Buying DTF Transfers in Canada in 2026: Tariffs, Duties and Why Printing Local Wins
Updated Oct 11, 2026By the NeoInk Transfers team, Markham, Ontario · 9-minute read
TL;DR: the short answer
- Since September 8, 2026, Canada charges a 15%, 25% or 50% surtax on many U.S.-made goods. U.S.-made cotton T-shirts and sweatshirts are on the list at 50%.
- Small orders don't escape it. The surtax applies even to courier parcels that would normally come in duty-free under the $40 / $150 low-value thresholds, and GST is calculated on top of the surtax.
- DTF transfers sit in a grey zone. They are usually classified as "transfers (decalcomanias)" (heading 4908), which is not on the surtax list, but printed designs under heading 4911.91 are taxed at 50%, and the border agency (CBSA) makes the final call.
- Cross-border orders also carry brokerage fees, exchange-rate costs and border delays that never show up in the advertised price.
- Buying DTF transfers printed in Canada removes all of that. NeoInk prints in Markham, Ontario, with same-day printing, same-day pickup and shipping across Canada, priced in Canadian dollars.
If you run a print shop, a clothing brand or a side business with a heat press, the price on the screen used to be the price you paid. In 2026 that's no longer true for many U.S. orders. This guide explains, in plain language, what changed at the border, what it really costs to order DTF transfers and blanks from the United States, and why more Canadian decorators are switching to transfers printed here at home.
What changed at the Canadian border on September 8, 2026?
On September 8, 2026, the United States Surtax Order (2026) came into force. It adds a surtax of 15%, 25% or 50% of the value for duty on a list of specified goods that originate in the United States. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) explained how it is collected in Customs Notice 26-23.
Three details matter most for decorators:
- It's based on where goods are made, not where they ship from. The surtax applies to goods that can be marked as U.S. goods under Canada's CUSMA country-of-origin marking rules. U.S.-made goods shipped through another country can still be caught.
- It applies on top of everything else. It is charged in addition to any regular customs duty.
- The list can change. The Department of Finance notes that its published list may not reflect the current measures, so check it before every big order.
Which decorating products are on the surtax list?
Here are the tariff items from the official list that matter most to apparel decorators (all only when the goods are of U.S. origin):
| Tariff item | What it covers | Surtax |
|---|---|---|
| 6109.10.00 | T-shirts, singlets and vests, knitted, of cotton | 50% |
| 6110.20.00 | Jerseys, pullovers and similar knitted articles (sweatshirts, hoodies), of cotton | 50% |
| 6110.30.00 | Jerseys, pullovers and similar knitted articles, of man-made fibres | 50% |
| 4911.91.00 | Other printed matter: pictures, designs and photographs | 50% |
| 4908 | Transfers (decalcomanias) | Not listed |
Source: Department of Finance Canada list of U.S. products subject to counter-tariffs effective September 8, 2026 (list dated August 26, 2026).
Are DTF transfers themselves charged the surtax?
Most likely not, but it isn't guaranteed. Heat transfers printed on film are normally classified under heading 4908, "transfers (decalcomanias)", and that heading is not on the surtax list. However, "pictures, designs and photographs" under 4911.91 are on the list at 50%, and the final classification of any shipment is CBSA's decision, not the seller's or the buyer's.
In practice, that means a cross-border transfer order carries some risk of a surprise bill. A transfer printed in Canada carries none, because it never crosses a border.
What does it really cost to order DTF supplies from the U.S.?
The advertised price is only part of what you pay. Customs people call the full amount the landed cost: what you actually pay once the parcel is in your hands.
Do small orders under $150 avoid the surtax?
No. Normally, courier shipments from the U.S. get generous low-value relief under CUSMA:
- Up to $40 CAD: no duty and no tax
- $40 to $150 CAD: no duty, but taxes apply
- Over $150 CAD: duties and taxes apply
The new surtax ignores those thresholds. According to CBSA's guidance, it applies even when goods qualify for the low-value (de minimis) relief. When tax is owed, GST is calculated on the value including the surtax. Splitting one order into several small boxes doesn't help either, because CBSA does not allow shipments to be divided to get under the thresholds.
