p.1 #1 · US citizen travelling to Greece - anyone purchased Leica gear abroad?
As I mentioned I am going to Greece to drop off my Son in Sept and plan to purchase a SL3 and bring it back.
If I get used Leica Lens/Camera - would I get refunded the VAT ? I read briefly that buying used would qualify for VAT refund if I register my LLC ? Anyone with experience ?
p.1 #2 · US citizen travelling to Greece - anyone purchased Leica gear abroad?
I was in Greece last week and now I am Germany and I bought an SL3-P today which I can claim nearly all the VAT back.
In Greece there is only one official Leica authorized dealer which is in Athens. When purchasing a used camera you have to make sure the shop doesn’t sell you the camera under the EU margin scheme. If they do the camera is more than likely exempt from the tourist VAT refund.
lens_payoff_0l wrote:
As I mentioned I am going to Greece to drop off my Son in Sept and plan to purchase a SL3 and bring it back.
If I get used Leica Lens/Camera - would I get refunded the VAT ? I read briefly that buying used would qualify for VAT refund if I register my LLC ? Anyone with experience ?
p.1 #3 · US citizen travelling to Greece - anyone purchased Leica gear abroad?
robert_in_ca wrote:
I was in Greece last week and now I am Germany and I bought an SL3-P today which I can claim nearly all the VAT back.
In Greece there is only one official Leica authorized dealer which is in Athens. When purchasing a used camera you have to make sure the shop doesn’t sell you the camera under the EU margin scheme. If they do the camera is more than likely exempt from the tourist VAT refund.
p.1 #5 · US citizen travelling to Greece - anyone purchased Leica gear abroad?
You can use the Leica dealer locator, it appears there are four in Athens
I do not know the EU specifics but if this is like the UK scheme (very likely) then it is unlikely you can reclaim any relief on it. They won't even show VAT on the invoice.
My main concern if I was buying 2nd hand goods an ocean away would be warranty.
p.1 #6 · US citizen travelling to Greece - anyone purchased Leica gear abroad?
panos.v wrote:
You can use the Leica dealer locator, it appears there are four in Athens
I do not know the EU specifics but if this is like the UK scheme (very likely) then it is unlikely you can reclaim any relief on it. They won't even show VAT on the invoice.
My main concern if I was buying 2nd hand goods an ocean away would be warranty.
exactly- if you don't get a refund and pay list price and then duty on entering US the purchase might well > than buying in US with any sales tax (Alaska does not have sales tax, yet), Unless the dollar is strong, then a list someplace else might well seem a bargain when converted provided the company did not raise the price to a standard. Leica likely uses Euro for anchor price so unless the Euro is way down, which it isn't bargains can be tough. Vintage stuff from a Leica store often has a warranty and often is inspected and repaired, hence elevated price, so less of a concern than just going to a camera store. On the other hand a functional M even if the speeds are off is not an expensive CLA back in the US. Tread carefully with good knowledge.
p.1 #7 · US citizen travelling to Greece - anyone purchased Leica gear abroad?
panos.v wrote:
You can use the Leica dealer locator, it appears there are four in Athens
I do not know the EU specifics but if this is like the UK scheme (very likely) then it is unlikely you can reclaim any relief on it. They won't even show VAT on the invoice.
My main concern if I was buying 2nd hand goods an ocean away would be warranty.
p.1 #8 · US citizen travelling to Greece - anyone purchased Leica gear abroad?
Well there’s no tourist refund on VAT in the UK but there is in Greece.
Used gear in Greece is not automatically VAT refundable or non-refundable. It depends on the dealer’s VAT treatment of that particular item.
panos.v wrote:
You can use the Leica dealer locator, it appears there are four in Athens
I do not know the EU specifics but if this is like the UK scheme (very likely) then it is unlikely you can reclaim any relief on it. They won't even show VAT on the invoice.
My main concern if I was buying 2nd hand goods an ocean away would be warranty.
p.1 #9 · US citizen travelling to Greece - anyone purchased Leica gear abroad?
Digital cameras brought into the U.S. carry a 0% (duty-free) rate. Lenses are a different story.
