Regardless of paying cash or not, items purchased in Canada beyond the personal exemption ($800 US) are subject to duty, surcharges, and taxes. If you paid cash and hit craps on your way back, how will you prove you brought it with you to Canada and are just returning to the US with it, and how will you prove its value. If you bring a family member, the exemption for the family multiplies. I recommend if you pay cash, you get a receipt not only for customs clearance but also to protect yourself if there are issues with the equipment. Border crossing declarations will probably be given greater scrutiny since the onset of the tariff/trade war. Read the following:
- https://www.help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1402?language=en_US
- https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/know-before-you-visit/customs-duty-information
- https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/announcements/official-cbp-statement-tariff
Here is an anecdotal story I hope you enjoy burned into my grey matter. It was about 59 years ago on a road trip back from Niagara Falls crossing the Rainbow Bridge into New York with my 3 year old sister in the back seat. My father bought Canadian quart size alcohol within the exemption, or at least, that’s what he thought. At that time, spirits were much cheaper in Canada. But the imperial quart is more volume than the US quart so he was 1.5 bottles over and was told he had to pay the duty on 2 bottles. He calmly walked to the edge of the bridge with the two bottles in hand, holding them over the rail, and said to the customs agent … I am not paying duty and hell will freeze over before I relinquish the bottles to customs for you to bring home latter. Please let me enter or say arrivederci to the bottles. The customs agent shouted …no, it would be a sin … and let us pass with the imperial quarts. Now, that people are so up tight, with no humor, my father would probably be arrested for that stunt. It’s a shame.