Worked example: $150 of U.S.-made cotton T-shirts
| Value for duty | $150.00 |
| 50% surtax (tariff item 6109.10.00) | + $75.00 |
| Customs duty (CUSMA rate) | $0.00 |
| 5% GST on $225.00 (value plus surtax) | + $11.25 |
| Extra paid at the border | $86.25 |
This follows the calculation method in CBSA Customs Notice 26-23. It's before any courier brokerage fee, and provincial sales tax may also apply depending on your province and tax registration. That's $86.25 extra on a $150 order, or 57.5% more, before shipping.
The costs that never show up at checkout
- Brokerage and disbursement fees. Couriers often bill the receiver a fee for clearing customs or for paying duties and taxes on your behalf, sometimes days after delivery.
- Exchange rates and card fees. Prices set in U.S. dollars move with the exchange rate, and many cards add a foreign-transaction fee.
- Time at the border. Cross-border ground shipping usually takes several business days, and a customs hold adds more. That's a real risk when a team or event order is due Friday.
- Reprints and returns. If a transfer arrives with a problem, a cross-border replacement goes through the same shipping and customs process again.
How do I check if my blanks are U.S.-origin?
The surtax only applies to goods of U.S. origin, so a quick check before you order can save you up to 50%:
- Read the label, not the return address. Look for "Made in…" on the product page or the garment's neck label. Many popular blank brands sew their garments in Central America or Asia. Those aren't U.S.-origin even when they ship from a U.S. warehouse.
- Ask the supplier for the country of origin in writing. For commercial imports, it should appear on the commercial invoice.
- Match the fibre to the tariff item. Cotton tees (6109.10.00) and cotton or man-made-fibre sweatshirts and hoodies (6110.20.00 and 6110.30.00) are the items listed at 50%.
- Check the official list before large orders. Rates and items can change, so confirm against the Finance Canada list and ask a licensed customs broker if a big order depends on it.
The easiest option is to buy your blanks and transfers from a Canadian supplier. Browse NeoInk's blank apparel in Canada and pick them up together with your transfers.
Why are Canadian decorators switching to DTF transfers printed in Canada?
| Printed in Canada (NeoInk) | Imported from the U.S. | |
|---|---|---|
| Customs and brokerage | None, because it never crosses a border | Possible brokerage or disbursement fees |
| 2026 surtax risk | None | Up to 50% on U.S.-origin goods, even on small parcels |
| Currency | Canadian dollars | Often U.S.-dollar based, so it moves with the exchange rate |
| Speed | Same-day printing, same-day pickup in Markham, or same-day shipping within Canada | Cross-border transit plus possible customs holds |
| Fixing a problem | Local team in the Eastern time zone, fast domestic reprints | Replacement goes back through shipping and customs |
| Where your money goes | Canadian jobs and a 100% Canadian-owned business | Outside Canada |
For a business that resells what it decorates, the speed and certainty matter as much as the price. If you can quote a customer a firm number and a firm date, you win the job.
How does ordering from NeoInk Transfers work?
NeoInk Transfers is a 100% Canadian-owned and operated DTF transfer supplier. We print every order in our own facility in Markham, Ontario, in the Greater Toronto Area.
- Build your order. Upload your artwork in the DTF Gang Sheet Builder, order transfers by size, or choose a ready-to-press design.
- We print it the same day. Your transfers are printed, powdered and cured in Markham.
- Pick up or ship. Collect your order the same day at 160 Gibson Dr, Unit 8, Markham, or have it shipped anywhere in Canada.
- Press. Press at 280°F (138°C) with medium pressure for 8 seconds, peel, then cover with parchment and press for 8 more seconds. Full steps are in our DTF heat press instructions.
