Tariff Relief program

The Tariff Relief program provides tariff relief (Customs Tariff Code 9984.00.00) to national and provincial team athletes on equipment used for competition and training purposes. It was developed thanks to the cooperative effort of the Department of Finance and the Sport Federation of Canada. Since 1995, the program has been managed by the Canada Games Council (CGC) on behalf of the True Sport Foundation.
 
Since April 2001, the True Sport Foundation has processed a number of tariff relief requests for various sports organizations for a total of $707,204.63 in imported equipment, which resulted in substantial savings for sport in Canada.
 
Eligibility

The program is only available to national and provincial team athletes. Sport equipment is admissible if:

• It complies with the international competition standards applicable to the sport for which the equipment is designed.
• It is required by an athlete exclusively for the purpose of training for, or competing in, an amateur competition of international calibre.
• The request for tariff relief documents is made by the national or provincial sport organization on behalf of the national or provincial team athlete.

Administration Fees

An administration fee is charged to participants in the Tariff Relief Program. The fee is managed by the True Sport Foundation and is directed towards programs and services that promote the value of sport to all Canadians. The percentage of the fee is assessed on the Canadian value of the imported goods.

Guidelines For Use

Tariff Certificates for goods seeking importation under Tariff Code 9984.00.00 are issued solely by the Canada Games Council. The process is as follows:

1. The request is made by the national or provincial sport organization.
2. The individual making the request for a tariff certificate should be aware of the terms and conditions of the program and must sign a written statement:
   I hereby certify that the sports equipment listed on certificate No._____ will not be sold or otherwise disposed of within two years of the date of accounting at Customs, unless sold or disposed of to a person who could otherwise have imported it under tariff cost 9984.00.00.
   This statement must be attached to the Customs office copy of the accounting document.
3. Sport equipment claims must:
   • Include an original, valid certificate in duplicate for each shipment of goods. The date of issue of the certificate must be within six months of the date of accounting. The certificate must cover the goods presented for importation, and must be numbered and stamped duty paid at the time of accounting by the Customs official.
   • Be signed by an authorized representative of the Canada Games Council.
4. The Canada Games Council retains a copy of all tariff certificates issued for a period of two (2) years. The original Tariff Certificate must be kept with the Customs office copy of the accounting document. A duplicate copy is returned to the importer/owner with the receipt copy of the accounting document.
5. A refund on the administration fee may be obtained if the original certificate(s) are returned to the Canada Games Council unused within six months.

For more information on this program, please contact the Canada Games Council at 613-526-2320.