Im now looking for some 2nd hand stuff from U.S. would like to ask if any of you have some experience with spanish custom, is it sure thing that I have to pay taxes and how do they calculate the amount of tax for 2nd hand stuff, or is this all about luck, sometimes packets stay in custom, sometimes not ? Any info is appreciated
I've never had to pay anything, but they've been pretty low value items (I think you supposed to pay duty once the value is over $150, more or less). AFAIK you dont pay duty on 2nd hand items anyway. I'm waiting on some chain guides right now.
Would like to know how it is with more expensive stuff. Yeah, VAT should be paid only once, so if its 2ndhand no VAT, but at least in finland where we got lots of taxes, you need to pay import tax if packet arrives its outside EU, and that tax is calculated from the price you paid for it + they add VAT to that TAX, complicated... So i just dont want surprises if I end up ordering 1500€ frame from U.S. and then custom officer tells me I have to pay some MASSIVE tax
In 2010 there was a change in customs regulations when importing from ouside EU. Is your spanish good enough to understand the thread below?. I´m afraid every day thousands of riders are hoping for their packages not to be stopped by customs officers... http://www.foromtb.com/showthread.p...t-fuera-de-la-Unión-Europea?highlight=aduanas
No, my spanish is no where near on a level so i could understand all of it. How bad are those taxes and how they are calculated ? And is there a difference where the packet is coming, still outside EU, but not from U.S. If it would be so simple that if customs stop your packet, you pay taxes based on a price you paid for the USED parts. I know its totally different thing if buying NEW stuff.
The odds for a bulky or valuable package not to be stopped are low while customs officers pay less attention to lots of smaller ones, so that eventualy those small packages become duty-free. To my knowledge, it doesn´t matter if the goods come from USA or whatever country outside the EU, they will always be considered from out the EU market. Anyway, I hope this little summary helps: No matter brand new or second hand, import duty and taxes are due when importing goods from outside of the EU whether by a private individual or a commercial entity. Notice that the import duty and taxes payable are calculated on the value of the imported goods plus the cost of importing them (shipping and insurance). The duty rates applied to imports into Spain typically range between 0% (for example books) and 17% (for example Wellington Boots). As far as I know it´s 4.7% in your case. Some products, such as Laptops, Mobile Phones, Digital cameras and Video Game consoles, are duty free, but certain goods may be subject to additional duties depending on the country of manufacture, for example Bicycles made in China carry an additional (anti dumping) duty of 48.5%. The standard VAT rate for importing items into Spain is 21%, with certain products, attracting VAT at the a reduced VAT rate of 10% or a super reduced rate of 4%. VAT is calculated on the value of the goods, plus the international shipping costs and insurance, plus any import duty due. When importing goods into Spain, duty is not charged, if either the total value of the goods (not including shipping charges or insurance) does not exceed €150 or if the amount of duty payable, does not exceed €10. Neither duty nor VAT is payable if the total value of the goods (not including shipping charges or insurance) does not exceed €22. Additional custom fees can be charged to cover the expense of performing any required examinations, verification and or testing of the imported goods. Tons of information on import declaration procedures and import restrictions at the Spanish Customs website. It´s a great opportunity for U to improve your legal spanish!!! Cheers.
Thank you Interaptor for the info. Its basically same rules like in finland, some minor differences. Well, I hope I dont have to order it from U.S. but if it goes to that, at least I know what to expect... Its just that from my experience rules do bend here a bit, for example, I went to open a bank account here, first bank said, No you can not because you dont have NIE number, then I went to another office (same bank) and they said sure, took 15min and i got account and credit + debit card without NIE number. I have been dealing with custom officers (bringing stuff into a country) in a so many countries, and in every place they share same feature, they can be very difficult persons to deal with
Yeah!, sometimes you feel the happiest man in the world when somebody turns a blind eye to you! ;-) Cheers!
Zero value or not, man You´re just 20 posts away from your objective! BTW, I remember Chain saying he had problems (well, it all boils down to extra payments I presume) on importing his Scattante bike from California... David, anything to comment on this?
Yeah, i try to do something useful with my posts so i don't feel like a schmuck. Lets say I pay 1800 USD for used bike frame with shipping, so is it like 21% of that price + the tax for bike which was 4.7%
Correct, but just the opposite order. 1st. 4.7% customs taxation, then 21% (it used to be 18%) vat. That´s 2.280 for a 1.800 dollar frame if I´m not mistaken... Some tips here: Good deals from USA depend largely on the euro/dollar exchange rate, Customs officers tend to stop goods delivered to Companies rather than individuals, Better to ship them via USPS (not UPS, FEDEX, etc...) since it´s most likely not to be implemented and, this is off the record, try to talk to the seller about... the price and transaction . Cheers!
I really haven't got too much to add to this. I was just sadly misinformed when I came back to Spain with my Stattante. I thought I could claim that the bike was used (and I had ridden it a bit) even though I had bought it while on my trip to California. In any case, to make a long story short, I was slapped with about 400 euros in taxes. Ouch!
Ouch, may I ask where they got that price for you ? I mean, did you have to show a proof of purchase or they just googled the price of a new one ? If I buy 2012 model used V10 frame, I dont mind paying taxes from the price what i paid for it, but if they tax it as a new one, well... whole another story..
They asked if I had a receipt, which I did, and then they just tacked on the VAT tax and some other tax. But all this was about four years ago, and I try not to think about it too much, so I don't really remember all the details that clearly.
If I end up ordering my frame from USA, will post end results here. I hope to find & buy that frame locally (EU) so i dont have to deal with customs
Ok, so my frame has arrived, i have to do custom clearance, im fine with with it. What annoys me is that on correos.es website when i look at the tracking code it says that i have to wait to get a notice from post, fill up the formula + include all necessary documents and send them back, then they will calculate etc and ... point is, this takes time and im very eager to get it, get over with it and go riding. Does anyone know if i can just go to some office, give them my documents, pay customs and get my frame, like tomorrow. Back in home post & custom office has same service points, i can just walk in pay and walk out with good, no need to wait and send papers Im in barcelona now, if someone can tell me faster way to get my frame, that information would be most welcome.
Ok i will report here so that others will know as well. Im originally from finland, so im EU citizen and I do work here in Spain, but due to my unique work, im not paying taxes here in spain, so in short im not tax registered here. I do have NIE number, which was needed 1 year ago when i received another not bike related packet from US, didnt have NIE back then, and it was huge problem. Now that I have NIE, custom officers told that its worth of nothing, they told me (2 different officers) that i have to registered tax & social security payer here in spain if i want to receive packets from outside of EU. Sounds very difficult and strange rule. Also since my frame is partly carbon, i have to pay EU Anti-Dumping tax, they told me that, but they did not know how much is it. Now I go back to deal with them. Any info related to this is helpful, and i will report all it here when its all over, if it will ever be.
