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How to send a fax to the US from Canada
Canadians fax American offices all the time: a US insurer, a cross-border employer, a hospital in another state, a lawyer handling a property sale. The good news is that faxing the United States from Canada is almost the same as faxing within Canada. This sendfaxonline.ca guide explains how to dial the number, what it costs and how to make sure the fax arrives.
Get Started NowHow US fax numbers work from Canada
Canada and the United States share the same numbering system, the North American Numbering Plan. Both use country code 1, and numbers have a three-digit area code followed by seven digits. That means you do not need an international prefix such as 011 to reach a US fax number from Canada.
In an online fax service, you usually enter the full 10-digit number, area code first, for example (555) 555-0123 for a US office. Some services also accept a leading 1. Check the number on the recipient's letterhead or website rather than an old email, since US offices change fax lines often.
Step by step: fax a US number online
sendfaxonline.ca recommends FaxToFax.com, which runs in any modern browser, so you can do this from a computer, tablet or phone with nothing to install.
- Sign in with your email and the one-time code. New users complete a four-step setup: email, code, choosing a fax number and activating.
- Start a new fax and attach your document as a PDF, PNG or JPG, or type it in the editor on your letterhead.
- Add a cover page with the recipient's name, department, your contact details and the page count.
- Enter the US fax number with its area code.
- Confirm the number on the check screen. FaxToFax asks you to confirm every number before sending.
- Send, or schedule it for a time that suits the recipient.
- Watch for the Delivered status and keep the time-stamped delivery receipt.
What it costs to fax the US
With FaxToFax, a page sent to the United States uses one plan page, the same as a page sent within Canada or to the UK. The Personal plan includes 200 pages a month (sent and received combined) for $18.99 a month after a $4.99 first month, and the Business plan includes 500 pages for $39.99 a month after a $14.99 first month. Failed faxes use no pages.
If you also fax overseas, note that some countries use more than one plan page per page sent, up to 55 for the priciest destinations such as China.
Mind the time zones
The US spans several time zones, from Eastern to Hawaii. A fax sent at 4 p.m. from Halifax arrives at noon on the Pacific coast, while a fax sent at 5 p.m. from Vancouver lands at 8 p.m. in New York, when the office is closed. Most fax machines still receive after hours, but a document that needs action the same day should arrive during the recipient's business hours.
FaxToFax lets you schedule a fax up to 90 days ahead, so you can prepare it now and have it go out at 9 a.m. in the recipient's time zone. You can cancel a scheduled fax any time before it sends.
Faxing US government and healthcare offices
US agencies such as the IRS and US healthcare providers have their own instructions about what they accept by fax. Check the agency's current instructions for your specific form or letter. When sending health information to a US provider, include only what they asked for and use a cover page with a confidentiality notice.
How to Send a Fax to the US from Canada: questions
Do I need to dial 011 to fax the US from Canada?
No. Canada and the US share country code 1, so you enter the 10-digit US number, area code first. No international prefix is needed.
Is faxing the US from Canada more expensive?
Not with FaxToFax. A page to the US uses one plan page, the same as a domestic Canadian page.
Can a US office fax me back?
Yes. They can fax your Canadian FaxToFax number like any other North American number. If you prefer, you can choose a US or toll-free number instead.
What if the fax to the US fails?
Check the area code and that the number is a fax line, then retry. Failed faxes use no pages, so trying again does not cost extra.
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