Buying Original Art from Canada: A Guide for US Collectors

Yes. A US collector can buy an original painting from a Canadian gallery and have it shipped home, and for a painting executed entirely by hand the US import duty is zero, because heading 9701 of the US tariff schedule lists a general duty rate of Free. As of September 2026, the country-wide tariffs the United States places on Canadian goods also exempt artworks. The costs that can still reach a US buyer are small: a customs processing fee, any fee the delivery company charges for clearing the box, a card fee if your bank charges one, and your own state's sales or use tax.

We are VanArtHub, an online gallery in Vancouver that sells original signed paintings to collectors in Canada and the USA. This guide follows one purchase in the order it happens, from choosing a painting to hanging it. Where a step needs more detail, we link to a separate page in this guide.

Every rule here carries a date. The US rules for goods from Canada changed more than once between February 2025 and July 2026, so a rule without a date is hard to trust.

Key takeaways

• A painting executed entirely by hand is classified under US tariff heading 9701, and the general duty rate for that heading is Free.
• As of September 2026, the 10 percent Section 301 tariff on products of Canada exempts informational materials, and US Customs and Border Protection lists artworks inside that exemption under heading 9903.05.92.
• Since US Customs suspended the $800 low-value exemption for courier shipments, a painting sent by courier goes through the informal or formal customs entry process even when no duty is owed.
• Prices on VanArtHub are set in Canadian dollars, and visitors in the US market see and pay the price in US dollars at checkout.
• California and Washington both say use tax can apply to art bought from a seller outside the state when no sales tax was collected at checkout.
• VanArtHub ships to the USA free and fully insured, and delivery takes 5 to 10 business days.

Can you buy an original painting from Canada and ship it to the US?

You can, and the tariff schedule treats hand-made art in its own way. The US Harmonized Tariff Schedule is the official list that gives every imported product a code and a duty rate. Heading 9701 covers paintings, drawings and pastels "executed entirely by hand", and it leaves out hand-painted or hand-decorated manufactured articles. A painting less than 100 years old goes under subheading 9701.91.00, and the rate in the general column is Free.

So the first question to ask any seller is how the work was made. If the answer is paint applied by the artist's hand to canvas, panel or paper, heading 9701 is where it belongs. Everything we sell is a one-of-a-kind original, signed by the artist, and ships with a Certificate of Authenticity. Our page on whether paintings from Canada are subject to US tariffs sets out each tariff order from 2025 and 2026 and how each one treats artwork.

The path of one purchase, in order

1. Choose. Browse all of our original artworks and pick the painting for your wall.
2. Pay. Your card is charged at checkout in US dollars when you shop from the US market.
3. Pack and ship. We pack the painting by hand in our Vancouver studio and send it, insured, with a shipping carrier.
4. Clear US customs. The carrier's customs broker files the entry with US Customs and Border Protection, using the commercial invoice we prepare.
5. Receive. The box reaches your door. You check it, unpack it, and give the painting time to settle in the room.

Steps 2 and 4 are the ones that worry most first-time buyers, so they get the most space below. Step 3 is ours to get right, and step 5 is where a few minutes of care on your side matter.

What a US buyer can pay, line by line

This table lists every cost we know of on a cross-border art purchase and says whether it applies to a hand-made painting sent from Canada. The figures carry their dates, and the references at the end give the source for each one.

Costs a US buyer may see on an original painting shipped from Canada, as of 26 September 2026

Cost	Does it apply to a hand-made painting from Canada?	Who sets it
Price of the painting	Yes. On VanArtHub it is set in Canadian dollars and charged in US dollars at checkout for the US market.	The gallery
Shipping and transit insurance	On VanArtHub orders, shipping to the USA is free and fully insured.	The gallery
Import duty under heading 9701	No charge. The general rate is Free.	US tariff schedule
Section 301 tariff on products of Canada, 10 percent from 24 July 2026	No. Informational materials, which CBP says include artworks, are exempt under heading 9903.05.92.	US Trade Representative
Section 122 import surcharge, 10 percent	Ended on 24 July 2026. Artworks were exempt under heading 9903.03.11 while it ran.	Presidential proclamation
IEEPA tariffs on Canadian goods from 2025	Ended after the Supreme Court ruling of 20 February 2026. The order that created them excluded items covered by 50 U.S.C. 1702(b), which names artworks.	Executive orders
Merchandise processing fee	Can apply. For an automated informal entry it is $2.69 until 30 September 2026 and $2.77 from 1 October 2026.	US Customs and Border Protection
Carrier clearance fee	Depends on the carrier. FedEx lists $42.25 to clear a Canada-to-US Ground shipment valued at $1,250.01 to $2,000.	The carrier
Foreign transaction fee	Depends on your card agreement.	Your card issuer
State sales or use tax	Depends on your state and on whether tax was collected at checkout.	Your state

Read the table from the top. The first three rows are the ones you can predict before you buy. The customs rows show zero tariff for art. The last four rows depend on your carrier, your bank and your state, which is why the sub-pages of this guide exist.

