Importing car to US from Canada

[Karen33322 0]

Do I pay duty and / or just sales tax on my car when moving to the US from Canada? Please help.

I was forced to pay both when I believe I was told I only needed to pay Florida Sales Tax. It is a newer car that I owned for years in Canada and had a letter to safety and US conformity and was paid off at the bank. Broker says all vehicles pay duty and I need to find a clear statement proving otherwise.

[Ontarkie 14,275]

~~Moved to the Canada forum, from Moving here and Your New life - As some other Canadians have similar experience and knowledge.~~

[NikLR 13,227]

did you import your car within a year of moving to the USA?

[Karen33322 0]

Yes, the car was driven down by my husband and our personal stuff and furniture was shipped by moving company including our motorcycle shortly thereafter. Ii could not immigrate at the same time as my husband due to a "slip and fall" on moving day and stayed in the hospital a couple of months (4) until I could fly to our new home. The car was in my name and all documentation was prepared ahead of time for both vehicles. The motorcycle was in his name. We are both new Green Card holders.

When my husband crossed the border they told my husband to do the paper work when registering the car in Florida. This was June.

When the motorcycle arrived in July he was able to register with no trouble. Paid sales tax and that was it. All done in one stop.

When I went to do mine the rules had changed (mid October) and we had to go to the port authority to import the car again and hire a Broker who charged us duty and a few other added bond expenses. This was to follow going to another location who only checks the VIN number and documents again. Then you get to go to a third location to register the car and pay sales tax and plate.

There was a lot of running around, time off work and standing in lines getting this done.

I remember getting info from Montreal US Immigration informing us that we did not need to pay duty on the car.

Nothing I find is clear cut on this subject. If it is not clear you get charged by default. If anyone can help me claim this money back I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

[Ms Hogan 295]

Yes, the car was driven down by my husband and our personal stuff and furniture was shipped by moving company including our motorcycle shortly thereafter. Ii could not immigrate at the same time as my husband due to a "slip and fall" on moving day and stayed in the hospital a couple of months (4) until I could fly to our new home. The car was in my name and all documentation was prepared ahead of time for both vehicles. The motorcycle was in his name. We are both new Green Card holders.

When my husband crossed the border they told my husband to do the paper work when registering the car in Florida. This was June.

When the motorcycle arrived in July he was able to register with no trouble. Paid sales tax and that was it. All done in one stop.

When I went to do mine the rules had changed (mid October) and we had to go to the port authority to import the car again and hire a Broker who charged us duty and a few other added bond expenses. This was to follow going to another location who only checks the VIN number and documents again. Then you get to go to a third location to register the car and pay sales tax and plate.

There was a lot of running around, time off work and standing in lines getting this done.

I remember getting info from Montreal US Immigration informing us that we did not need to pay duty on the car.

Nothing I find is clear cut on this subject. If it is not clear you get charged by default. If anyone can help me claim this money back I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

The problem you are likely facing is that it wasn't brought in as a personal item as part of you moving but rather as if you are just importing the car. I might be able to help you further but probably easier in a PM rather than on the board. I am actually a collector car broker and deal with importing and exporting cars. Different states have different rules about their taxes but I think the confusion was with the broker. I don't believe any rules have changed but someone possibly misunderstood what you were doing and perhaps your timeline? I'm happy to help if I can but contact me by PM.

[Karen33322 0]

Thank you for the quick response.

When we went to register the vehicle they knew it was our personal car. (coming into the US and going to register it and obtain US plates).

New Ruling: The Technical Advisory Division of Motorist Services dated October 20, 2014 Subject Motor Vehicles coming into Florida from a foreign country (replacing advisory # T00-04 dated April 10 2000.

I am beginning to think that we were given the wrong information because the car had already come into the country and only needed the VIN number checked not the need of a broker. These pages followed with directions to the port authority. Where we were told to go to a Broker. As I said no one knew what they were doing and many people (lots from Quebec) were very upset with all this run around and added expenses.

Now what to do to get money back?

Karen

[Ms Hogan 295]

You shouldn't even have to pay taxes because you already own the car. When I brought my car in I had to title it and jump through THOSE particular hoops but not pay taxes. It just doesn't make sense!