Selling some vintage bike parts in USA. Taxes or duties?

ANDRASTA

ANDRASTA

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Hello,

I am selling some motorcycle parts in the US. I am basically going to drive over and meet half way in buffalo.

Do I have to declare anything on the money I make? Do I have to owe anything? I'm getting approximately 800US dollars for the transaction.

Thanks.
 
Thank gatekeeper butFor certain reasons I have to keep it legal right now so that's why I was asking. Do I owe some kind of tax coming back?

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ANDRASTA said:
Thank gatekeeper butFor certain reasons I have to keep it legal right now so that's why I was asking. Do I owe some kind of tax coming back?

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There are no duties to pay.

Is it a private sale?

Can you demonstrate you are the owner of the parts? That's all that matters?

You can come back without the parts.

If only worry about funds in excess of $10,000. You can still come back with over $10k but you just have to declare it and prove the source of funds.

Border patrol may only show concern about the parts possibly being stolen and sold. Otherwise, no monetary issues to worry about.




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nakkers said:
There are no duties to pay.

Is it a private sale?

Can you demonstrate you are the owner of the parts? That's all that matters?

You can come back without the parts.

If only worry about funds in excess of $10,000. You can still come back with over $10k but you just have to declare it and prove the source of funds.

Border patrol may only show concern about the parts possibly being stolen and sold. Otherwise, no monetary issues to worry about.




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Thanks nakkers for the info. Exactly what I was looking for.

No worries then.

R

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OP , please post your results when the deal is complete. I'm just interested in how US customs looks at parts coming in for a private sale.
 
I agree, should be no problems at all. You don't even need to (willingly) declare anything while entering the USA as the parts you haven't yet sold are your property. Now, if US customs asks WHY you're going to the USA or what your business is it's in your best interest to be honest, but you've still nothing to hide - tell them honestly that you're going to meet someone to sell some motorcycle parts you have in the trunk. You wanted to save them the hassle of dealing with shipping because the stuff is big, right? There's some valid reason I presume.. Don't be surprised if they ask to see them - humor them and show them. Be polite, but don't talk too much - my cardinal rule I used over thousands of hassle free border crossings was to never volunteer information. Answer questions truthfully and honestly, but then zip it.

You'll be sent on your way. Go complete the sale, pocket the money, drive home. I also agree that being as how the amount of cash you're coming back with is under 10K you have no obligation to declare it. Canada Customs may ask why you were only in the USA for a short period of time, be honest again. You've nothing to worry about, AFAIK they have no way to tax you in any way on the sale, so as long as your truthful and polite you'll again be sent on your way.
 
crankcall said:
OP , please post your results when the deal is complete. I'm just interested in how US customs looks at parts coming in for a private sale.
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They get a little bent if you bring in multiple quantities of the same product. They may consider it commercial business or importing.

The key is you can establish and prove a private sale.

I got some heat for pens. I have them to give out to merchants here in Canada.

The agent told me they consider them samples and should declare them and go through the commercial lane.

The next time I did that and was laughed at.

They just want to discourage folks from selling stuff as a business. But if it's a private sale, and appears like it is, they will let you go.






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Having some email exchanges related to the transaction printed out as proof of the impending sale might be helpful, but keep them close to your chest (ie, never volunteer info, as mentioned) unless you are asked for proof of your reasons for crossing by the guy in the booth, or in the (highly unlikely) chance you get sent to secondary and you feel it would be beneficial at that point to get you on your way quicker.

When I bought our Jetskis in the USA I was asked all the usual questions at the border - where are you going, how long will you be there. I said "Lansing Michigan" and "approximately 5 hours". I was asked why I was only planning to be in the USA for 5 hours, I stated I was going to pickup an eBay purchase of 2 jetskis. He seemed iffy on that and asked if I could prove such, I provided a printout of the closed eBay auction. I was cleared immediately.

Do NOT pass them your phone with the email on the screen - once your phone is unlocked they're free to dig through it as they please. Print it out instead, hard paper copy.
 
Offtopic, Do you have to declare sandwiches/make you throw out? I know when you get off a plane they give you a **** for edibles ( probably for quarantine or something )
 
Im not sure sauga but I do remember them asking me if I have anything to declare coming in. They also asked if I had any meat products as well.I will update next week.
 
SaugaRider said:
Offtopic, Do you have to declare sandwiches/make you throw out?
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Depends what kind of sandwiches.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/de...-bringing-food-into-the-u.s.-for-personal-use

Generally, to avoid hassle, we try to avoid bringing much food across the border (either way) aside from prepackaged stuff. Meats and vegetables (typical sandwich) are sometimes problems - Eat it in the lineup for the border if you still have it. If you're going to bring it across anyways declare it but be prepared to be asked to toss it in the quarantine bin at the booth. A friend down the street is still bitter about being forced to toss a large quantity of expensive steak sandwiches in the bin on a day trip to NY but at the time there was a meat ban because of BSD.

The regs seem to change from day to day on what is and isn't allowed, so just not bringing much at all is typically easiest.
 
Just wanted to update the thread as to what transpired.

Basically I had to pay a 10.25 fee for bringing in the parts even though it is a personal sale. Its called a Business import tax/fee. They told me anyone bringing in goods for sale has to pay it. They put me through to secondary to assess the value of my items. I printed out the email exchange between myself and the buyer and it was apparent it was just a personal transaction and not a regular business transaction so no additional taxes were levied.

Had I lied about it when i went to secondary I probably would have ended up paying way more than 10 bucks. I think the email correspondence that were printed up made it cut and dry as it was basically their supervisor that looked at it and made the decision.

Bought about 100 bucks worth of stuff coming back, declared it. They just waved me through.
 
ANDRASTA said:
Basically I had to pay a 10.25 fee for bringing in the parts even though it is a personal sale. Its called a Business import tax/fee.
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That's interesting, everything I can dig up about the "Business import tax" for goods being imported into the USA has to do with commercial purposes...hence "business".

But it is what it is...$10 probably wasn't worth getting into a pissing match with US customs over. ;) Glad it went smooth.
 
i think if your bringing a product or part into the US for resale it becomes 'business'. There seems to be a lot of leeway given to the interpretation by the border guards.
 
PrivatePilot said:
That's interesting, everything I can dig up about the "Business import tax" for goods being imported into the USA has to do with commercial purposes...hence "business".

But it is what it is...$10 probably wasn't worth getting into a pissing match with US customs over. ;) Glad it went smooth.
Click to expand...

crankcall said:
i think if your bringing a product or part into the US for resale it becomes 'business'. There seems to be a lot of leeway given to the interpretation by the border guards.
Click to expand...

Thats true.

They told me that it was a fixed rate $10.25 for anyone selling items in the states for non commercial purposes.
 
I suppose part of putting folks through the process kinda acts as a deterrent to "commercialize" selling stuff across the border?

Secondary screening, pay a fee, answer some questions.




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