Duty and tariffs: why neither adds to the price of a hand-made painting

A duty is the standard import tax printed next to a product's code in the tariff schedule. For heading 9701 that rate is Free. A tariff surcharge is an extra percentage placed on top of the standard duty by a presidential order or a trade action, and US Customs lists each surcharge under its own code in chapter 99 of the schedule.

Since February 2025, three such surcharges have covered goods from Canada. Executive Order 14193, signed on 1 February 2025, added a 25 percent duty on products of Canada, and Executive Order 14325 raised it to 35 percent from 1 August 2025. Both relied on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and the first order excluded everything covered by 50 U.S.C. 1702(b), a clause of that law that names "artworks" among informational materials. On 20 February 2026 the Supreme Court held, in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, that this Act does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. The same day, Executive Order 14389 ended those duties.

A 10 percent surcharge under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 then ran from 24 February to 24 July 2026, with artworks exempt. From 24 July 2026 a 10 percent Section 301 tariff applies to products of Canada, again with artworks exempt. Our guide to shipping original art from Canada to the USA covers the base duty rule in more depth.

Customs paperwork: what happens at the border

Every painting we send to the United States travels with a commercial invoice, the document that tells US Customs what the item is, who sold it, where it was made and what it cost. Federal regulation 19 CFR 141.86 lists what an invoice must contain, and it must be in English.

Until 29 August 2025, a shipment worth $800 or less could enter free of duty under a simpler process called the de minimis exemption. On 24 June 2026, US Customs published a rule that suspends that exemption indefinitely for goods arriving by any route other than the postal network. A painting sent by courier now goes through the informal or formal entry process every time. The duty on it is still zero.

Shipments worth $2,500 or less can use the shorter "informal entry" process, with some exceptions, and larger ones use the full "formal entry" process. US Customs explains that goods sent by courier are usually cleared by a customs broker hired by the courier, and that the courier may bill for that service. Our page on US customs paperwork for art shipped from Canada covers both entry types, the processing fee and published carrier fees. If a carrier sends you a bill for one of our paintings, write to us with the bill before you pay it.

Paying in US dollars

We set our prices in Canadian dollars. When you shop from the United States, the store shows you the price in US dollars and charges your card in US dollars at checkout. The Bank of Canada publishes a daily average rate; for 25 September 2026 it was 0.7070 US dollars per Canadian dollar. At that rate a painting priced at C$2,000 works out to US$1,414.00. The figure at your checkout is the one you pay. Shopify, the platform our store runs on, says a converted price includes a currency conversion fee and can be rounded, so it will differ from a plain calculation at the Bank of Canada rate.

Your card issuer may add its own foreign transaction fee. Federal rules require card issuers to disclose any fee for purchases made in a foreign currency, outside the United States or with a foreign merchant, so the answer is in your card agreement. Our page on paying for Canadian art in US dollars works through the conversion, card fees and US sales and use tax.

Insurance and packing in transit

Every painting we ship is insured for its full value while it travels, at no charge to you. Our post on insuring original art shipped from Canada to the USA explains declared value and what happens if a box is damaged.

Packing is done by hand in the studio. The face of the painting is covered with a smooth protective layer so nothing touches the paint, the corners get extra reinforcement, and the wrapped piece sits in a rigid outer box or crate sized to the work, with cushioning so it cannot shift. You can read the full studio sequence, from drying time to signature to box, in how a painting gets made and shipped from our Vancouver studio.

Delivery and the first day

US deliveries take 5 to 10 business days once the painting is packed. When the box arrives, photograph it before you open it, and lift an unframed canvas by its stretcher bars without pressing on the canvas. If the box has been out in the cold, the Canadian Conservation Institute advises leaving a wrapped painting unopened for 24 hours so it can adjust to indoor conditions. Our page on receiving a painting shipped from Canada covers unpacking, handling and letting the canvas settle.

