Mostly correct. Like most countries, the price you see is what you pay, the 19% VAT is included. If you're in Switzerland (not part of the EU), then the VAT is deducted and one pays the tax for CH. Seeing as how they don't ship outside the EU or CH, that's all there is to it.
If you're one of the lucky few outside those areas (like me) that purchase one of those, you will have to pay the 19% German VAT rate included in the price. I contacted various folks to see if it was possible to refund the VAT upon proper documentation but the simple answer is "No". I don't mind paying taxes but wasn't interested in double-taxation, which is probably what would happen if you shipped it to the United States or Canada. I brought it with me on a plane, declared its value, and the customs agent just waved me through. So I was fine with that part.
Mostly correct. Like most countries, the price you see is what you pay, the 19% VAT is included. If you're in Switzerland (not part of the EU), then the VAT is deducted and one pays the tax for CH. Seeing as how they don't ship outside the EU or CH, that's all there is to it.
If you're one of the lucky few outside those areas (like me) that purchase one of those, you will have to pay the 19% German VAT rate included in the price. I contacted various folks to see if it was possible to refund the VAT upon proper documentation but the simple answer is "No". I don't mind paying taxes but wasn't interested in double-taxation, which is probably what would happen if you shipped it to the United States or Canada. I brought it with me on a plane, declared its value, and the customs agent just waved me through. So I was fine with that part.
Did you mention that you were importing it? If you simply told him the value of the bike and not say anything about it being an import, that's a false declaration!
Did you mention that you were importing it? If you simply told him the value of the bike and not say anything about it being an import, that's a false declaration!
Honestly, the guy at ORD had never heard of anyone importing a bike before ("Do we even assess duty on bikes?"), and pointed me to the "items to declare" line. The person at that station spent about 45 secs looking up what it would be and then just said "exit's to your left".
Hey, I paid my share of taxes to Germany, I'm not interested in double-taxation.
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