VAT on US vintage import

Mr. 'H' · 28-03-2006 3:47pm #1

Hi Guys,

Trying to get my head around this....

I'm kinda

confused

.

I'm bringing in a classic from the US over the next month.

Do I have this right?

VRT is negligable....

VAT at 21% (:eek: ) is levied on the declared value of the vehicle plus shipping costs?

The problem I have is that the price of this vehicle is higher than usual and I'd be scr**ed if I had to come up with that many 'G's.

Any hints?

PS - someone said something about giving the shipping company an invoice or something...?

Dades · 28-03-2006 4:42pm

For a car over 30 years - that seems right.
There will also be Customs Duty of about 3% on the same sum as VAT is calculated on.

For the declared value I had to provide an invoice from the vendor, which matched the shipping insurance figure they already had.

There would have been questions asked had the car been insured for 10K and the invoice was for 5K. But remember you arrange with the vendor to get the invoice, and it's also up to you to choose the value of the marine insurance.

Mr. 'H' · 28-03-2006 8:47pm

OK, so let me get this straight....

Say, in theory :rolleyes: , someone paid $35,000, but got the vendor to put down on the invoice $15,000. And say that someone got it insured for $15,000 on shipping (therefore taking a $20,000 personal risk).

Would that person - in principle - pay $15,000 @ 21% (i.e. $3,150)? And also import duty of 3% (i.e. $750)? And then whatever the VAT was ontop f the shipping.

Am I getting this?

BTW, thanks for the above info!

Mr. 'H' · 28-03-2006 8:50pm

Also, when you mention "invoice", what document is this exactly?

I'll have paid over the full amount by the time it's shipped, so are talking about the "bill of sale"?

Cheers.

Citroen Guru · 28-03-2006 11:03pm

I would advise not to have dodgy invoises. A few years ago brought a Porshe 911 into UK from Belgium. Car was worth 5000 - he had reciept for 3000. Cutoms seized the car and he lost the 4500 he paid for it.
What about if you had yor car shipped to UK or France and drove it into this country. Then only a 50 euro fee applies as long as the vehicle is over 30 years old. Good luck

Traumadoc · 28-03-2006 11:25pm

I just brought a car from Australia that I owned for less than 6 months prior to coming back to Ireland (1974 porsche 911 )

I paid 10000 euro for the car, transport was worked out at 1700, duty 10%and VAT 21% came to 3600, VRT 50.

The ballpark figure would be about 30% of the cost of the car plus shipping. Importing a classic from Europe/UK would probably be a lot cheaper.

I bought a 2004 mercedes ml 7 months prior to leaving and paid no tax so saved 25-30000 on the price here( cannot sell it for 2 years)

Mr. 'H' · 28-03-2006 11:57pm

Citroen Guru wrote:

I would advise not to have dodgy invoises. A few years ago brought a Porshe 911 into UK from Belgium. Car was worth 5000 - he had reciept for 3000. Cutoms seized the car and he lost the 4500 he paid for it.

How on earth could they prove this discrepency??

What if it's an unual model where the price varies significantly?

Citroen Guru wrote:

What about if you had yor car shipped to UK or France and drove it into this country. Then only a 50 euro fee applies as long as the vehicle is over 30 years old. Good luck

I've heard this millions (:rolleyes: ) of times here.

What's the story with bringing it in to the UK?

Is there a lower rate?? How much do I stand to save on the above example...?

Help, please....:(

dubtom · 29-03-2006 12:15am

What about if you had yor car shipped to UK or France and drove it into this country. Then only a 50 euro fee applies as long as the vehicle is over 30 years old. Good luck

Thats bogus, in order to register the car you need a cert, be it US or european, stating the cars age and chassis number. If you say that you bought the car in the UK or Europe they will require proof of that. If you claim that the car was unregistered and you bought from a european owner who had bought it from the states, they will still stick you with the duty because it hasn't been paid in any european country. Your best bet is to take the hit and marine insure it for less than you paid but if it's on the way it's too late for that. I'm not sure what the situation is when importing from the US, whether Mr tax man is waiting at the docks or if you can bide your time and register it later but if you can, then dirty it up a bit, you never know, they may take pity on you if it looks iffy.

mustang68 · 29-03-2006 8:37am

Hi Mr H. Congratulations (on both of your bits of news!;) ) !

I found this, on borads somewhere, the guy who posted it is actually the guy I got my car from, so knows a bit about it. You could probably contact him for more info.

"sentenel
20-05-2005, 00:11
Hi Sean,
I have imported a few cars from the states so hope i can help.
The ruling Shagman is talking about is called the BTI ruling and British Customs have tightened up their conditions on this so your car would have to be extreamly rare ie 1 of only 5 made, or have historic value ie Elvis's car.

so you'll have to pay duty on importing the car but if the car is over 30yrs old you'll only pay 50 euro VRT. It's expensive getting the car shipped over from England but we have a guy who brings over cars for a lot of guys in our American Club from England and he is cheapish approx 400 /500 euro :eek: .
I've used two main companies to ship from the states Rybec shipping TEL: 00441795876000 and Kingston Shipping TEL : 00441482374116. Both were very helpful.
hope this helps
cheers
joe"

green-blood · 29-03-2006 9:58am

Originally Posted by Citroen Guru
I would advise not to have dodgy invoises. A few years ago brought a Porshe 911 into UK from Belgium. Car was worth 5000 - he had reciept for 3000. Cutoms seized the car and he lost the 4500 he paid for it.

How on earth could they prove this discrepency??

What if it's an unual model where the price varies significantly?

Problem is they dotn need to prove anything, you do. If they seize your car its up to yu to prove the facts and figures. Its a nasty system.