After it is on your wall, you have 14 days to decide, as set out on our Buy with Confidence page.

What to ask any Canadian gallery before you pay

These questions work for us and for any other gallery. A seller who answers them in writing, before you pay, is a seller who has shipped across the border before.

• Is the painting executed entirely by hand, and will the commercial invoice describe it that way, with its true price?
• Which carrier will you use, and does the shipment go by courier or by post?
• Is the painting insured in transit for its full sale price?
• In which currency will my card be charged?
• If a carrier bills me for customs clearance, what should I do?
• Does the painting come with a certificate that names the artist, title, medium, size and year?
• What is the legal name of your business, so I can look it up in the provincial registry?

Our page on whether it is safe to buy art from a Canadian gallery online shows how to check that last answer yourself, and what your credit card protects if something goes wrong.

Frequently asked questions

Can a US collector buy an original painting from a Canadian gallery and have it shipped home?

A US collector can buy an original painting from a Canadian gallery and have it delivered by a shipping carrier to a US address. The painting is classified under US tariff heading 9701, and the general duty rate for that heading is Free. The carrier's customs broker files the entry, and VanArtHub prepares the commercial invoice that goes with every shipment.

What does a US buyer pay in total for an original painting from Canada?

A US buyer pays the price of the painting, plus any costs that depend on the buyer's own situation. On VanArtHub, shipping to the USA is free and fully insured, and the import duty on a hand-made painting is zero. The variable costs are a customs processing fee, any carrier clearance fee, a foreign transaction fee if your card charges one, and state sales or use tax.

Is there import duty on a hand-made painting from Canada?

Import duty on a hand-made painting from Canada is zero. The US Harmonized Tariff Schedule places paintings executed entirely by hand under heading 9701, and the general rate of duty for every subheading of 9701 is Free. A painting less than 100 years old is classified under subheading 9701.91.00. The rate applies whatever the price of the painting.

Do US tariffs on Canadian goods add to the price of a painting?

US tariffs on Canadian goods add nothing to the price of a hand-made painting as of September 2026. The 10 percent Section 301 tariff on products of Canada, in force since 24 July 2026, exempts informational materials, and US Customs guidance lists artworks among them. The earlier Section 122 surcharge and the 2025 emergency tariffs also exempted artworks.

Which steps does a cross-border art purchase from Canada go through?

A cross-border art purchase from Canada goes through five steps: choosing the painting, paying at checkout, packing and shipping, US customs entry, and delivery. On VanArtHub, US buyers pay in US dollars, the painting ships free and fully insured from Vancouver, the carrier's customs broker files the entry, and delivery takes 5 to 10 business days.

Do US buyers pay sales tax on a painting bought from Canada?

US buyers may owe sales or use tax on a painting bought from Canada, depending on their state. Use tax covers purchases where the seller collected no sales tax. The Washington Department of Revenue says purchases made through the internet from outside the state are subject to use tax, and California says use tax generally applies to foreign purchases brought into the state.

What should a US buyer ask a Canadian gallery before paying?

A US buyer should ask a Canadian gallery how the painting was made, which carrier will ship it, whether it is insured for its full sale price, and which currency the card will be charged in. Heading 9701 covers work executed entirely by hand, so the invoice should describe the painting that way. Ask for the business's legal name so you can check the provincial registry.

Is a painting insured while it travels from Canada to the US?

A painting bought from VanArtHub is insured for its full value while it travels from Canada to the US, at no extra charge to the buyer. Shipping to the USA is free and delivery takes 5 to 10 business days. Other galleries set their own terms, so ask any seller whether transit insurance covers the full sale price before you pay.

Will a US buyer's card be charged in US dollars on VanArtHub?

A US buyer's card is charged in US dollars on VanArtHub when shopping from the US market. Prices are set in Canadian dollars and converted at checkout. As a reference point, the Bank of Canada rate for 25 September 2026 was 0.7070 US dollars per Canadian dollar, so C$2,000 equalled US$1,414.00. The amount shown at checkout is the amount charged.

What documents travel with a painting shipped from Canada?

A painting shipped from Canada travels with a commercial invoice for US Customs, and a VanArtHub painting also comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. Federal regulation 19 CFR 141.86 says the invoice must describe the goods in detail, give the purchase price and currency, and state the country of origin. The invoice and any attachments must be in English.

