Bringing a bike back from overseas

[Cam182]

Anyone done this recently?

 

I only found some old threads but looks like options (to avoid duties) are:

- take old bike out of the country and declare (perhaps buy bike overseas first to have same serial number?), dump when get overseas and then bring new bike in

- bring bike in, don't declare and if it get questioned say i'm here for a race and taking out afterwards

- break bike down and only bring back frame and groupset, then ship wheels

 

Whats the latest ideas and what has/hasn't worked?

 

cheers

[fabs]

SARS employee reading this - please take note ...

 

1. support local products.

 

2. if you prefer to import overseas products , you deserve to pay duties

[Baaisikilist]

SARS employee reading this - please take note ...

 

1. support local products.

 

2. if you prefer to import overseas products , you deserve to pay duties

 

So buy a Momsen, Pyga or Morewood...?

[finallygotabike]

Anyone done this recently?

 

I only found some old threads but looks like options (to avoid duties) are:

- take old bike out of the country and declare (perhaps buy bike overseas first to have same serial number?), dump when get overseas and then bring new bike in

- bring bike in, don't declare and if it get questioned say i'm here for a race and taking out afterwards

- break bike down and only bring back frame and groupset, then ship wheels

 

Whats the latest ideas and what has/hasn't worked?

 

cheers

 

Many moons ago I did this - bought a road bike (American brand) in the USA while I was there on business. Upon returning, I paid my FULL duties at the airport with customs and the bike still cost me a 1/3 of what was selling for in SA at the time.

[kandui]

Only 15% import duty on importation of a bike. Add 14% Vat on the duty amount too.

No duty on importation of bike parts. you could break the bike down and ship in separate shipments.

 

Also worth considering is that you can claim back the Vat paid in country of origin, if you can prove the exportation.

I have bought bikes in Germany and claimed back 19% local Vat.

Example:

I once bought a full carbon, XT spec, full sus (26 inch in those days) in Germany. Original retail price was €5000.

the shop had reduced it to make space for the next year's stock: €2400 (that's a proper discount).

Take another 19% off and you're at €1944. The ROE was around 10:1, so the bike cost R19440. Equivalent local bikes were going for R45000-50000.

There is still enough savings there to import legitimately.

 

If anyone's interested in a shop that offers great deals, go to www.fun-corner.de

[rad006]

I moved overseas, lived and worked there and paid my taxes.

When I moved back I just brought my bike with me lol oh and 6 other bags full of stuff.

 

I reckon the 8k worth of excess baggage covered the duties lol....

[HeyYou]

SARS readers of this thread be damned, we pay enough taxes as it is!!

 

Take an old bike box (bag) (Argus, PicknPay stickers on, whatever), some old bar tape, a scuffed saddle and some old tyres.

 

Buy the bike, replace these and dirty and old grease on the bike. Put in old bike box and walk through.

 

It's old and used, look.

[CASSIE1975]

Only 15% import duty on importation of a bike. Add 14% Vat on the duty amount too.

No duty on importation of bike parts. you could break the bike down and ship in separate shipments.

 

Also worth considering is that you can claim back the Vat paid in country of origin, if you can prove the exportation.

I have bought bikes in Germany and claimed back 19% local Vat.

Example:

I once bought a full carbon, XT spec, full sus (26 inch in those days) in Germany. Original retail price was €5000.

the shop had reduced it to make space for the next year's stock: €2400 (that's a proper discount).

Take another 19% off and you're at €1944. The ROE was around 10:1, so the bike cost R19440. Equivalent local bikes were going for R45000-50000.

There is still enough savings there to import legitimately.

 

If anyone's interested in a shop that offers great deals, go to www.fun-corner.de

 

1. In terms of the VAT refund: should the VAT be claimed back in Germany (at Customs when leaving on the plane back to SA) or when you return in Joburg at Customs??

2. If the claim is then only done in SA, then should you declare it at CUSTOMS in Germany before leaving?

***Should be able to supply original INVOICE from Germany of item purchased "I presume"??

 

Thanx for the help...

[V12man]

SARS readers of this thread be damned, we pay enough taxes as it is!!

 

Take an old bike box (bag) (Argus, PicknPay stickers on, whatever), some old bar tape, a scuffed saddle and some old tyres.

 

Buy the bike, replace these and dirty and old grease on the bike. Put in old bike box and walk through.

 

It's old and used, look.

 

People fly with bikes all the time - ride it a bit when you are there, and bring it back in a used bike box - nobody cares once it is used.

[Woodstock]

I brought a bike back to SA last December, had no issues whatsoever. Stuffed the bike box with what minimal possessions I had so it was pretty much my only luggage. Since then, I have had a few friends who brought bikes over to race, also no issues bringing the bikes in or taking them out. Just check with the airline as some give you extra baggage allowance for 'sporting equipment' and others don't.

[Shebeen]

It’s up to you if you want to play by the rules or not. I personally don’t see the point in us having duties on bikes, as there’s no real industry to protect. The few builders actually here are all boutique anyway, they don’t play the price game with high end bikes and import their budget ones anyway.

[I am not SomeBloke]

1. In terms of the VAT refund: should the VAT be claimed back in Germany (at Customs when leaving on the plane back to SA) or when you return in Joburg at Customs??

2. If the claim is then only done in SA, then should you declare it at CUSTOMS in Germany before leaving?

***Should be able to supply original INVOICE from Germany of item purchased "I presume"??

 

Thanx for the help...

 

In my experience you claim the tax back in the country of departure, normally in the duty free area.

[HeyYou]

In my experience you claim the tax back in the country of departure, normally in the duty free area.

 

At the airport when you leave.

 

Even if leaving from a different EU country. You can buy a bike in Germany, take it with you to UK (if you going there) and then get the tax form stamped at Heathrow on leaving (or get it shipped to a UK address, or whatever). But, make sure you buy from a business that is registered with the VAT back office... Evans in the UK, Jedi Sports in Germany. for example. Get them to complete the VAT back form, so you can have it stamped at the airport on departure.

 

The form is posted back to the supplier, shop where you bought, so take an addressed and stamped envelope, so you can post at the airport before leaving.

 

I think their post is better than ours

 

Also, take a photo/scan of the completed and stamped form, in case there are any problems.