EMH2025 wrote:
exactly- if you don't get a refund and pay list price and then duty on entering US the purchase might well > than buying in US with any sales tax (Alaska does not have sales tax, yet), Unless the dollar is strong, then a list someplace else might well seem a bargain when converted provided the company did not raise the price to a standard. Leica likely uses Euro for anchor price so unless the Euro is way down, which it isn't bargains can be tough. Vintage stuff from a Leica store often has a warranty and often is inspected and repaired, hence elevated price, so less of a concern than just going to a camera store. On the other hand a functional M even if the speeds are off is not an expensive CLA back in the US. Tread carefully with good knowledge.
p.1 #10 · US citizen travelling to Greece - anyone purchased Leica gear abroad?
Maybe no duty, but there's a new proposed 12.5% tariff rate for ~60 countries plus the EU to punish them due to their supposed inability to stop the import of goods manufactured through forced labour... or a convenient excuse to replace the tariffs recently struck down by the SCOTUS.
With a camera coming back on the person, it's up to them to declare the purchase and pay whatever duties/tariffs that might be applicable.
p.1 #11 · US citizen travelling to Greece - anyone purchased Leica gear abroad?
rscheffler wrote:
Maybe no duty, but there's a new proposed 12.5% tariff rate for ~60 countries plus the EU to punish them due to their supposed inability to stop the import of goods manufactured through forced labour... or a convenient excuse to replace the tariffs recently struck down by the SCOTUS.
With a camera coming back on the person, it's up to them to declare the purchase and pay whatever duties/tariffs that might be applicable.
The poor children of Wetzlar, having to toil in the Leica factory, their small fingers bleeding as they polish the inside of the M cameras...
p.1 #12 · US citizen travelling to Greece - anyone purchased Leica gear abroad?
I haven’t checked prices, but the euro is strong versus the dollar. I’m trying to sell my M11 in Europe and the prices look low in euro terms, but great in dollar terms (considering I bought the camera in the US when I lived there and that’s my benchmark).
p.1 #14 · US citizen travelling to Greece - anyone purchased Leica gear abroad?
rscheffler wrote:
Maybe no duty, but there's a new proposed 12.5% tariff rate for ~60 countries plus the EU to punish them due to their supposed inability to stop the import of goods manufactured through forced labour... or a convenient excuse to replace the tariffs recently struck down by the SCOTUS.
With a camera coming back on the person, it's up to them to declare the purchase and pay whatever duties/tariffs that might be applicable.
You're mixing commercial-import tariffs with a traveler’s personal purchase. The new Section 301 tariff does not change this for a traveler carrying home a camera for personal use.
Again digital camera bodies already have a zero normal duty rate, and the final tariff rule expressly excludes personal-use goods in accompanied baggage--the key here is that it is only for personal use, not shipped, and carried with you.The purchase should still be declared, but declaration does not mean duty is owed. Also, the final EU rate is 10%, not the proposed 12.5%.
p.1 #17 · US citizen travelling to Greece - anyone purchased Leica gear abroad?
1bwana1 wrote:
My experience in Italy is VAT refund on new. No VAT refund on used.
VAT can only be refunded if it has previously been collected.
- On new products this is applicable.
- For used gear the seller only has to pass on VAT to the state concerning his buying versus selling price (e.g. his margin). E.g. he buys a camera for 700€ from a customer and sells it for 800€ to a new owner. VAT is only deducted on the 100€ difference. Unfortunately, the seller usually doesn‘t want to disclose for what price he bought used gear. Thus any VAT refund is not declarable. In any case it wouldn‘t be high: maybe 20€ on 100€ win margin for the seller.
p.1 #18 · US citizen travelling to Greece - anyone purchased Leica gear abroad?
I just got back from my trip and wanted to give everyone an update. When I went through customs today, I declared the camera and lens. They simply asked whether they were for personal or commercial use. I told them they were for personal use, and that was it—no issues, no tariffs, and no duties.
They specifically told me that if the camera and lenses are for personal use and are with you when you arrive, digital cameras and lenses are not subject to tariffs or duties.
p.1 #19 · US citizen travelling to Greece - anyone purchased Leica gear abroad?
robert_in_ca wrote:
I just got back from my trip and wanted to give everyone an update. When I went through customs today, I declared the camera and lens. They simply asked whether they were for personal or commercial use. I told them they were for personal use, and that was it—no issues, no tariffs, and no duties.
They specifically told me that if the camera and lenses are for personal use and are with you when you arrive, digital cameras and lenses are not subject to tariffs or duties.
Now what camera and lens did you end up buying? :-)
