Update: Driving Est.car in Fin Tax-Free; got it

[chickensexer]

Hello Dear All,

once again I'm turning to you with silly practical questions. I apologize if this question has been addressed before. I ran a search but didn't find anything related.

So, here's the question itself.

1. I want a car.
2. I want to buy and register it in Estonia.
3. I'm planning on using it in both Estonia and Finland. In each of the countries I spend approx. 1/3 of time.

The question:

What is the allowed time during which an Estonian registered car can be driven in Finland as a "guest", without all that "importing" stuff, taxes etc?

And any other information or opinions related to the topic would be highly appreciated, too.

Thank you all in advance,

me.

[Hank W.]

OK, it is irrelevant what it reads in your passport for nationality. It depends on the computer. You are a "Finn" last time we met - resident in Finland - with Finnish social security number - so the answer is "0". To drive an Estonian registered car in Finland you have to be an "Estonian" that is registered as a permanent resident in Estonia (or then the other 1/3 country) but you may not be a resident of Finland.

Like my sister, who is a Finn, is a resident of France. When she comes here she can drive her car with French plates. I can not borrow her car as I am a Finnish resident. I have a French friend at Pornokulma, who also cannot borrow the car in French plates - as he is also Finnish resident.

[DMC]

To drive an Estonian registered car in Finland ... you may not be a resident of Finland.

That is my understanding of the general rule, but I have never seen a clear statement of the exceptions to the rule. Any ideas?

[Hank W.]

Theres off the top of my head:
- if the car is here "on business" like a lorry or a van.
- if the car is being repaired or such, "transfer" is allowed by the staff
- if the person owning the car is present

Then theres the thing if the Estonian in question is here "temporarily" as in gotten his number and working here but residing in Estonia and the car is on this "tourist clause". Then that will kick back in the nads as a resident can for example get the child benefits. So you can either have the cake or eat it The rules are at the http://www.tulli.fi website.

Theres been a tug-of-war in Lapland mostly, but say if I was working for an Estonian company and they gave me a company leasing car - driving *that* in Finland... in the north I think they have a few cars impounded and I don't remember what the deal was, but I guess being a cute hoor doesn't work yet as of course I'd be driving an Estonian leasing Mercedes-Benz if that were possible.

[chickensexer]

Hank, that is very bad news. I don't like it.

What makes me wonder though is that for my work we, being "Finns" drive foreign registered cars left and right. They just belong to someone else outside Finland (lease company) and we have an authorisation letter stating names of each "Finnish" person that we might need to be a driver. Without anyone "present".

So, can I have that car owned by some person in Estonia and drive here based on that authorisation letter or whatever?

[Hank W.]

Well, that is standard with leasing cars due to the insurance, and theres a bit on "company cars" and "work related cars" as well. 34b and 34 c § (29.12.2006/1450)
But I'd be quite willing to say unless you take the car out of the country every 3 days or the car is in the country less than half the time... how much did the Customs pay a finders fee

So unless you are employed by a company in Estonia that you have a company car with and shuttle back and forth...

[chickensexer]

No other way?

I'm vexed. I'm terribly vexed.

But thank you for the infor. I'll try not to kill the messenger.

[Hank W.]

See now we are all for equality here. You enjoy our sunshine you enjoy the taxes too. We would like to drive fancy cars also - but we can't

[chickensexer]

Sorry, what sunshine?

[chickensexer]

And another thing. I'll try from another door:

is there a way to "un-register" myself in Finland and become resident of Estonia again, without changing any major things in my current arrangements?

[Hank W.]

But was it you had a non-EU passport?

[chickensexer]

Not sure what you mean by "non-EU" passport Hanky. I have a regular Estonian one. I mean it was issued before they started giving out those passports where it actually says "EU Estonia" or sth like that. But I don't hink that's a difference meaningful for anything.

No, reallly, can I re-register myself in Estonia while still getting salary from a Finnish company and all that? Car ownership is not the only thing where being a resident of Finland is sort of a bone in the throat..

[Hank W.]

OK, so basically that was for the permits and all but thats clear then - you are an EU, so no permit problems. However, if you work for a Finnish employer "in Finland" and not on an "expat contract" working for the company but based in Estonia, it is slightly iffy. It might be possible to do so, but if it is not a company car but your own then it'd need to be in the country on a tourist waiver which has its limitations there. But you would need to prove you spend more time out of Finland than in Finland to the tax office, and if they don't like your explanations, your ass is in the sling and your car in the pound waiting for taxes to be paid. So you'd then be 3-4 years battling with the tax office and customs and 5-10 years through EU courts. So I'd get a highly official opinion of some lawyer who is expert in evading taxes. You need to be point-precise and as they don't stamp the passports, proving not being in Finland is a bit of a difficult thing. And then non-residence docks you off KELA at some point as well.

[chickensexer]

Thank you for taking your time Hank. But I'm not sure I understood it all.

As I said, my last question wasn't about car only. Well, still mentioning the car though _ I think there are Estonians who work and live here and drive their Estonian cars here BUT they remain residents of Estonia. Go home often and all that stuf. That's what I meant when I asked about "re-registering myself in Estonia without major changes in current arrangements".

As for KELA - like what exactly does it do for me? I try to do all my medical and dental stuff back home anyway, due to easier accessibility, timing and "doctor loyalty". But cuz of not being a resident there I'm not part of Estonian "kela", which is manageable somehow but annoying here and there... What other KELA benefits would I loose?

I don't know, may be I'm just babbling here.. But the more I live "here" the more obvious it is to me that I just spend Mon - Fri (and an occasional weekend) here. Only going to work, working, going home, sleeping, nothing else. And I do it "here" cuz that's where my job is... My family, friends, hobbies, tv, cat, groceries, routine acitvities, thoughts - everything is back home, where I spend all my endless vacations and long week ends. It's just that my office place and my job related "paperwork" happen to be in Helsinki (and yeah, I own an apartment in Espoo, too; well, paying mortgage at least).

So, I'm just trying to straighten things out here. May be in a clumsy way.

[Hank W.]

I think there are Estonians who work and live here and drive their Estonian cars here BUT they remain residents of Estonia. Go home often and all that stuf.

Yes, but they "work" as in get salary from Eesti Karvaperse OÜ who has subcontractred them to work for Ab Perskarva Oy in Finland, so they get their salaries in Estonia in crowns.