buy a lalptop from US or Uk or DE

alibaba2 · Post by **alibaba2** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 8:19 am

Please explain about any charges I have to pay when it arrives to Finland/Oulu.

US
customs duties
VAT
import tax

UK
customs duties
VAT
import tax

DE
customs duties
VAT
import tax

Thank you very much.

**Sponsor:**

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 9:37 am

alibaba2 wrote:Please explain about any charges I have to pay when it arrives to Finland/Oulu.

US
customs duties
VAT
import tax

VAT sure, import tax = customs duties and the amount can be found from somewhere in tulli.fi

alibaba2 wrote:UK
customs duties
VAT
import tax

VAT maybe, no customs

alibaba2 wrote:DE
customs duties
VAT
import tax

VAT maybe, no customs

UK can be a bit problematic as it has tax havens and if you order from one of those, the VAT will be your problem.

edit. that VAT maybe comes from the fact, that if company sells for X€ to Finland (X=30000?) it is liable to pay Finnish VAT. You always pay the local VAT.

hackoff · Post by **hackoff** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 10:07 am

bought a laptop form Uk couple of years ago no customs and no vat

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 11:59 am

hackoff wrote:bought a laptop form Uk couple of years ago no customs and no vat

I'm sure there was VAT, but it was in the price you paid to the company already.

riku2 · Post by **riku2** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 1:46 pm

if you are buying new then I would be more concerned about the warranty. I think all items sold in the EU have to have an EU wide warranty, but that does not apply to items outside the EU. Buy a sony laptop from the USA and your warranty might only be with sony USA and you must return it there (or pay for repairs here).

From the USA some companies do have tax/duty inclusive prices. I have bought clothes from Old Navy (part of Gap chain) and their price from the USA includes shipping and import duty/tax. I do not pay anything extra when they arrive. I think they estimate the taxes and pre-pay it, so DHL charges the retailer and not me.

But normal imports from the USA will have duty and vat liable on arrival, and you have to pay vat on the cost of shipping as well as the product itself which is a bit outrageous.

Companies in the EU will adjust the VAT part of your order to finnish VAT if they do a lot of sales to finland. Amazon is in that group, so for some things it's better to order from small shops since then you'll pay UK or German VAT (although with UK VAT now at 20% the difference with Finland isn't that much anymore). But you never pay this on arrival, it's paid when you buy.

I found that german shops are not that good at accepting credit cards and like bank transfers more but it's not too hard to do

Won't laptops from Germany have german keyboards? I suppose it wouldn't be as bad as having a french keyboard though.

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 2:52 pm

riku2 wrote:But normal imports from the USA will have duty and vat liable on arrival, and you have to pay vat on the cost of shipping as well as the product itself which is a bit outrageous.

Computer 9,99 + 900,00 p&p?

Jeez · Post by **Jeez** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 7:38 am

If u studying in finland, then its tax n import duty free

onkko · Post by **onkko** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 10:26 am

Jeez wrote:If u studying in finland, then its tax n import duty free

Source?

Jeez · Post by **Jeez** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:05 am

Source from the customs post in hki/vantaa airport...But u have to be on a study permit and present to them a current certificate of enrollment.

As a student , u allowed to import a laptop, a phone, shoes and clothes tax n duty free for ur own private personal use.
im writing from my own experience

onkko · Post by **onkko** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:23 am

Jeez wrote:Source from the customs post in hki/vantaa airport...But u have to be on a study permit and present to them a current certificate of enrollment.

As a student , u allowed to import a laptop, a phone, shoes and clothes tax n duty free for ur own private personal use.
im writing from my own experience

I call !"#¤% since i have been student in finland and there was no difference in taxes on imported stuff.

Jeez · Post by **Jeez** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:51 am

Better to call...cos i didnt pay any taxes or import duties on the phone i imported from d states last month. Even though i went to pick it up at the customs post.Where i got this info.

onkko · Post by **onkko** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 12:19 pm

So they said "youre student so you can import stuff"?

Jeez · Post by **Jeez** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 1:35 pm

Not just anything thing but they had a list...better u call b4 hand to know if wat u intend to bring in is on that list. I think its mainly personal effects.

tjawatts · Post by **tjawatts** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:30 pm

I think he is talking that it is for "foreign students" who are in Finland for the purpose of study. Therefore the assumption is probably that the import of the computer/phone is only temporary while they are doing their studies.

T

hellgate · Post by **hellgate** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 10:21 pm

Hi,
I'm very interested in Jeez's post..Is there anyone who knows about this tax exemption for student? What kind of proof should we need in order to convince the customs? Thanks

Finland Forum

Find information about moving to, living in and life in Finland