We are stationed in Germany, bought a 335i BMW, we will be shipping the car back in about a year when we move back stateside. How do I know if we will need to pay state/federal taxes on the car?
2007-03-05 06:43:16 · 7 answers · asked by jessica t 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
I guess I should have mentioned that we are military stationed in Germany.
2007-03-05 06:57:10 · update #1
I assume you mean import duty? Looks like you'll have to pay duty at just 2.5% of price you paid for the vehicle. See http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing_goods/automobiles.xml and click the link under "Publications," "Importing/Exporting a Car."
State tax is usually applied at time of sale, and since you didn't buy it in a US state, that should not be an issue. Of course you have to pay registration fees--just like any other car owner in the US--and if the city or locality you move to asesses a personal property/vehicle tax, but again, that's nothing to do with it coming from Germany, everyone has to pay if the locality they garage the car in has a car tax.
A modern BMW should have no problems with emissions, bumper, and other safety standards. Older cars from the 70s might have to pay a lot to get these issues sorted, but Germany has the strictest vehicle emissions standards in the world, and the US's are second-strictest.
2007-03-05 06:52:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You only option is to move to a state that doesn't have a sales tax on car purchases (Fla, TX, NH and may OR I think).
In states that do have a sales tax, you have to prove you paid the tax before you get your registration and tags. If you can't prove, then you have to pay.....
2007-03-05 14:52:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It will run you about $5k after you meet the Customs Agent to uncrate it and it will have to be verified for any US safety features needed. My experience in Houston, anyway. Used to be, one could offload in Canada and drive over. I knew a rich puck doing that with Mercedes in the 1970s. Not sure if that works or not any more.
2007-03-05 14:51:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's more trouble than it's worth. sell the car there and buy another one here. taxes would be the least of your problem, you would have to modify your automobile to meet emission standards here in the states too. there's no telling how much that would cost and of course you would have to pay import taxes plus the cost of transporting it here among other things..
2007-03-05 16:14:43 · answer #4 · answered by FRANK T 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i you bought and paid for the car in germany then the only taxes you would have to pay is for the tag and registration
2007-03-05 14:46:43 · answer #5 · answered by links305 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't avoid it. Companies like http://www.dasautoshippers.com/ will usually take care of reporting these things.
Good Luck.
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2007-03-05 14:48:21 · answer #6 · answered by rob1963man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.cbp.gov
2007-03-05 14:47:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