Right, I could do with some help from some of you US-based bods who can answer this query:

How does tax work in the States with regard to buying RED? Is there any tax to add on? Does the $17.5k include tax? Does tax differ from state-to-state?

The reason I'm asking is this:

If $17.5k is what I pay to RED and involves no tax whatsoever, I then have to pay another 31.5% on top of that to import it to the UK (Import duty + VAT). This means that, with shipping costs taken into consideration, I'll end up paying about £13k ($23k). Obviously if there was tax already in that price, I could claim that back which would make it a more reasonable proposition.

That said £13k is still good value for the camera.

Yes, I wondered this too. I'm not ready to buy this camera, but once I am (in my dreams ;-)), how much tax would there be to ship it to Belgium?
I think in Belgium you have to pay 21% taxes... That's much on a pricetag of a 17.5K camera.

Hi Mathieu,

I understand from the research I've done that Import Duty is standardised across Europe (now there's a surprise!) At present it is expected that for a camera like RED that will be 14%. You then need to add your local tax (in the UK VAT is 17.5%) - these rates are added AFTER shipping and insurance costs btw.

I did wonder though, which is the cheapest country in the EU for VAT (or equivalent)? It would be possible to bring it into that country and then take advantage of EU laws not to pay your own country's higher rate of tax (inless your country is cheapest!)

Yeah, I don't know. Maybe it's even cheaper to go to the US, pick up a RED ONE, and travel back.

It might be easier to have a forum member in the USA pick one up and deliver it to you. You could pay his way and still save money. He could just forget to take it home when he left.

Hint, hint.

Edit: My wife says she wants to come too. Got another videographer who needs one too?

Think about it. Nobody would question an American with a camera on vacation. They didn't question or record info on my FX1 when I took it to Greece. And they would not have known if I left it behind. But if a Brit entered the UK with one, there might be questions.

Yeah, I don't know. Maybe it's even cheaper to go to the US, pick up a RED ONE, and travel back.

You'd still have to declare it at customs and pay the full whack, or try to get through and hope they don't search your bags (in which case you get a big fine and they'll probably confiscate your camera!)

It might be easier to have a forum member in the USA pick one up and deliver it to you. You could pay his way and still save money. He could just forget to take it home when he left.

I can see you're suddenly planning a tour of Europe :)

anybody wanna stop in Canada on the way to Europe?

Such things could be arranged.

I wonder how many they would let me buy? Just think of me as a traveling storefront?

Andrew where in Canada are you?
I have a house in Fernie, BC - great mountain town :-)

I think the $17500 would be the price without local tax, like most businesses operate, tax is always added.

If you purchasing the camera from abroad you will not get charge the local tax and can expect to pay your countries tax and import duty. Which is how it works for every thing else.

Regards
Rory

I wonder how many they would let me buy?

Hmm, I wonder how many the airline would let you take on the plane and how you would explain to customs that you'd brought all these cameras and "accidentally" left them all behind in different EU countries?

I'm assuming that anyone that is considering buying a RED camera is running a company. In The Netherlands, and I think in all EU countries, the VAT that you pay as a company is refunded by the government.

In Holland, 19% VAT is added (on top of the original price+customs) when the camera is imported.

But all the VAT I pay over my expenses and investments as a company is refunded.

Barend

Well, I could probably only bring one for me and one for my wife. More than that could be a problem. But at the cost savings, we could make a couple of trips at the European's expense and still save them money. Let's see.... A trip to the UK, one to Germany, another to Italy ....

Hey, I'm over in Europe about twice a year visiting family (come in through Brussels and then to the north of France)... I could probably help...

Hi all, I live in Italy. If you bring the camera in through the republic of San Marino, you won't have to pay taxes. For those who are not familiar with it, San Marino is a small (less than 5 square miles) independent country in the north of Italy.
Brian

Just to make clear: I don't have the money for a RED camera at the moment, but I only wanted to know because the subject interests me for when the moment comes I will be able to buy a RED camera.

Hi all, I live in Italy. If you bring the camera in through the republic of San Marino, you won't have to pay taxes. For those who are not familiar with it, San Marino is a small (less than 5 square miles) independent country in the north of Italy.
Brian

It surely can't be that simple? If you could import products into San Marino duty and tax free, then move them across to Italy (and, by extension, Europe) without incurring any of those charges, wouldn't San Marino be the import capital of Europe?

On the other hand, if true ... ;)

It's not that simple. San Marino is part of the geographic EU, but does not participate in the customs agreement between the EU members.

So when importing from San Marino into the EU through Italy, you'd still have to pay Italian customs fee and VAT.

Anyway... this is becoming a boring discussion. You may be able to smuggle a camera into the EU, but it would still be illegal. And as said, if you're buying as a company, you get the VAT refunded anyway... since VAT is only applicable to consumers - at least that's how it works in The Netherlands.

Barend

If you actually want to use the camera, presumably you'll be ordering a recording system, cages, lenses, etc., so $17.5k is just the beginning. Those European duties and taxes are brutal, but I would always recommend that you import the equipment legally. This may be a necessity for obtaining adequate insurance for the full replacement cost, taking the equipment out of the country and getting it back in again, etc. Bite the bullet and play it straight. You won't regret it.