Destination, Taxes

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On The Rocks · #1 Post by **On The Rocks** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:02 am

Maybe somebody out there can help me. I am about to order my T60p. I will be having it delivered to the states and will pick it up there.

I can have it delivered to any of the following places:
1. Seattle, Washington
2. Auburn, Indiana or
3. Madison, Wisconsin

My question is about taxes. Which of these places would be best to send the notebook to for the least amount of taxes?

Not sure how to check myself so ask you guys.

Thanks.

Joe

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:16 am

You will probably have to pay destination taxes (Retail Sales Tax) if any in the state of delivery, and then pay GST and possibly PST on import back into Canada.

Check carefully that you are saving money. It is often not the case when buying competively in Canada and factoring all the import and exchange costs into the comparison equation. ... JD Hurst

tvsjr · #3 Post by **tvsjr** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:25 am

Something tells me he doesn't intend to pay any taxes when taking it back to Canada...

On The Rocks · #4 Post by **On The Rocks** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 12:25 pm

tvsjr wrote:Something tells me he doesn't intend to pay any taxes when taking it back to Canada...

The sales tax in the difference states is what I am looking for. Am wondering which one of the 3 would be the lowest and send it to that address. I will personally pick it up in about a months time and bring it back with me.

Joe

#5 Post by **RonS** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 12:46 pm

http://www.taxadmin.org/FTA/rate/sales.html

tvsjr · #6 Post by **tvsjr** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:39 pm

On The Rocks wrote:Snipped overly long, nested quote.

So you're going to attempt to cheat Canadian law by carting it into the country "under the radar"... but you aren't smart enough to google "Seattle Washington sales tax" to come up with the right answer?

By the way, the link Ron posted is state sales tax only. I'll leave it as an exercise for you to come up with appropriate answers.

Note from Moderator: Watch the personal attacks. Read the Rules of the Road and adhere to them.

And trim your quotes while you're at it.

Ken Fox · #7 Post by **Ken Fox** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:08 pm

tvsjr wrote:
So you're going to attempt to cheat Canadian law by carting it into the country "under the radar"... but you aren't smart enough to google "Seattle Washington sales tax" to come up with the right answer?

By the way, the link Ron posted is state sales tax only. I'll leave it as an exercise for you to come up with appropriate answers.

I spend at least a week in Western Canada every year, and let me tell you, those Canadians know how to tax things . . . .

good luck OP!

steveg47 · #8 Post by **steveg47** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:16 pm

Ken Fox wrote:Snipped overly long, nested quote.

All good socialists know how. It's in their blood. Those that have blood that is. After all someone had to pay for that wonderful free medical care they get.

Ken Fox · #9 Post by **Ken Fox** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:45 pm

steveg47 wrote:
All good socialists know how. It's in their blood. Those that have blood that is. After all someone had to pay for that wonderful free medical care they get.

Canadian friends of mine would debate both how good and how free is their healthcare . . . . like my friend in Vancouver who had to wait 18 months to have a simple knee operation that any orthopod over here could schedule on a Tuesday to occur on Thursday. As a result, my friend gained 40lbs due to inactivity in spite of all his best efforts to remain active. It has taken him a couple of years to lose half of that weight gain since.

#10 Post by **jdhurst** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:16 pm

Ken Fox wrote:<snip>
I spend at least a week in Western Canada every year, and let me tell you, those Canadians know how to tax things . . . .
good luck OP!

Don't go there, please. RST is broadly the same across North America. GST in Canada goes to pay for things Americans choose not to have. So you see, it is only one more example of "one gets what one pays for". That's all. ... JD Hurst

steveg47 · #11 Post by **steveg47** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:45 pm

)

jdhurst wrote:Snipped overly long, nested quote.

The sarcasm of my comment seemingly having been lost with Ken and not to belabor this issue but "one never gets what one pays for when the government (US Or Canadian) is involved".

