Buying Tyres from USA - What's the tax implication?
Discussion
On a couple of occasions recently, I've seen recommendations on UK Porsche forums to buy tyres from Tire Rack in the USA. The recommendations seem to be based both on pricing and availability - there seems to be a plentiful supply of tyres from the US that nobody seems to be able to get over here (305/30x19s, particularly).
I currently need a full set of tyres for the 997 (235/35x19 front / 305/30x19 rear) and have decided to use Michelin PSS (sod 'N' rating for now) but can't seem to get 305s from my usual sources. I also need a full set of cheapo 235/45x18s for my daily snotter but all the budget brands are seemingly unavailable in that size too, over here.
Tire Rack currently has both the PSS (or did last time I looked) and the cheapos I need at great prices and I understand their shipping costs are reasonable too. Problem is I have no idea what taxes I'm likely to be hammered with if I import tyres direcly. Does anyone know what I ought to expect? And whether it makes a major difference if I import through my business or as an individual?
Any advice gratefully received.
Ian
I currently need a full set of tyres for the 997 (235/35x19 front / 305/30x19 rear) and have decided to use Michelin PSS (sod 'N' rating for now) but can't seem to get 305s from my usual sources. I also need a full set of cheapo 235/45x18s for my daily snotter but all the budget brands are seemingly unavailable in that size too, over here.
Tire Rack currently has both the PSS (or did last time I looked) and the cheapos I need at great prices and I understand their shipping costs are reasonable too. Problem is I have no idea what taxes I'm likely to be hammered with if I import tyres direcly. Does anyone know what I ought to expect? And whether it makes a major difference if I import through my business or as an individual?
Any advice gratefully received.
Ian
Import duty is 10% (possibly waived if manufactured in Europe), which applies to shipping cost as well as the goods, plus 20% on the lot.
Adds up to 32% on top of the USA price (after their sales tax).
Cheapo versions of those 18's can be had for under £95 in the UK - is that still too dear?
Adds up to 32% on top of the USA price (after their sales tax).
Cheapo versions of those 18's can be had for under £95 in the UK - is that still too dear?
thegoose said:
Import duty is 10% (possibly waived if manufactured in Europe), which applies to shipping cost as well as the goods, plus 20% on the lot.
Adds up to 32% on top of the USA price (after their sales tax).
Cheapo versions of those 18's can be had for under £95 in the UK - is that still too dear?
You won't pay US sales tax if your overseas.Adds up to 32% on top of the USA price (after their sales tax).
Cheapo versions of those 18's can be had for under £95 in the UK - is that still too dear?
you are = you're (not "your").
Are they even road legal in the US? We seem to get loads of tyres over here that they don't sell in the UK, and it's probably true the other way as well.
Oh, and you'd be insane to order them from the US; you'll get screwed on shipping if you want them in less than 3 months plus Customs and Excise will want a large cut. Oh, and if something went wrong with one of them I bet they'd use the fact that you imported them from the US as a reason to deny liability.
Oh, and you'd be insane to order them from the US; you'll get screwed on shipping if you want them in less than 3 months plus Customs and Excise will want a large cut. Oh, and if something went wrong with one of them I bet they'd use the fact that you imported them from the US as a reason to deny liability.
supermono said:
Your your own worst enemy if your thinking of shipping your tyres from USA your going to end up paying more of your cash and your going to end up being sorry.
Possibly, but not necessarily. Not from the UK, but I know of someone in of all places Switzerland who bought their winter tyres from the US - arrived in less than a week and cheaper than anywhere else they could get (at the time, prices in Switzerland were if anything cheaper than here though the tax implications may well be different). If you are having supply issues then it must at least be worth asking the question and getting quotes. On a set of tyres for a porker the base price difference is only around £200 to £300 per set so after shipping and taxes I can't see it being cheaper. However if availability is a major issue then it might still be a viable option.
Hell - in the US you can even still get hold of a full set of 18" N6 Corsas for a GT3 and in recent years over here they seem to have only ever been available briefly every few months (and even then after performing a sacrificial ritual before you went out looking).
t comments?Be very careful of importing tyres. If the tyres are designed for a different climate you may find the tyres not suitable for the county you intend to use them long term. Some years ago I had to deal with a set of Continental tyres a customer wanted returning for warranty. The customer did not purchase the tyres from me but as a good will gesture we sent them back to Continental. The tyres had started to split on the side walls on all four tyres.
