–Canada air freight: From just $16/kg. Transit from Vietnam to Canada averages 7 to 14 days (10 to 21 days in the other direction). This price includes import duties, so you can easily calculate your cost of goods without surprise charges at the border.
• ePacket for small parcels: If you sell souvenirs, personal items or very light products in small parcels, our ePacket service is very affordable, from just $8.50 CAD per parcel.
• Fulfillment in Canada: For shops that want to sell professionally, you can send stock in bulk for storage at 2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5A 3K6. When an order comes in, Soleil Transportation packs it and delivers it to the customer from just $5 CAD per order. We also ship within Canada and to the US from $35 per parcel (for Canada to US shipments, the recipient pays any import duties).

Step 5: Invoicing and packing to formal export standards

Once you switch to formal export shipping, every shipping cost must appear clearly in your business’s accounts. Soleil Transportation issues full invoices and accepts flexible payment methods including bank transfer, credit card, Interac e-Transfer and cash.

For packing, every shipment to Canada includes basic packing in a sturdy carton. For heavy, oversized or fragile items that need a wooden crate or a pallet, we can do this for a reasonable surcharge to keep them completely safe in flight. You can track your order online with your order number or receive automatic updates by email, SMS or Zalo. For extra protection on high-value shipments, you can ask to buy additional shipping insurance, as insurance is not usually included in the basic rate.

To make your move to formal export shipping to Canada as smooth as possible, prepare a detailed list of the goods you plan to export and your purchase invoices (if any), then contact the Soleil Transportation team on +1 888-998-5199 or email info@soleiltransportation.com. We will advise you on the best classification and the safest clearance route for your business.

To help small household businesses and e-commerce shops handle these changes with confidence, here is a detailed 4-step guide to looking up and assigning HS codes correctly.

Why do the July 30, 2026 classification rules matter?

The new rules for classifying export goods, in force from July 30, 2026, require customs declarations to be far more detailed and accurate than before. The authorities are tightening controls and checking origin, invoices and documents more strictly to improve trade management. That means vague declarations will no longer be accepted.

If you handle your own paperwork or ship your own goods, you must know how to assign HS codes under the July 30, 2026 rules. A wrong HS code can not only leave your goods stuck at Canadian customs (CBSA) but also cost you the tariff preferences your goods should have received.

4 steps to look up and assign an HS code for Canada

To assign HS codes to your products yourself without paying for an expensive customs broker, follow this practical 4-step process.

Step 1: Define exactly what your product is

Before you start searching, gather full details about your product. Don’t just write “clothing” or “household goods”. Answer these questions:

• What is the product made of? (For example, a 100% cotton T-shirt, a natural bamboo basket or a melamine plastic tray.)
• What is its main use?
• How is it packaged?

For example, a genuine leather handbag has a completely different HS code from a canvas or faux leather handbag. Identifying the material clearly from the start rules out most of the wrong codes.

Step 2: Use official online lookup tools

You can look up HS codes for free through these channels:

• Vietnam Customs import-export tariff schedule: The official source for the first 4 to 6 digits of the HS code (international HS codes are usually the same for the first 6 digits).
• Canada Tariff Finder: A very useful tool provided by the Government of Canada. Enter the product name in English and select Vietnam as the exporting country, and the system suggests the matching HS code along with the specific import duty rate in Canada.

When searching, start with the broad chapters and work down into smaller subheadings to find the most accurate 8- or 10-digit code for your product.

Step 3: Check against the July 30, 2026 classification rules

Once you have a candidate HS code, check it against the changes in the July 30, 2026 rules. Product groups whose classification is most likely to change include:

• Processed foods and dried goods with mixed ingredients.
• Electronics and multi-function smart devices.
• Eco-friendly products made from recycled or natural materials.

Check whether the old HS code you usually use has been removed, merged or split into more detailed codes under the new rules. This makes sure your declaration is fully valid at the time of clearance.

Step 4: Check duty rates and import conditions in Canada

Once you have the correct HS code under the new rules, enter it into the CBSA system or Canada Tariff Finder to check the import duty rate and whether the item needs a quarantine permit or any special certification in Canada. Knowing the duty in advance lets you calculate your cost and selling price accurately for customers in Canada, so you are not surprised by high duties when the goods arrive.

Common mistakes that get goods held at customs

While helping customers ship to Canada, we see shops make these basic mistakes when assigning HS codes themselves:

• Mistranslated product names: A translation from Vietnamese to English that doesn’t match customs terminology leads to the wrong subheading.
• Guessing codes: Picking the code of a similar-looking product just to save time.
• Combining several kinds of goods: Sending a box of clothing, dried food and cosmetics but declaring only the HS code for clothing to avoid paperwork. Canadian customs can easily spot this when scanning, and the whole shipment is then held for physical inspection.

Shipping to Canada made simple with Soleil Transportation

If you are a small shop owner, a household business or an individual sending gifts to family in Canada and find assigning HS codes too complicated, let Soleil Transportation help. With our experience on the Vietnam–Canada route, we simplify the whole process:

• Free classification advice: Our team helps you check and assign the correct HS code under the July 30, 2026 rules, minimising the risk of delays.
• All-inclusive, duties-paid service: Our Vietnam–Canada air service (from $16/kg, 7–14 days) includes import duties. You don’t need to calculate or pay duties yourself in Canada.
• A solution for small parcels: Our ePacket service for gifts and small personal items to Canada is very affordable, from just $8.50 CAD per parcel.
• Storage and fulfillment in Canada: With our modern warehouse at 2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5A 3K6, we offer storage, packing and door delivery in Canada from just $5 CAD per order, helping e-commerce shops keep operating costs down.

To keep your orders to Canada moving smoothly despite new legal changes, prepare your product information carefully starting today. Contact us on +1 888-998-5199 or email your list of goods to info@soleiltransportation.com for fast support from the Soleil Transportation team.