Buying a macbook pro in usa & bring back to ireland

[JellyBaby]

Hey,

I will be going to Chicago and New York for 2weeks in the summer and was wondering should I wait and buy a Macbook Pro over there??

How much would I save and how would I go about claiming tax back??

How much tax back would I be able to claim back since I am coming home to Ireland??

Hope you's can help me!!

Thanks

 

[heisenberg123]

Hey,

I will be going to Chicago and New York for 2weeks in the summer and was wondering should I wait and buy a Macbook Pro over there??

How much would I save and how would I go about claiming tax back??

How much tax back would I be able to claim back since I am coming home to Ireland??

Hope you's can help me!!

Thanks

tax back?

you would have to pay tax for importing it into ireland your not going to save anything you might pay more

now if you smuggle it back into the country than you can save if its cheaper in USD vs buying in Ireland

 

[thefizzle657]

Hey,

I will be going to Chicago and New York for 2weeks in the summer and was wondering should I wait and buy a Macbook Pro over there??

How much would I save and how would I go about claiming tax back??

How much tax back would I be able to claim back since I am coming home to Ireland??

Hope you's can help me!!

Thanks

I am pretty sure that in the US there is no way to claim tax back like a tourist can when visiting Europe. Everybody pays sales tax and that is it, unless you buy it in a state where there is no sales tax such as Delaware and Oregon.

 

[JellyBaby]

Well when the American's and anyone outside the EU spend over €10 here in Ireland, they are entitled to claim their tax back, and they usually get around 10% of their purchase once its under €2,000. Anything over €2,000 has to be declared, so I don't see why the same rule doesn't apply to us?? How come it would work out more expensive, I thought I'd be able to claim tax back too??

 

[thefizzle657]

Well when the American's and anyone outside the EU spend over €10 here in Ireland, they are entitled to claim their tax back, and they usually get around 10% of their purchase once its under €2,000. Anything over €2,000 has to be declared, so I don't see why the same rule doesn't apply to us?? How come it would work out more expensive, I thought I'd be able to claim tax back too??

We simply don't have the same rules over here. Everybody who buys something, no matter where you are from, pays the sales tax.

It would only work out to be more expensive if you claim your MBP upon entering back into Ireland. If you buy it over here your best best is to throw away the box and bring the computer back by itself, should customs question you over there they are less likely to make you pay the VAT too.

 

[heisenberg123]

Well when the American's and anyone outside the EU spend over €10 here in Ireland, they are entitled to claim their tax back, and they usually get around 10% of their purchase once its under €2,000. Anything over €2,000 has to be declared, so I don't see why the same rule doesn't apply to us?? How come it would work out more expensive, I thought I'd be able to claim tax back too??

no you have to pay duty when you buy something outside of the country and bring it back


i live in Canada our dollar is on par to the USA right now, things are much cheaper in the USA but for me to buy stuff there is a gamble because when i return home and if the boarders checks my car and sees all these purchases i would have to pay duty on them which could make it more than what it would of been to buy it in Canada in the first place.

 

[/user/me]

no you have to pay duty when you buy something outside of the country and bring it back


i live in Canada our dollar is on par to the USA right now, things are much cheaper in the USA but for me to buy stuff there is a gamble because when i return home and if the boarders checks my car and sees all these purchases i would have to pay duty on them which could make it more than what it would of been to buy it in Canada in the first place.

Not if OP buys the computer, sets it up like his, and flies it back like it was his all along. It's much easier to get through customs than something like a car...

 

[heisenberg123]

Not if OP buys the computer, sets it up like his, and flies it back like it was his all along. It's much easier to get through customs than something like a car...

of course you could do that same as i can hide purchases under my seat but they can ask for proof it was purchased in Ireland, blahblahblah its a gamble is all

 

[/user/me]

of course you could do that same as i can hide purchases under my seat but they can ask for proof it was purchased in Ireland, blahblahblah its a gamble is all

Which won't happen, because nobody keeps the proof of purchase with them at all times.... If it's still in the plastic wrap, then they'll ask him. If it isn't, they'll make OP turn it on, and then he'd be free to go.

