Import duties on cycling goods

[eala]

I recently ordered a complete bike from Italy .Only paid VAT and some courier costs on this side .Even with costs ,the item was 25 K cheaper than here and actually in stock  in my choice .Shimano components  

[Frosty]

7 hours ago, eala said:

I recently ordered a complete bike from Italy .Only paid VAT and some courier costs on this side .Even with costs ,the item was 25 K cheaper than here and actually in stock  in my choice .Shimano components  

You got lucky.

If you said it was Campagnolo components and an Italian frame, all made in Europe, then a EUR1 certificate would make it exempt from duties.

[117]

These (sram eagle) plus a bottle of muc-off wet chain lube... $4.29

Go figure

[eala]

10 hours ago, Frosty said:

You got lucky.

If you said it was Campagnolo components and an Italian frame, all made in Europe, then a EUR1 certificate would make it exempt from duties.

They subtracted the VAT on their side and i paid on this side .Really painless .Do you mean Italian made would be more or less expensive than here ?

[Frosty]

51 minutes ago, eala said:

They subtracted the VAT on their side and i paid on this side. Really painless. Do you mean Italian made would be more or less expensive than here?

No, never said or implied that.

Bicycles (fully assembled) are subject to 15% duties, unless 100% made in the EU, EFTA (European Free Trade) or SADC region. It is 11.25% duties from MERCOSUR (South America) region.

[nonky]

On 5/10/2021 at 9:28 PM, Frosty said:

Duties are based on the country of origin and not where it is ordered, eg. Made in China but shipped from CRC (EU).

 

A bicycle made in Europe, with a EUR1 certificate of origin, will not be liable for duties. However, many components might be made in the East (eg. groupset) but the frame is made in, say Italy, then it will be liable for duties.

 

Below is the tariff heading for bicycles.

8712.00

 

As you can see, the parts are all duty free, so is always safer to go the component route and build it here.

 

You can get the full tariff book here:

 

https://www.sars.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/Legal/SCEA1964/LAPD-LPrim-Tariff-2012-04-Schedule-No-1-Part-1-Chapters-1-to-99.pdf

Update Aug 2024:  https://www.sars.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/Legal/SCEA1964/Legal-LPrim-CE-Sch1P1Chpt1-to-99-Schedule-No-1-Part-1-Chapters-1-to-99.pdf

 

[shaper]

So full bikes from the UK/EU are duty free?

[Furbz]

56 minutes ago, shaper said:

So full bikes from the UK/EU are duty free?

only if the seller can supply a EUR1 certificate 

[Dexter-morgan]

I was looking at purchasing a gravel bike from Lauf - where are they from and what would the duty be on a full bike?

[nonky]

1 hour ago, Dexter-morgan said:

I was looking at purchasing a gravel bike from Lauf - where are they from and what would the duty be on a full bike?

My best understanding follows but any shipment could be treated differently:

 

Made in Iceland but shipped from the US dealer.

1. 15% Duty on 100% of the declared value (duties are based on the country of origin and not where ordered from)

2. 15% VAT on 110% of the declared value (so effectively 16.5% VAT)

3. Shipping fees

4. Local handling Fees

 

AFAIK, Lauf do NOT ship frames outside of the US/UK/Can.

*Please provide an update if you do purchase one, as I have been staring at their website for wayyyy too long.

[nonky]

3 minutes ago, nonky said:

ty on 100% of the declared

 

2 hours ago, Dexter-morgan said:

I was looking at purchasing a gravel bike from Lauf - where are they from and what would the duty be on a full bike?

I worked on the assumption that Iceland is NOT part of the EU-SA FTA (free trade agreement).

However, it turns out that the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes Iceland, signed a FTA with SACU in 2006. The products involved in the FTA include: "Industrial goods (including fish and other marine products) and processed agricultural products. Basic agricultural products are covered by bilateral agreements with individual EFTA States".

For peace if mind, i included the 15% duty in my calcs.. .but i could be wrong. 

Alternatively, i could be correct but a customs official interprets the Lauf as originating in the US.

[Jensie]

Anybody ordered recently from Ali-express? Looking at some IT laptop stuff but not sure if it will get here and in time? 

[thebob]

Ordered a few things from AliExpress. Their shipping time estimates seem to be getting a lot better than a couple years back. You may have to deal with your bank, who could block the transaction as being suspicious. But it is usually a quick fix over the phone. I went through the process on Monday. Awaiting some Shimano brake bladders

[Jensie]

2 minutes ago, thebob said:

Ordered a few things from AliExpress. Their shipping time estimates seem to be getting a lot better than a couple years back. You may have to deal with your bank, who could block the transaction as being suspicious. But it is usually a quick fix over the phone. I went through the process on Monday. Awaiting some Shimano brake bladders

Did you use their shipping or through the expensive courier option? Is it going through the Post office then?

[shaper]

2 hours ago, Jensie said:

Did you use their shipping or through the expensive courier option? Is it going through the Post office then?

A couple of times recently, I ordered on Ali expecting to go through SAPO and the items were actually couriered similar to Temu, Not as fast as Temu, so maybe they have changed to try and compete with Temu.  I did not choose a courier option, just whatever was stated for shipping to SA.

Edited 6 hours ago by shaper

[thebob]

1 hour ago, Jensie said:

Did you use their shipping or through the expensive courier option? Is it going through the Post office then?

Regular delivery option. Last order came through SAPO. The latest one appears to be with a Chinese courier