Beyond standard DTF, we also print 3D puff transfers, glow-in-the-dark transfers and UV DTF stickers, and we offer pre-cutting. New to DTF? Start with DTF Transfers 101 for Canadians or compare methods in DTF vs DTG vs screen printing.
Can I label my shirts "Made in Canada"?
Many customers want to support local businesses, so "Canadian" is a strong selling point. Just use the right wording. Under the Competition Bureau of Canada's guidelines:
- "Product of Canada" requires at least 98% of the total direct costs to be Canadian.
- "Made in Canada" requires the last substantial transformation to happen in Canada, at least 51% of total direct costs to be Canadian, and a qualifying statement such as "Made in Canada with imported materials."
A shirt sewn abroad and decorated here usually doesn't qualify for either claim. Accurate phrases like "Printed in Canada" or "Decorated in Canada" describe what actually happened and still give customers the local story they're looking for. When in doubt, check the Competition Bureau's guidance before printing labels.
Frequently asked questions
Are DTF transfers subject to Canada's 2026 counter-tariffs?
DTF transfers are normally classified under heading 4908, "transfers (decalcomanias)", which is not on the list of U.S. goods subject to the surtax that took effect on September 8, 2026. However, "pictures, designs and photographs" under tariff item 4911.91.00 are taxed at 50%, and CBSA makes the final classification decision. Transfers printed in Canada avoid the question entirely because they never cross the border.
Do small orders under $150 avoid the new surtax?
No. CBSA Customs Notice 26-23 says the surtax applies even when goods qualify for the low-value (de minimis) relief under the Courier Imports Remission Order or the Postal Imports Remission Order. When tax applies, GST is calculated on the value including the surtax.
Which blank apparel is hit by the surtax?
U.S.-origin cotton T-shirts (tariff item 6109.10.00) and knitted pullovers, sweatshirts and hoodies of cotton (6110.20.00) or man-made fibres (6110.30.00) are listed at 50%. Origin is based on where the garment is made under CUSMA marking rules, not on where it ships from.
Why should I buy DTF transfers printed in Canada?
Transfers printed in Canada have no customs clearance, no brokerage fees and no surtax risk. They are priced in Canadian dollars and arrive faster because there is no border crossing, and your purchase supports Canadian businesses and jobs.
Can I pick up NeoInk transfers the same day?
Yes. NeoInk prints in Markham, Ontario, and offers same-day pickup at 160 Gibson Dr, Unit 8, Markham, ON L3R 3K1. Business hours are Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Orders can also be shipped anywhere in Canada.
Can I label garments decorated with Canadian transfers as "Made in Canada"?
Only if they meet the Competition Bureau's guidelines: the last substantial transformation must happen in Canada, at least 51% of total direct costs must be Canadian, and the claim needs a qualifying statement. A shirt sewn abroad and decorated here usually fits "Printed in Canada" or "Decorated in Canada" better.
How do I press NeoInk DTF transfers?
Press at 280°F (138°C) with medium pressure for 8 seconds and peel the film. Then cover the design with parchment paper and press for another 8 seconds to improve durability and softness.
100% Canadian Owned
Skip the border. Print in Canada.
Same-day printing, same-day pickup in Markham, and shipping across Canada. No customs, no surprises.
Questions? Contact us, call (416) 432-3869 or email contact@neoink.ca
Sources
- Department of Finance Canada: List of products from the United States subject to counter-tariffs effective September 8, 2026
- CBSA Customs Notice 26-23: United States Surtax Order (2026)
- CBSA: Low-value shipment thresholds under CUSMA
- CBSA Memorandum D8-2-16: Courier Imports Remission
- Competition Bureau Canada: Made in Canada claims
This article is general information, current as of October 11, 2026, and is not legal, tax or customs advice. Tariff measures change often. For decisions about a specific shipment, check the official sources above or speak with a licensed customs broker.