 

[thundersteele]

What you can do is the following:

Find someone you trust with a valid home address in Chicago/NY. Order the laptop through Amazon (no sales tax) and ship it to their place. Then you have to smuggle it back to Ireland (this is the only illegal part here).

Within the EU, you do not get your VAT back. I was living in switzerland for a while, and we once bought some expensive stuff in italy. When you buy you ask the shop to give you some extra tax documents, and then you can reclaim your tax back in switzerland. At the same time, they collect the swiss sales tax, i.e. I got about 13% back (20% italy tax - 7% switzerland tax), and of course there is a fee involved.

Now, even if it would work the same with the US, the net effect would be that you get your US sales tax back (~10%) but you will have to pay the 20% ireland sales tax.

So the best way is to buy online (not from apple.com!) in the US or buy in a state that has no sales tax, and then not declare it when you return.

I'm not sure what the limits are for Ireland, but for Germany everything above Euro 450 has to be declared, otherwise it's fraud. I'm surprised that this is being discussed here so openly, while everyone who asks for advice how to unzip/install some pirated software gets flamed and a warning immediately. Double standards I guess.


Edit:
Here is an official statement concerning a sales tax refund:
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/de...les-tax-paid-while-visiting-the-united-states
The bottom line is that you have to ask the state. Illinois:
http://tax.illinois.gov/Businesses/TaxInformation/Sales/rot.htm
Excerpt:

Sales — The following list contains some of the most common examples of transactions that are exempt from tax.
[...]
Sales to out-of-state buyers

I have no idea how to make use of the fact that you are exempt from sales tax... you might have to negotiate with the vendor (Apple store)!

 

[snaky69]

Well when the American's and anyone outside the EU spend over €10 here in Ireland, they are entitled to claim their tax back, and they usually get around 10% of their purchase once its under €2,000. Anything over €2,000 has to be declared, so I don't see why the same rule doesn't apply to us?? How come it would work out more expensive, I thought I'd be able to claim tax back too??

Just because it works that way in your country doesn't mean it does for any other country. Local laws are just that, local.

Take into account the fact that you're going to have to pay import duty to bring the MBP into Ireland, you may end up paying more than you would've if you'd bought straight from Ireland in the first place.

 

[/user/me]

Just because it works that way in your country doesn't mean it does for any other country. Local laws are just that, local.

Take into account the fact that you're going to have to pay import duty to bring the MBP into Ireland, you may end up paying more than you would've if you'd bought straight from Ireland in the first place.

You won't have to pay anything if you don't have it in the box and don't declare it... If it's set up already, then you're just traveling with your computer.... It's a gray area - Not outright illegal, but not outright legal either...

 

[thundersteele]

You won't have to pay anything if you don't have it in the box and don't declare it... If it's set up already, then you're just traveling with your computer.... It's a gray area - Not outright illegal, but not outright legal either...

Its not that easy. If you bring goods above a certain value you have to declare them. Therefore you would have to argue that unboxing and using the Mac has reduced it's value below the limit. This could work, but can be difficult.

If you don't declare it and they catch you usually the penalty is that you have to pay the double amount of taxes, duties and fees.

 

[/user/me]

Its not that easy. If you bring goods above a certain value you have to declare them. Therefore you would have to argue that unboxing and using the Mac has reduced it's value below the limit. This could work, but can be difficult.

If you don't declare it and they catch you usually the penalty is that you have to pay the double amount of taxes, duties and fees.

If it's already set up, what's stopping OP from saying that it's his personal computer.... that he left his home country with...... I'm still not seeing the problem

 

[MagicBoy]

I did this back in 2006 with a MBP in Florida. Chucked the box away and just brought it home while forgetting to declare it. Saved over £350 even with the 6.5% (IIRC) non-refundable local sales tax.

Had no problem with the warranty - local Apple store happily swapped the logic board due to Rev A issues.

