Guy I'm thinking about ordering a laptop from ebay or some other american online shop. How much is import tax and is there any way around? I have a few friends in America so maybe I could deliver it there and have them send it here?
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Import tax on laptops
- Thread starter pjoub06
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A gift is a lot cheaper than paying import duties and taxes on your stuff. Although unethical, gifts are cheaper.... 
Import duties and taxes usually bite you in the 20-40% or so region, depening on the category of item (computer/clothing/jewellery, etc).
Import duties and taxes usually bite you in the 20-40% or so region, depening on the category of item (computer/clothing/jewellery, etc).
A gift is a lot cheaper than paying import duties and taxes on your stuff. Although unethical, gifts are cheaper....
Import duties and taxes usually bite you in the 20-40% or so region, depening on the category of item (computer/clothing/jewellery, etc).
Wow! That much?
Wow! That much?
Yes
I have friends in the importing business and I actually considered importing "cheaper in Europe than SA" goods but the duties and taxes put me off.
zamicro
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As far as I remember all duties on computers were abolished. That means you will only pay VAT.
Could well be. I haven't been too up to date, I just know that my friend had to really sneak my RAM in from Hong Kong.
hmm i hope so because if thats true then the deal is much better...For R9000 i can get a laptop with T9300, 4gb ram, 17" and 2*160gb HD
That doesn't sound bad at all.
Just VAT on computers. Been that way for a long time. And trying to bring something in as a gift won't help you unless it has a fairly low value. What they can do is bring it with them as their own and forget to take it home.
There is a document on the SARS site that lists customs duties for everything, although you will have to decode their descriptions to figure out into what category your item falls. Or you can just phone them, they're very helpful.
There is a document on the SARS site that lists customs duties for everything, although you will have to decode their descriptions to figure out into what category your item falls. Or you can just phone them, they're very helpful.
bekdik
Honorary Master
Apart from possible cost advantages, you probably need to take into account the warranty. Even if your purchase has an International Travellers warranty, you may find that being a South African citizen the warranty will be invalidated. Even if it isn't invalidated, you may be told that no spares are available for your model.