When Conti revived the tyres I got a phone call asking me about these tyres. They wanted to know where the tyres had come from and the codes on the tyres showed that the tyres are American spec tyres. I explained that we had not supplied the tyres and the customer was being very cagey about where they had come from. Conti said they would be happy to look at the tyres and report the cause but would not be offering any guarantee on them as they are not for sale in Europe. The conclusion was that the tyres had failed due to climatic conditions and the tyres are not fit for long term use in the UK.
I then reported this back to my customer who promptly demanded the details as said he would take matters further. I furnished him with the report and Conti technical help desk number. He contacted Conti and demanded action as he thought that it was unreasonable of them to turn him down. Conti explained that Conti Europe and Conti USA are not the same and he needed to return the tyres to the retailer for a refund as they should not have been sold for use in the UK as the compound is wrong. He then explained this was not possible as he had brought the tyres IN the USA as he was based there in the forces and brought them back on a forces play. So he was left with four lumps of useless rubber.
I guess the moral of the story is don't buy a safety related product from outside the country you wish to use them.
When Conti revived the tyres I got a phone call asking me about these tyres. They wanted to know where the tyres had come from and the codes on the tyres showed that the tyres are American spec tyres. I explained that we had not supplied the tyres and the customer was being very cagey about where they had come from. Conti said they would be happy to look at the tyres and report the cause but would not be offering any guarantee on them as they are not for sale in Europe. The conclusion was that the tyres had failed due to climatic conditions and the tyres are not fit for long term use in the UK.
I then reported this back to my customer who promptly demanded the details as said he would take matters further. I furnished him with the report and Conti technical help desk number. He contacted Conti and demanded action as he thought that it was unreasonable of them to turn him down. Conti explained that Conti Europe and Conti USA are not the same and he needed to return the tyres to the retailer for a refund as they should not have been sold for use in the UK as the compound is wrong. He then explained this was not possible as he had brought the tyres IN the USA as he was based there in the forces and brought them back on a forces play. So he was left with four lumps of useless rubber.
I guess the moral of the story is don't buy a safety related product from outside the country you wish to use them.
thegoose said:
Import duty is 10% (possibly waived if manufactured in Europe), which applies to shipping cost as well as the goods, plus 20% on the lot.
Adds up to 32% on top of the USA price (after their sales tax).
Cheapo versions of those 18's can be had for under £95 in the UK - is that still too dear?
That would appear to be a 'No' to buying from the US then. Their price for PSS + shipping + 32% = Better to wait for my local tyre supplier to get stock. Thanks for the info.Adds up to 32% on top of the USA price (after their sales tax).
Cheapo versions of those 18's can be had for under £95 in the UK - is that still too dear?
I'm all too aware of the dire and dangerous, far-eastern, £95 cr*p for the 18s. They're too cheap rather than too dear! It's the half-decent, mid-priced tyres in that size that are seemingly unavailable at the moment. I just don't want to pay premium-brand money on tyres for a low-value, low-performance car.
Edited by Ian_UK1 on Friday 13th May 12:46
As mentioned above, check they're suitable for UK (may even be the exact same tyre - or "tire' as they call it!) and ask the US seller to "value" them a lot less on the shipping Doc. That way you only pay duty on what they are valued at. Check they'll do this first though as if they wont, it'll prob be just as cost effective to buy from UK supplier.
Obviously dont take the p1ss and get them to value a set at $10.00, around 50% value should do it.
Obviously dont take the p1ss and get them to value a set at $10.00, around 50% value should do it.
The different climate argument is a bit cheeky really as the USA is effectively a continent. Alaska, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Hawaii and the NE have all got totally different conditions and road surfaces and any tyre that is suitable for purchase in the States must surely be OK over here (unless their tyres are State specific - which they are not)
Ian_UK1 said:
I'm all too aware of the dire and dangerous, far-eastern, £95 cr*p for the 18s. They're too cheap rather than too dear! It's the half-decent, mid-priced tyres in that size that are seemingly unavailable at the moment. I just don't want to pay premium-brand money on tyres for a low-value, low-performance car.
I looked on www.tyretraders.com and premium ones (in stock) started at £120?paul chocks said:
The different climate argument is a bit cheeky really as the USA is effectively a continent. Alaska, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Hawaii and the NE have all got totally different conditions and road surfaces and any tyre that is suitable for purchase in the States must surely be OK over here (unless their tyres are State specific - which they are not)
Conti are note alone in making region specific tyres. Its you life risk it if you wish 
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