Any GTAMers work for courier company or know how VAT works?

robertv19

robertv19

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I'm looking to order some farkles that you cannot get here from a Yamaha dealer in the UK (Yamaha UK won't ship to Canada directly). A friend who lives close to the dealership is willing to send to me (the dealer won't ship to Canada either). The challenge with this setup is I will have to pay the VAT (UK tax) on the items purchased this way. Plus I may also get dinged for duty or GST when the parts arrive here.

Does anyone have any experience with reclaiming VAT after the fact?

Admins: wasn't sure where to post this question, so please move if it should be in General Motorcycle discussion etc.)

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Rob
 
Goods sold for export are VAT exempt ONLY IF sold directly out of the country.
You're better off finding a dealer that will ship to you and avoid your friend the middleman.
If they are genuine Yamaha accessories (you have part #s), I'm sure you can find a shop.
 
TK4 said:
Goods sold for export are VAT exempt ONLY IF sold directly out of the country.
You're better off finding a dealer that will ship to you and avoid your friend the middleman.
If they are genuine Yamaha accessories (you have part #s), I'm sure you can find a shop.
Click to expand...
I know a lot of vw euro parts in NA come from Latvia. Dodgy looking website too but they are legit.
 
If you were purchasing the items you could request a VAT refund once you leave.

However, if your buddy lives there and is buying it…he’s the buyer and as such needs to pay VAT.

let him buy it and send it to you as a gift with $0 value.
 
VAT = GST. VAT means value added tax, same as our GST
Get your buddy to buy it, pay VAT then send it to you as a gift (if the thing is valued less than $750).
No GST, no duty
 
Any time I've ordered from Europe, the VAT is automatically removed from the price as it is being sold out of country.
I would say I have been dinged customs fees about 60% of the time.
FYI - Canada Customs charges $9.95 for the privilege of taxing you. So, if your customs charge was $6.05, you end up paying $16.
 
If your friend is buying it I do not see how you (he/she) can avoid the UK VAT at purchase, and it is steeper than here. If you could order direct from the business it can be exempt, maybe try dealers in other countries in Europe???

For our taxes. It will depend on the value and how it is shipped. With COVID I have purchased stuff from all over the world, expecting to pay our tax and even on orders close to $200 no charges here yet with Canada Post as the last mile, but it is not policy of course just what I have noticed YMMV. Shipped as a gift sometimes also works.
 
backmarkerducati said:
If your friend is buying it I do not see how you (he/she) can avoid the UK VAT at purchase, and it is steeper than here. If you could order direct from the business it can be exempt, maybe try dealers in other countries in Europe???

For our taxes. It will depend on the value and how it is shipped. With COVID I have purchased stuff from all over the world, expecting to pay our tax and even on orders close to $200 no charges here yet with Canada Post as the last mile, but it is not policy of course just what I have noticed YMMV. Shipped as a gift sometimes also works.
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He isn't buying it - I am going to purchase over the phone from the dealer there.
I agree with the 13% GST being cheaper than the 20% VAT - so I am going to reach out to other Yamaha dealers in the UK to see if they will sell and ship to me directly and save the VAT.

Thanks!
 
robertv19 said:
He isn't buying it - I am going to purchase over the phone from the dealer there.
I agree with the 13% GST being cheaper than the 20% VAT - so I am going to reach out to other Yamaha dealers in the UK to see if they will sell and ship to me directly and save the VAT.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Forget the official Yamaha dealerships.
See if you can find the stuff on any aftermarket parts supplier. Their websites seem to be able to remove the VAT without issue.
 
BigEvilDoer said:
Forget the official Yamaha dealerships.
See if you can find the stuff on any aftermarket parts supplier. Their websites seem to be able to remove the VAT without issue.
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The stuff I am buying is official Yamaha product - new and hard to find for my bike. I don't think I have much choice.
 
jc100 said:
Have you tried mainland European dealers/stores? Everywhere I’ve bought from, Italy, Germany etc, had the option to state Canada as a shipping destination and remove the VAT.
Click to expand...

Not yet.
I am looking for some very specific stuff that just came out for my Tracer 9 GT.
Do you have the names of any of these places that would carry Yamaha product?

I mean I have dealt with Chromeburner and FC Moto etc. but they don't have Yamaha OEM accessories.

Rob
 
robertv19 said:
The stuff I am buying is official Yamaha product - new and hard to find for my bike. I don't think I have much choice.
Click to expand...
Try e-acca.com

That is the Latvian company that many vw people use.they have Yamaha parts too. No idea if they have the parts you want.
 
As I understand it you will order and pay for the parts including VAT. Your friend will pick them up and send them to you. Canada Customs may see it as an online purchase and add their fees.

Unless you can find a more accommodating vendor overseas I think you're stuck with the VAT.***

Will Canada Customs accept the "Gift" explanation?

This can't be the first time this has happened. Is there any precedent?

*** When I bought a US bike, private sale, the owner let me take the bike on a bill of sale and do the transfer here. It saved me the Michigan sales tax. This is different as I personally went to get the bike.
 
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