Buying a bike in the USA
- Thread starter zimzum42
- Start date
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Yes provided you a) know what you are buying b) remember the sticker prices in the US are before tax so you need to add the local sales taxes etc to it for the comparable price and c) can get it back without paying tax and duty.
On a) you need a good idea of what spec at what price in the UK to know whether its a bargain or not. Some bikes carry the same name on each side of the Atlantic but are quite different spec bikes of completely different values.
On b) it varies state by state and can be zero in some states. So don't just walk into a New York bike shop and buy one. Do some homework in case you are going somewhere with zero sales tax but don't go somewhere where you'll need to fly back because most airlines charge quite a bit now for a bike. But if you are driving up to Vermont for the weekend.....
On c) you will have to pay duty and VAT amounting in total to about 37% of the purchase price IIRC unless you:
Don't underestimate Customs. I have brought a few bikes back over the years and always declared them. As a result I've had some interesting chats with them. One is they do know their bikes and have a big book with all the bikes and values in it (at least at Heathrow they did), second is people forget the customs officers do this day in day out and have seen every trick and excuse in the book so if you do get stopped come clean straight away as the longer you try your amateur denials the more likely they are to confiscate the bike and/or add heavy penalties charges
On a) you need a good idea of what spec at what price in the UK to know whether its a bargain or not. Some bikes carry the same name on each side of the Atlantic but are quite different spec bikes of completely different values.
On b) it varies state by state and can be zero in some states. So don't just walk into a New York bike shop and buy one. Do some homework in case you are going somewhere with zero sales tax but don't go somewhere where you'll need to fly back because most airlines charge quite a bit now for a bike. But if you are driving up to Vermont for the weekend.....
On c) you will have to pay duty and VAT amounting in total to about 37% of the purchase price IIRC unless you:
- have had your normal home outside the EC for a continuous period of at least 12 months
- have possessed and used the goods for at least 6 months outside the EC before they are imported
Don't underestimate Customs. I have brought a few bikes back over the years and always declared them. As a result I've had some interesting chats with them. One is they do know their bikes and have a big book with all the bikes and values in it (at least at Heathrow they did), second is people forget the customs officers do this day in day out and have seen every trick and excuse in the book so if you do get stopped come clean straight away as the longer you try your amateur denials the more likely they are to confiscate the bike and/or add heavy penalties charges
The 6 months rule is an interesting one.
What happens if he purchases out there, uses if for three months, then returns to the UK. But the bike stays in NYC to be shipped over three months later but a trusted friend / colleague?
ZZ42 could prove when he bought it - would that get away from the import tax?
What happens if he purchases out there, uses if for three months, then returns to the UK. But the bike stays in NYC to be shipped over three months later but a trusted friend / colleague?
ZZ42 could prove when he bought it - would that get away from the import tax?
First it says "possessed and used" for six months and if they were over here they have not used it. Second, the friend bringing it in will have a tough time with the "bringing it in for a friend" story and if they are suspicious it is up to them not customs to prove they qualify for the exemption. Which might be the purchase receipt and credit card statement to show date of purchase and photos showing it in use. Remember they will be able to check with the airlines and immigration when they flew out and back to know they were not out there 6 months. Customs will charge you the full whack unless you can show to their satisfaction that you qualify for the exemption. Plus I haven't done this for a few years now but my understanding is HMRC is much more keen these days about collecting all the tax and duty they can.
If it were otherwise there would be organisations accepting goods from holiday makers and shipping them over 6 months later tax and duty free.
You also have to meet the far more stringent 12 months living over there so the 6 months is a minor issue unless you are really tardy in buying the bike.
jay clock
Massive member
- Location
- Hampshire UK
I bought a folding Dahon out there about 5 years ago. I paid £305 all in for a bike that was £500 listed in the UK. Agreed, do an exact like for like comparison.
Re state/city taxes, in NYC the bike shop agreed to give it to me tax free if I showed them my ticket confirmation and that I agreed not to use the bike till I got home. The they laughed as I cycled it out of the shop! It is a superb bike that I love.
I stuck it in a large holdall and did not declare it.
My suggestion would be use it well, and the day before you leave spray it with muddy water.
Re state/city taxes, in NYC the bike shop agreed to give it to me tax free if I showed them my ticket confirmation and that I agreed not to use the bike till I got home. The they laughed as I cycled it out of the shop! It is a superb bike that I love.
I stuck it in a large holdall and did not declare it.
My suggestion would be use it well, and the day before you leave spray it with muddy water.
Those are exactly the sorts of amateur tricks the customs officers chatted about with me when I was bringing bikes through.
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
I used to fly a bike out with me in a box (with a spare crappy old saddle) something like a tidy cheap old Raleigh Wayfairer - I had no difficulty selling it to the first bike shop I rolled it into, for a few bucks more than it cost me.
I then bought the new bike, had it built up, rode it through a muddy puddle and put back in the box with the nacky saddle fitted.
If customs had peered into the returning box they'd have seen a used bike. I could also have shown from my outward ticket that I flew out with a bike if they'd asked. But they never did.
I then bought the new bike, had it built up, rode it through a muddy puddle and put back in the box with the nacky saddle fitted.
If customs had peered into the returning box they'd have seen a used bike. I could also have shown from my outward ticket that I flew out with a bike if they'd asked. But they never did.
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
Ha ha ^ ^
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
So fly into the US with a knackered old bike - fly out with a nice bit of carbon???
It worked for me, on more than one occasion. Though it was nearly twenty yrears ago now, things may have changed.
Yep, lots of people do get away with it. But what happens when they stop you was one of the things we chatted about. First they will get you to tell them your story so you have to commit yourself. Then if they have suspicions they can contact the manufacturer to find out which shop that serial number bike was shipped to, phone Visa for a copy of your credit card charges etc. Then they sit you down with your story and their evidence and depending on how bad you've been and how much you continue with your story, either prosecute you, confiscate the bike with or without penalty or charge you a penal rate of duty.
I had a friend who was stopped bringing back pearls for his wife with a "half price" receipt. I had to wait in arrivals for about 4 hours before he was released. He was in shock from the whole process and paid a 200% penal duty rate on them. The happy ending was he moved to the US four months later and because it duty he was able to reclaim it all back when he emigrated.
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
So fly into the US with a knackered old bike - fly out with a nice bit of carbon???
yep, but be prepared to be caught if you're unlucky, I did it with a set of golf clubs and saved about 75%, though it was when FX rate had shot up to nearly $2 to the £. I was only in New York/Long Island for 3 days but I knew exactly what I wanted and where to buy it. Left old bag and clubs behind and brought the new ones home, there wasn't even any additional luggage charges in those days.
vickster
Legendary Member
I may be missing something, but the OP's location says Singapore...so isn't the talk of UK customs rules a bit irrelevent?
I think NYC sales tax is around 7% at the moment...I did a trawl of the manhattan bike shops recently, frankly they were pretty poor IMO, but there is a good looking top end one in Brooklyn if you Google!
I think NYC sales tax is around 7% at the moment...I did a trawl of the manhattan bike shops recently, frankly they were pretty poor IMO, but there is a good looking top end one in Brooklyn if you Google!
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
I think Zimmers would do it even if he didn't want a bike, just to get you foaming at the mouth
