How much tax is generally levied on imported cars?
3 Answers
Import car tax calculation formula: Tariff = Duty-paid price × Tariff rate; Consumption tax = (Duty-paid price + Actual tariff) / (1 - Consumption tax rate) × Consumption tax rate; Value-added tax = (Duty-paid price + Tariff + Consumption tax) × VAT rate; The final tax to be paid is the sum of these three taxes, with the formula being: Car import tax = Basic tariff (15%) + Consumption tax (3%-20%) + VAT (13%). Taking an imported car worth 600,000 yuan (calculated based on a 2.0L displacement) as an example, the taxes to be paid are: 1. Tariff: Tariff = 600,000 × 15% = 90,000 yuan; 2. Consumption tax: Consumption tax = (600,000 + 90,000) / (1 - 5%) × 5% = 36,000 yuan; 3. Value-added tax: VAT = (600,000 + 90,000 + 36,000) × 13% = 94,400 yuan. 4. Total tax: The total tax to be paid is 90,000 + 36,000 + 94,400 = 220,400 yuan.
I previously bought an imported sedan, and the taxes added up to quite a bit. The tariff is about 15%, based on the car's original price; the VAT is 13%, plus the displacement consumption tax—my 2.0L car has a consumption tax of around 10%. In total, the tax burden comes to about 40%. For a car priced at 200,000, the after-tax price is close to 300,000. Don’t forget other fees like customs clearance and handling charges, which can add a few thousand. I recommend checking the official tax rate table or using an online calculator before purchasing to avoid exceeding your budget. Actual tax rates may vary depending on the brand and origin. A friend of mine chose an electric vehicle with lower taxes, saving a lot more money.
Importing a car typically involves three types of taxes: customs duty starting from around 15%, varying by country and model; VAT fixed at 13%; and consumption tax tiered by engine displacement—small engines like 1.0L or below may be taxed at 3%, while larger engines above 3.0L can reach 25%. The combined tax often exceeds 40%, for example, a 300,000 RMB car may cost over 400,000 RMB after taxes. Factors affecting the tax include whether the car is new or used and if the import channel is legitimate. There are many free online calculators where you can input engine displacement and origin to estimate the tax. It's best to plan ahead; purchasing from bonded zones might save some taxes, but it may not always be worthwhile.
