Do I need to pay taxes/duties when bringing a brand-new bike in a sealed box

[Zainyy]

Hi everyone,

 

I’m planning to bring a brand-new bicycle with me from abroad. It will still be in its original sealed box (unused and unopened).

 

Does anyone know if I would need to pay any import taxes, customs duties, or extra fees when bringing it through customs?

If yes, how are the charges usually calculated (value, type of item, etc.)?

 

Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has done this recently or knows the rules.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Sandro]

This should help. Its about 30 to 40% depending

https://forum.bikehub.co.za/topic/196241-help-with-importing-a-bike/

 

[Arrie]

If you do have to pay customs. See if you can split the bike as you only pay VAT if it's bike parts but pay customs if its a complete bike

[ChrisF]

What are the tax implications of riding the bike on that side, then bringing it in using a normal bike travel bag ?

[Zainyy]

15 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

What are the tax implications of riding the bike on that side, then bringing it in using a normal bike travel bag ?

So there is just the 15% at the time of the purchase. I am a bit hesitant on bringing it with in a normal travel bag so that’s why i’m bringing it with the box itself 

[Zainyy]

41 minutes ago, Arrie said:

If you do have to pay customs. See if you can split the bike as you only pay VAT if it's bike parts but pay customs if its a complete bike

 

Just now, Zainyy said:

So there is just the 15% at the time of the purchase. I am a bit hesitant on bringing it with in a normal travel bag so that’s why i’m bringing it with the box itself 

 

41 minutes ago, Arrie said:

If you do have to pay customs. See if you can split the bike as you only pay VAT if it's bike parts but pay customs if its a complete bike

I’ll definitely look into that. Thanks 

[Zainyy]

2 hours ago, Sandro said:

This should help. Its about 30 to 40% depending

https://forum.bikehub.co.za/topic/196241-help-with-importing-a-bike/

 

Thanks for the link 

[Barry]

Just buy a cheap scrap bike off Facebook, box it up, and take it with you as sports equipment. Then, when you arrive at your destination, you can dump it in the trash. Your return flight will also have your sports equipment coming back with you. The chances of customs catching the switch are slim; they probably won't even open the box, just x-ray it.

[RossTopher]

If you have a cardboard, shop box, its almost a guarantee they will stop you. They are less likely stop a travel box (like from scicon, evoc etc) that looks used.

New, used, no matter what, if you bring it in and nothing is declared on the way out, you'll have to pay

You can reclaim your taxes paid in the other country, but you'll still pay here.

If i recall, A bike made in Europe will have less duties than one made in Asia. Rare to find nowadays but thats just an FYI

Edited February 8 by RossTopher

[Bro Derek]

23 hours ago, Arrie said:

If you do have to pay customs. See if you can split the bike as you only pay VAT if it's bike parts but pay customs if its a complete bike

Be weary as legal precedent was set in the Silverback tax case 

They were found guilty of this by SARS and declared 'deception' is not something you want to get into with them

[Alouette3]

Ride the bike that side so it's not new then pack it up and bring it home.

Had a probably 6 people with bikes when I flew from London to CPT last year, most of them in bike bags, mine in a box that I got from the LBS, none of us got stopped, but nothing looked new.

If you do get stopped, bike parts is vat only while complete bikes are duties around 15% then VAT of 15% on top of that new total.

[Paul Ruinaard]

I have purchased bikes overseas off Ebay. To bring it back I traveled out with my bag (checked in) bagged the bike and pushed it back in to the country and when asked - was on a cycling holiday and had the bike with me on the way out. I would suggest as you have been advised, unbox the bike, assemble it, ride it through mud and grit, take some clammy chamois and cycling stuff in your luggage and then rebox it, poke some holes in the box and make sure it has been taped closed or looks like it has been reboxed. Write all over it.

Make it look like the box is just transport for the bike.

Never had an issue with any of them. Alos not sure what time of year you are planning it but at this time of year hundreds of bikes are coming in for CTCT from overseas.

To be a smuggler you need to be bold and confident 🙂