What additional taxes are required when purchasing an imported car?
3 Answers
Importing a car involves the following taxes: 1. Tariff: For engines below 3 liters (excluding 3 liters), the rate is 34.2%, and for those above 3 liters, it's 37.6%; Payable tariff: Customs declared price * tariff rate. 2. Consumption tax: For engines below 1.0 liters, the rate is 3%, for 1.0—2.2 liters and above, it's 8%; Payable consumption tax: (Customs declared price + tariff) / (1 - consumption tax rate) * consumption tax rate. 3. Value-added tax (VAT): The rate is 17%; Payable VAT: (Customs declared price + tariff + consumption tax) * 17%. 4. Customs clearance fees: 10 dealer fees: Other costs (such as fees caused by non-tariff measures like import licenses). For example, for an imported car with a customs declared price of 100,000 RMB, the tariff (at 34.2%) would be 34,200 RMB, the consumption tax (at 5%) would be 7,100 RMB; the VAT would be 24,000 RMB; the total tax-inclusive price would be 165,300 RMB; and the market price would be approximately 200,000 RMB.
After purchasing my imported car, I found that I paid several additional taxes, mainly including customs duty, value-added tax (VAT), and consumption tax. The customs duty is levied on imported vehicles, with a rate of approximately 15%, calculated based on the car's price. VAT applies to all new cars and is currently set at 13%, while the consumption tax varies from 1% to 40% depending on the engine displacement. These taxes combined can significantly increase the car's price—for example, a car originally priced at 300,000 RMB may exceed 400,000 RMB after taxes. Additionally, the purchase tax for imported cars is about 10%, the same as for domestic cars, but the total cost is much higher. Why should you be careful? Because tax rates can change, and policies may be adjusted, so it's best to check the details online or consult customs authorities before buying. For average buyers with a limited budget, considering a domestic car might be a better option—lower taxes and more savings.
When it comes to import car taxes, let's talk from a practical perspective. I've done the math myself: there's a 15% tariff, 13% VAT, plus consumption tax based on engine displacement. These taxes specifically target imported cars, and combined, they can increase the final price by 20%-30%. For example, if you buy a foreign car with a customs-declared price of 500,000 yuan, the tariff alone is 75,000 yuan. Adding consumption tax and VAT, the price can soar to around 700,000 yuan. In contrast, domestic cars don't have tariffs, so the tax burden is much lighter. Another point is that imported car parts are expensive, and taxes are added when replacing parts, leading to higher total ownership costs. I recommend comparing tax tables before buying a car and consulting professional websites to avoid surprises. Parallel imports can save some taxes, but they come with higher risks—I've seen people get burned.