JohnBoy · 29-03-2006 12:34pm

customs and excise people are mean, very powerful and not stupid, they have a very good gague on value.

also my mate tried for the "helpful" invoice when he bought his chevy truck and the guy refused flat out, the same guy had 3 minis with the vin numbers ground off on his forecourt that he had imported with older vin plates attached and was happy to do that, but no way would he write a dodgy invoice for fear of the IRS

from the states he paid: 10% duty on invoice price
21% VAT on invoice+shipping price
€50 VRT for a commercial vehicle (pickup)

Mr. 'H' · 29-03-2006 3:45pm

Just got off the phone with Rybec - super friendly guy called Jamey.

He reckons it's no problem with a BTI as it's a 40s car!

He said they (Customs) did tighten up the BTI availablity but they still give them for pre - '50s cars.

Yeehaw!

My only concern now is that if I don't get the BTI then will the cat be let out of the bag??:eek:

£900 for RonRoff.

£1800 containerised.

£300 fully comp ins with £500 excess.

Happy days!!!

Told him about the above scenario (earlier post) but he said he'd not recommend it, obviously!

Thanks a million guys!

mustang68 · 29-03-2006 4:09pm

Sounds good to me,, if you can get it BTI

dublind · 29-03-2006 4:17pm

This is all really interesting and helpful to know. I have a quick question along the same lines... If i was to import a car from the states as discussed but not to drive but to part out would i still need to pay all those taxes etc????

Mr. 'H' · 29-03-2006 4:23pm

Double checked with Kingston shipping - great info above lads! - and they said the rule is pre 1950.

And I can apply for a BTI if I want to (it's free) but that I don't have to as the Customs guys in the UK have the info and know that if it's pre 1950 I get the BTI rate of 5%.

So, again:

Say PP is $35,000 / £20,000. Shipping £1,000.

VAT should be £21,000 @5% = £1,000 approx.

I'm grinning ear :D2:D ear...!

I'm also sh**ing it about driving a steel bubble up from Southhampton to Hollyhead sans seatbelts.

PS - Mustang68: thanks for the words of encouragement and the leads after the gad-awful shock you gave me on Sat night when you said I'd have to pay tax. :eek:AAAAHHHH!!! The taxman cometh...!:eek:.

H.

mustang68 · 29-03-2006 4:25pm

As far as I know, yes, its the same as buying anything somewhere else and bringing it in, however VRT may not have to be paid if its a box of parts and you're not registering it.

dublind · 29-03-2006 4:41pm

i thought 2nd hand goods wernt taxed if brought from the states.. so therefore if the car itself was only been brought in for parts and not to be driven it would also be exempt..But maybe Im way off the mark here!!!!!!!!!

Mr. 'H' · 29-03-2006 4:51pm

Gentlemen,

On the advice of a fellow boarder,

I am so delighted with the valuable info I got as a result of boards, I am going to give y'all a taster of what you might spot around the Goatstown area....

This is an ALL ORIGINAL 1941 Buick Special Model 41-SE. This is an immaculate automobile from an era in American history of the "Greatest Generation," complete with the WWII gas rationing sticker. This is two-owner car, originally chauffer driven, with 34,755 original miles.

I present: da da!

dubtom · 29-03-2006 4:59pm

Fantastic Mr H, beautiful car, hope to see you 'presenting' at some of the shows.
( should win a few prizes for that )

Mr. 'H' · 29-03-2006 5:02pm

Cheers Bud!

Mr. 'H' · 29-03-2006 5:03pm

dubtom wrote:

Fantastic Mr H, beautiful car, hope to see you 'presenting' at some of the shows.
( should win a few prizes for that )

Don't worry, you won't miss me - I'll be in full '40s rig out!!!

(PS - I'm not joking - just ask mustang68....)

mustang68 · 30-03-2006 8:38am

Mr. H wrote:

complete with the WWII gas rationing sticker.

Heard 20 mins after getting the car, somewhere in Goatstown:

"Honey, I cleaned the car and took that horrible sticker off the windscreen, took ages to pick it of"

"Noooooooooooooooooooooooo"

Mr. 'H' · 31-03-2006 1:01am

http://www.prewarbuick.com/id389.htm

Mr. 'H' · 26-04-2006 10:35pm

I'm planning on having this shipped to Felixtowe, UK and driving it home thru' Hollyhead (with Rybec).

I'm going to get a BTI in UK.

So, do I leave the US plates on? :cool:

Or do I drive with no plates across UK?

When do I register with Irish authorities to get my ZV plates here??

Should I arrange insurance now to drive it home?

Any help would be appreciated....

summer77 · 03-09-2020 10:09pm

Traumadoc wrote: »

I just brought a car from Australia that I owned for less than 6 months prior to coming back to Ireland (1974 porsche 911 )

I paid 10000 euro for the car, transport was worked out at 1700, duty 10%and VAT 21% came to 3600, VRT 50.

The ballpark figure would be about 30% of the cost of the car plus shipping. Importing a classic from Europe/UK would probably be a lot cheaper.

I bought a 2004 mercedes ml 7 months prior to leaving and paid no tax so saved 25-30000 on the price here( cannot sell it for 2 years)

Hi Traumadoc,
I’m looking at purchasing classic 4x4 from Australia, did you get 20ft container to transport?
Was the duty paid the % of sales invoice + transport fee?
Approx time till Delieverd 8weeks?

Thanks.

kadman · 03-09-2020 10:17pm

I think you are 15 years too late

macplaxton · 04-09-2020 9:08am

MOD NOTE: summer77 please don't revive ancient threads.

VAT on US vintage import

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