References

1. Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, heading 9701. US International Trade Commission. Undated online edition. Accessed 26 September 2026. Heading 9701 text, subheading 9701.91.00 and the general duty rate of Free.
2. CSMS # 69326983 - GUIDANCE: Section 301 Forced Labor Import Duties. US Customs and Border Protection. Published 23 July 2026. Accessed 26 September 2026. The 10 percent rate for products of Canada under heading 9903.05.29 and the informational materials exemption, which names artworks, under heading 9903.05.92.
3. Notice of Actions in Section 301 Investigations of Acts, Policies, and Practices of Various Economies Related to the Failure of Each Economy To Impose and Effectively Enforce a Prohibition on the Importation of Goods Produced With Forced Labor. Office of the United States Trade Representative, Federal Register. Published 28 July 2026. Accessed 26 September 2026. The 10 percent tariff on products of Canada from 24 July 2026.
4. CSMS # 67844987 - Imposing Temporary Section 122 Duties. US Customs and Border Protection. Published 23 February 2026. Accessed 26 September 2026. The 10 percent Section 122 surcharge from 24 February to 24 July 2026 and the artworks exemption under heading 9903.03.11.
5. Imposing Duties To Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border (Executive Order 14193). The White House, Federal Register. Published 7 February 2025. Accessed 26 September 2026. The 25 percent duty on products of Canada and the exclusion of items covered by 50 U.S.C. 1702(b).
6. Amendment to Duties To Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border (Executive Order 14325). The White House, Federal Register. Published 6 August 2025. Accessed 26 September 2026. The increase from 25 to 35 percent from 1 August 2025.
7. Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, No. 24-1287. Supreme Court of the United States. Decided 20 February 2026. Accessed 26 September 2026. The holding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.
8. Ending Certain Tariff Actions (Executive Order 14389). The White House, Federal Register. Published 25 February 2026. Accessed 26 September 2026. The end of the duties imposed under Executive Order 14193.
9. U.S.C. Title 50, War and National Defense, section 1702. US Government Publishing Office. 2023 edition. Accessed 26 September 2026. The exception in 50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(3) for informational materials, which lists artworks.
10. Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Merchandise Arriving Through All Modes Other Than the International Postal Network. US Customs and Border Protection, Federal Register. Published 24 June 2026. Accessed 26 September 2026. The suspension of the $800 exemption since 29 August 2025, the June 2026 rule, and the $2,500 line between informal and formal entry.
11. Customs User Fees To Be Adjusted for Inflation in Fiscal Year 2026 CBP Dec. 25-10. US Customs and Border Protection, Federal Register. Published 23 July 2025. Accessed 26 September 2026. The $2.69 automated informal entry fee.
12. Customs User Fees To Be Adjusted for Inflation in Fiscal Year 2027. US Customs and Border Protection, Federal Register. Published 31 July 2026. Accessed 26 September 2026. The $2.77 automated informal entry fee from 1 October 2026.
13. Internet Purchases. US Customs and Border Protection. Last modified 6 March 2024. Accessed 26 September 2026. Courier shipments cleared by a broker hired by the courier, and the fees the service may charge.
14. 19 CFR 141.86 Contents of invoices and general requirements. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, National Archives. Undated current text. Accessed 26 September 2026. What a commercial invoice must contain, and the English-language rule.
15. 2026 changes to FedEx surcharges & fees. FedEx. Effective 5 January 2026. Accessed 26 September 2026. The Canada-to-US Ground clearance entry fee of $42.25 for a value of $1,250.01 to $2,000.
16. Daily exchange rates. Bank of Canada. Rate for 25 September 2026. Accessed 26 September 2026. The CAD/USD daily average rate of 0.7070.
17. Currency conversions and exchange rates. Shopify Help Center. Undated. Accessed 26 September 2026. A converted price includes a currency conversion fee and can be rounded.
18. Comment for 1026.60 - Credit and Charge Card Applications and Solicitations. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Undated. Accessed 26 September 2026. Disclosure of fees for purchases in a foreign currency, outside the United States or with a foreign merchant.
19. Use tax on artwork. Washington State Department of Revenue. Undated. Accessed 26 September 2026. Use tax on artwork bought through the internet from outside the state.
20. California Use Tax, Good for You. Good for California. California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Undated. Accessed 26 September 2026. Use tax on foreign purchases brought into California.
21. Caring for paintings. Canadian Conservation Institute, Government of Canada. Published 2018. Accessed 26 September 2026. Allowing 24 hours for a wrapped painting to adjust to indoor conditions after cold exposure.

Checked 26 September 2026. If something here is out of date, write to us and we will correct it.