 

[BluAffiliate]

Just throw out the box and put it in your bag, if they ask you say you've had this computer for years. They're not going to take time to confirm information like that over a laptop that costs a thousand dollars.

 

[trikky]

You won't have to pay anything if you don't have it in the box and don't declare it... If it's set up already, then you're just traveling with your computer.... It's a gray area - Not outright illegal, but not outright legal either...

'Not outright illegal'?

It's completely illegal. No grey area about it. This is called smuggling.

----------

Just throw out the box and put it in your bag, if they ask you say you've had this computer for years. They're not going to take time to confirm information like that over a laptop that costs a thousand dollars.

Er...don't bet on it. I've seen computers and other items seized from people who attempted to import items in the same scenario. Only stupid people try doing this kind of thing.

If the item is declared - especially after a trip of a reasonable length - there's a good chance the purchase will simply be waved through.

If you don't want to pay import duties and/or taxes, on international purchases, then the solution is simple - just don't buy things from other countries.

 

[miles01110]

Just buy it in Chicago, take it out of the box, and put it in your carry on bag. Nobody is going to inspect your bag to the point where they'll know it's brand new if you don't have any of the packaging on it.

You're not getting the sales tax back, though. Just don't even bother trying... not going to happen.

 

[trikky]

How much would I save and how would I go about claiming tax back??

Compare the prices at an Irish retailer and then at an American retailer. I would suggest simply looking at the Apple Store online in those locations as a benchmark. That'll give you an idea of how much you may save.

How much tax back would I be able to claim back since I am coming home to Ireland??

There are no tax rebate programs from the US, to the best of my knowledge. The Canadian program was cancelled some years ago also.

Before you travel, look up your local Customs and Immigration department website to look your tax or duty obligations when returning to Ireland. Ultimately, the tax and/or duty you'd pay on return, PLUS the cost of purchasing the computer in the USA will be the total amount you need to consider to determine whether you're going to save money.

You will have already seen some comments from people suggesting you try different methods to avoid declaring your purchase when you return. Sure, you may save some taxes if they work, but if they don't and you get caught (and there's a good chance you will), you risk fines, having the purchases seized and being subject to more detailed inspections on future international travel.

Enjoy your trip, and enjoy your new purchase.

 

[/user/me]

It's completely illegal. No grey area about it. This is called smuggling.

People do it every day. Especially with drugs. Like in Mexico. Sometimes the cartels even murder children and hide the drugs in their bodies to get the drugs across the border. Anyways, that's really off topic and I digress.

OP: If you don't want to pay duties, don't declare it. They won't itemize everything that you have in all your bags. They don't have the time. Especially to try to prove that you "smuggled" this computer in.

 

[DavoteK]

Base model 15" MacBook Pro is $1800 in the US store.
Base model 15" MacBook Pro is €1829 in the Ireland store.

Conversion;

Buying it in the states = saving of €450

How much would you get taxed if you declare it?

Ditch the box, slam it in a bag, job done.

 

[Roman2K~]

You can avoid tax duties by not importing the box (you can mail it seperately to your home). This way, you can pretend that you came with your MacBook from Ireland, and now to take it back to Ireland, like you would your toothbrush.

Edit: Oops, DavoteK beat me to it, sorry .

Ditch the box, slam it in a bag, job done.

 

[thundersteele]

Ditch the box, slam it in a bag, job done.

No. The chances of being caught are slim, but nonzero. If they decide to check your bags for imported goods, they will check the laptop. Electronics are probably one of the most smuggled types of goods, because it is a large value in a small volume. The people who work there will know exactly what to look for, and how to find out whether a laptop is new or not.

It's a risk!

 

[magamo]

How come so many people here openly instigate smuggling as if it's kinda semi-legal?

 

[HeadGear]

I'd buy it in America and just not claim it, act as if you already owned it when you arrived. It's not like they're going to inspect and see if you purchased it during your 2 weeks. Besides you'll have the receipt in your e-mail so just keep it to yourself.