Import Taxes on PS3

[Losticus]

Good day!

I have a query, I am off to London in a 1 weeks time and I am keen on getting a PS3 while I am there from Amazon.co.uk. They have a great deal on the PS3 and I cant look at such a gift horse in the mouth. It will be a great addition to my console family.

The only problem I can see is getting it back into South Africa.

Will I have to pay import taxes on it at the airport? At which airport, Gatwick or OR Tambo?

Is there another method of getting it into SA, perhaps luggage, hiding it away or anything?

Please assist. Any Ideas?

Thank You

 

[Solidus]

There is a user on mygaming.co.za forum who bought a PS3 in London and brought it over.
Username: spookie
He just took it as hand luggage IIRC, you can head over there and ask him the details I'm not sure if his on MyBB, could have a look over here first

 

[daWolf]

What you can do is make the purchase here, I am not sure how it will work with Amazon but seeing as though you not working here, you dont have to pay VAT. Get a VAT receipt for your puchase and at Heathrow you can claim your VAT back in cash (Pounds).

Just carry the console in your hand luggage. Make sure you take out all price tags and have no reciepts in your bag. If you get stopped at O.R. Tambo and they ask you if had the item declared before you left, try and make some excuse if it comes to that!!!

It has worked before!!!

 

[Borrels]

What you can do is make the purchase here, I am not sure how it will work with Amazon but seeing as though you not working here, you dont have to pay VAT. Get a VAT receipt for your puchase and at Heathrow you can claim your VAT back in cash (Pounds).

Just carry the console in your hand luggage. Make sure you take out all price tags and have no reciepts in your bag. If you get stopped at O.R. Tambo and they ask you if had the item declared before you left, try and make some excuse if it comes to that!!!

It has worked before!!!

Agree. There is a threshold to meet if you want to reclaim tax in the UK, but I'm sure a PS3 should exceed it. You'd probably want to hold on to the receipts etc., maybe mail them to yourself before you leave.

The trick to not being stopped by customs at OR Tambo is (appear) to travel light, i.e. avoid a massive suitcase, and walk in behind a big group of passengers...

 

[Newb-lite]

i dont think you have to declare anything you got for less than 3 k (in rand) anyways. (all items combined < 3k obviously)

 

[PDonut]

look as poor as you can

 

[geezer]

All the do's and dont's are explained in detail over here: http://www.sars.gov.za/home.asp?pid=174. I however do not see any great deals on the PS3 on the amazon.co.uk website. The 40 GB one is for £299.99 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Playst...6?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1239995274&sr=8-16) and the 80 GB one is for £389.00 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-PLAYST..._1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1239995274&sr=8-1). The 40GB one then equates to 4,034.42 ZAR, and if you add the ±15% import tax you get to 4639.1 ZAR and then you add 14% VAT which will bring you to 5288.57 ZAR. You can to the same calculation for the 80 GB one and then eventually end up at 6857.84 ZAR. Personally I would not go to all that trouble and just go out and buy it local. I see that the 40GB model is available at Reggies for 4599.99 ZAR.

 

[noxibox]

if you add the ±15% import tax

Is that the current Ad Valorem duty?

What you can do is make the purchase here, I am not sure how it will work with Amazon but seeing as though you not working here, you dont have to pay VAT. Get a VAT receipt for your puchase and at Heathrow you can claim your VAT back in cash (Pounds).

Some online places don't provide the necessary paperwork. Amazon may be one of them.

 

[ap0c]

I think the only charges you will need to pay are the 14% duties on 110% value of the item. Remembering that a PS3 weighs more than you think, so it will take up quite a bit of space in your luggage.

Also remembering...once its in SA - no warranty....

I dont think the price is that great.

 

[robass]

You shouldn't have to pay any taxes on it if you purchase it in London and bring as part of your hand luggage .

 

[geezer]

You shouldn't have to pay any taxes on it if you purchase it in London and bring as part of your hand luggage .

Yes you will: "New or Used Goods in Accompanied Baggage to a total value not exceeding R3 000 per person In addition to the personal effects and consumables allowances, travellers are allowed new or used goods in accompanied baggage to the value of R3 000."
and.... "Duties and Taxes. All goods and gifts acquired abroad are subject to the payment of customs duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) when they are brought into South Africa. This includes goods purchased duty-free on board aircraft and ships or in duty-free shops."

 

[Tegnik]

Yes you will: "New or Used Goods in Accompanied Baggage to a total value not exceeding R3 000 per person In addition to the personal effects and consumables allowances, travellers are allowed new or used goods in accompanied baggage to the value of R3 000."
and.... "Duties and Taxes. All goods and gifts acquired abroad are subject to the payment of customs duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) when they are brought into South Africa. This includes goods purchased duty-free on board aircraft and ships or in duty-free shops."

Well I don't see a problem with all those taxes IMO. How else is the government going to go on R300 000 holidays? Cut them some slack, won't you?







^

Joke