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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

import tax for Germany?

If I fly in and pick up the camera in person then I will go through customs with the camera in hand and it will be let through without tax if it's for personal use.
 
Not sure which country you're from, but bringing it into the EU that way is illegal. That is, if you get caught you not only pay the tax but can be fined too.

It also doesn't matter whether it's for personal or business use, you still pay the tax - because it's coming from the US. There is a personal item limit, but it's only a few hundred quid and once you go over it you pay tax on the whole lot.

It's just not worth the risk of getting caught...IMHO.
 
(this is a personal response from a fellow European)

nutman: not in the Netherlands for example. I don't know where you're from, but it it's worth over xx Euro you need to pay tax especially if it's for personal use. A business can reclaim tax. The problem here is import duty, which you will also have to pay as a personal.

If you try to sneak it in and they catch you it might be even worse. You may have to pay an additional fine.

I'm not sure what the problem is though. Living in Europe we know we have to pay import duty & tax (which again as a business you can get back). That's the way of life here. So if I ordered a RED ONE I know this would happen.

However, looking at the Euro / Dollar exchange rate I'd say it isn't so bad. We get a pretty good deal assuming the rate stays good.

The only thing you can do is try to get it imported under the lowest duty level you can.

Do keep in mind that the amount in Dollars does not include tax either. So if someone buys it in the US for personal use they will have to pay tax as well (the amount varies per state).
 
Rob Lohman said:
(this is a personal response from a fellow European)

nutman: not in the Netherlands for example. I don't know where you're from, but it it's worth over xx Euro you need to pay tax especially if it's for personal use. A business can reclaim tax. The problem here is import duty, which you will also have to pay as a personal.

If you try to sneak it in and they catch you it might be even worse. You may have to pay an additional fine.

I'm not sure what the problem is though. Living in Europe we know we have to pay import duty & tax (which again as a business you can get back). That's the way of life here. So if I ordered a RED ONE I know this would happen.

However, looking at the Euro / Dollar exchange rate I'd say it isn't so bad. We get a pretty good deal assuming the rate stays good.

The only thing you can do is try to get it imported under the lowest duty level you can.

Do keep in mind that the amount in Dollars does not include tax either. So if someone buys it in the US for personal use they will have to pay tax as well (the amount varies per state).
Click to expand...

Isn't it only Californians that have to pay sales tax on it?
 
Not to my knowledge, but I could be very wrong on that. I let people from the US answer that question :)
 
Lowkus said:
Isn't it only Californians that have to pay sales tax on it?
Click to expand...

Technically, yes. People in many other states just have to pay a use tax. Which incidentally is the same as what the sales tax would have been....

That's the bad news. The good news is you might not have to pay use tax or sales tax anyway. Many states would treat the purchase of equipment like a RED ONE for use in business the same way as the purchase of, for instance, factory machinery, which typically isn't subject to sales/use taxes. And a lot of states are particularly interested in attracting production, so they may offer additional incentives specifically for film/video equipment to be used in production.

Here's some info on incentives in New York: http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/incentives/incentives_home.shtml
 
I've mailed the customs already (probably 9 months early... -;) to have this by the book. If you don't, you cant get insurance and thus it's stupid to take something with the value of a decent (well, make that: cheap, decent) car but even easier to steal on the road.

I would just get accustomed to the idea, find out totla cfost and start saving.

Gunleik
 
Claus said:
I had a telephone call with our customs office this morning because they want me to pay tax for my desposit and titanium R. They told me that 8525809100 and 4.9% for "Digital Video Camera" is applicable.
Click to expand...

Claus, how do you plan to insure your RED shipment?
 
Michael,
Because it takes sometimes 6-8 weeks from shipment USA via customs office Frankfurt to i.e. Hamburg, I'll pick up my camera and accessories in Red office when everything is ready for shipment. I'll stay some days in California - I've never been there - try everything, then go back to Germany and declare everything personally in Frankfurt.
This way is more expensive but more secure and faster.
 
Claus, I see, that sounds good.
Are you sure that RED does not have to charge California tax if you pick your goods up in person?
 
Michael, I'll check this with someone who is more familiar with the whole procedure.
 
Claus said:
Michael, I'll check this with someone who is more familiar with the whole procedure.
Click to expand...

Or Claus desperately wants to see California. Not bad at all. Let's be honest. But additional info about all that personal import of the RED from California should be somehow requested here at the REDuser Forum from all EU/Germany/Alpine Republic/Austria customers. Never enough good ideas.
 
Keep in mind, states are all different, with totally different tax laws.

I'm from Washington, rather than California, so I can't say what Californian tax laws are like. But, at least in Washington, companies can charge a different sales tax rate if you show proof that your primary residence is in a different state (the modified tax rate will be set to whatever the tax rate is in your home state... Oregonians pay no sales tax). I can't say if this tax situation works for every state though, because I've only seen it done for people that live in our neighboring states of Oregon and Idaho.

I suspect that the out-of-state residence tax break wouldn't apply to people from a foreign country. So if you're a foreigner and you show up in California, you'd still have to pay the state sales tax.
 
Claus said:
Michael,
Because it takes sometimes 6-8 weeks from shipment USA via customs office Frankfurt to i.e. Hamburg, I'll pick up my camera and accessories in Red office when everything is ready for shipment. I'll stay some days in California - I've never been there - try everything, then go back to Germany and declare everything personally in Frankfurt.
This way is more expensive but more secure and faster.
Click to expand...

Hi,

You will have to pay California sales tax. Much better to use Fedex or UPS. Will be customs cleared in a couple of days.

Stephen
 
Ask customs in Spain. They are the only one who can tell you.
 
Use tax in US is standard, with exceptions...

Use tax in US is standard, with exceptions...

It is correct you are legally required to pay a use tax equivalent to your local sales tax rate when "importing" anything from another state to your own if you are not charged the sales tax when you purchase.
In order to stimulate production, some states such as my native Texas, have granted exemptions for professional photographers and videographers with valid tax id numbers. These exemptions apply only to film or photo equipment that will be used to create taxable products and/or services such as photographs or videos.

I'm don't know how many other states have this exemption for this type of equipment.
 
"Are you sure that RED does not have to charge California tax if you pick your goods up in person?"

i believe that if you pick it up in person you have to pay CA tax .. this is based on Oregon friends that have come to visit and when they buy something in CA the store charges CA tax , however if they pay for the item & have the it shipped to their home address in Oregon they are not charged CA sales tax ...

i don't know if CA has a tax excempt or refund for those that live in other countries ???? you might check with the CA state tax franchise board before one fly's over here ...
 
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