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Personal import tax?

Tags : property, business, travel, technology

Shanghai Expat Forum Index » Hot Topics Forums » Visas, Taxes, and Legalities

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tomoya

Squeeker

Joined: Jan 10, 2008
Posts: 12
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 12, 2008 - 03:59 PM
Post subject: Personal import tax?

I'm thinking about buying some parts on eBay and getting them shipped to Shanghai.

Does anyone know if there is an import tax on personal goods?

Cheers, big ears!
Chris.

underh20
Shanghai Royalty

Joined: Sep 27, 2006
Posts: 9603
Location: EOA Seminar

Posted: Jan 12, 2008 - 07:14 PM

Yup. There is.

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CaptainCook

Rocker

Joined: Mar 20, 2007
Posts: 684

Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 12, 2008 - 07:56 PM

^^Maybe he meant body parts.... Rolling Eyes

tomoya

Squeeker

Joined: Jan 10, 2008
Posts: 12
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 13, 2008 - 03:04 PM

Bicycle parts! Does anyone know what the tax rate is?

underh20
Shanghai Royalty

Joined: Sep 27, 2006
Posts: 9603
Location: EOA Seminar

Posted: Jan 13, 2008 - 04:43 PM

Call China Customs and ask. Better yet, ask the company you will use to ship them to you here.

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greenmark

Ranter

Joined: July 28, 2005
Posts: 554
Location: Location Location
Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 13, 2008 - 05:15 PM

tomoya wrote:

Bicycle parts! Does anyone know what the tax rate is?

My experience is that your package may or may not be taxable - that really depends on the whim of the tax person who inspects it. You can ask the customs office but the answer they give you may have no relation with what actually happens.

AFAIK bike parts are not taxable but complete bikes are (which is why for top end bikes it is cheaper to buy all the components for a bike separately and have it built rather than buying a complete one).

You should consider going to one of the bike shops here which specialise in top end bike parts. I find that their prices are usuall at par with getting things at home - their import agents have already dealt with tax thing. Their markups are no higher than the shops in the states so after the shipping charges it won't be more expensive.

underh20
Shanghai Royalty

Joined: Sep 27, 2006
Posts: 9603
Location: EOA Seminar

Posted: Jan 13, 2008 - 05:25 PM

greenmark wrote:

tomoya wrote:

Bicycle parts! Does anyone know what the tax rate is?

Not exactly.

Virtually everything brought into China for personal use is taxable unless you bring it in with you in person.

Whether or not customs will impose duty depends, in part, how the items are shipped into China. If it is sent in via any courier service (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.) and the declared value is over $50, it will be held for customs inspection.

If the items are shipped into China via the postal service (including EMS), the threshold is much higher -- perhaps as high as $1,000.

There is a uniformed tariff that governs the precise amount of customs duties one must pay on specific items. Call either customs or your shipper to have them check the Harmonized Tarrif Schedule for China.

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ThomasCaron

Raver