On The Rocks · #12 Post by **On The Rocks** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:50 pm

Wow! Not the direction I imagined this thread going. First, I am Canadian but a non-resident. Haven't lived here in 6 years and this is my first time back in all that time. I live and work in China and will be going back in about a month for at least another 3 years maybe more without returning again.

So as for taxes I don't pay now anyways as I get no benifits so I am cheating nobody! But thanks tvsjr.

The notebook is just entering Canada long enough to get back on the plane for China.

As for googling taxes I did. I did not however express my post properly though. I was not and still am not 100% certain as to what would need to be paid in which state for an online order. Never done it before not certain how it is done. But yet thanks again tvsjr for you help.

It looks like of the 3 states mentioned Wisconsin has the lowest sales tax @ 5%. So sending there would be the best option I guess or is there something I am missing?

Thanks again

Joe

dhave · #13 Post by **dhave** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:22 am

You should figure in a local (city or county) sales tax as well as the state sales tax. For example, I recently ordered a Thinkpad from Lenovo. The sales tax was 6 percent; 5 percent state sales tax plus 1 percent county sales tax for the county where I live.

FWIW, the machine shipped from China via Hong Kong, but there weren't any additional duties or charges that I had to pay, I guess because I purchased it from Lenovo-USA.

marlinspike · #14 Post by **marlinspike** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:30 am

The company must charge you sales tax in every state in which they have a presence, and IIRC Lenovo has a presence in just about every state. You know, if you do it online you can check in the shopping cart.

Ken Fox · #15 Post by **Ken Fox** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:53 am

steveg47 wrote:Snipped overly long, nested quote.

I don't miss sarcasm; I think you mean that JD, who quoted me, missed that point (which I doubt)

#16 Post by **ryengineer** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:07 am

GST in Canada goes to pay for things Americans choose not to have. So you see, it is only one more example of "one gets what one pays for". That's all. ... JD Hurst

Having lived in both countries, I couldn't agree more with Mr. Hurst.

steveg47 · #17 Post by **steveg47** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:33 am

On The Rocks, if you can save a few tax bucks from those thieving politicians, MORE POWER TO YOU. No matter what side of the border you hail from.

On The Rocks · #18 Post by **On The Rocks** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:48 am

dhave wrote:FWIW, the machine shipped from China via Hong Kong, but there weren't any additional duties or charges that I had to pay, I guess because I purchased it from Lenovo-USA.

It is really strange how Lenovo/IBM works. I wanted to buy the unit is China as that is where I have been for the last 4 1/2 years. The units available there are shameful. Either very low end T60s bases, base models or full loaded. I would have loved one of these fully loaded units except the prices are around $4700US. Yes that is right price!

In Hong Kong it is the same thing and same prices.

I would have much preferred to buy in Canada but as many of you know you cannot customize and the prices are insane compared to the states.

Buying down there is my only option. I wish it wasn't so but.....

Again I am not cheating the government as I am a non-resident anyways and am immediately leaving again with my new notebook.

Thank you all for your information and advice though.

I look forward to becoming a new member of this community and I know I will be here a lot as I explore and learn all about my new T60p notebook.

Rgds,

Joe

#19 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:34 am

Joe, one more suggestion: check out the pricing through visaperks.ca: the Lenovo Canada promotional pricing through visaperks is about 20-25% below retail and it might make sense for you. You still can't build CTO units, but I think it's worth checking, at least.

http://www.visaperks.ca/

On The Rocks · #20 Post by **On The Rocks** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:56 am

tomh009 wrote:Joe, one more suggestion: check out the pricing through visaperks.ca: the Lenovo Canada promotional pricing through visaperks is about 20-25% below retail and it might make sense for you. You still can't build CTO units, but I think it's worth checking, at least.

http://www.visaperks.ca/

Hi Tomh009. Thanks for the tip. I actually did check this place out but for my configuration I still can't find a unit cheaper than ordering it through the states.

I have to fly down there for business anyways so it is not that big a deal picking it up.

Thanks again guys.

Joe

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