FundSvcs Community

 View Only
  • 1.  Traveling Across Borders with a GIK

    Posted 07-07-2025 02:44 PM

    Hello! This is the first time I've ran into accepting a GIK that requires being moved across borders. Can you provide any insight on the information below?

    Situation: The Severe Storms Research Center at Georgia Tech has the opportunity to acquire via donation 14 lightning sensors from Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. Our current tentative plan to retrieve the sensors is to have 1-2 of our people fly to Western University (or maybe more specifically to Detroit then drive to London, Ontario), check over and pack the sensors, and then drive them back to Atlanta. 

    Questions from Unit Partner: Will we have to pay a tariff on the estimated value of the sensors? Does it matter who (U.S. or Canada) paid for the sensors to begin with when figuring out if we'd have to pay a tariff? What other things do we need to consider since this donation is from outside the U.S.? Do you know if we'll need to fill out paperwork for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement?

    Thank you in advance!



    ------------------------------
    Arielle Johnson
    Georgia Institute of Technology
    arielle.johnson@dev.gatech.edu
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Traveling Across Borders with a GIK

    Posted 07-07-2025 04:17 PM
    Hi Arielle, 

    Your best bet is to speak with a customs broker. The value of the lightning sensors, where they were manufactured, whether they might qualify for a humanitarian exemption, etc. are all potentially relevant. However, the basic rule is that assuming these goods will be subject to tariff, the importer pays the tariff - the entity who owns the goods at the time they cross the border. In practice, that can be either entity, and you may prefer to structure the transaction in different ways based on that. A customs broker can help you figure this out. 


    Thank you,
    Isaac Shalev
    Data Strategy Expert
    Sage70, Inc.
    (917) 859-0151
    isaac@sage70.com

    Schedule a 30-minute consultation now: