What is a Water Car?
1 Answers
There are two explanations. The first is that these vehicles cannot be registered due to tax evasion, hence they are called water cars, similar to how iPhones smuggled from Hong Kong by 'water guests' are referred to. The second explanation is that these are luxury cars from Europe, America, and the Middle East that cannot be directly imported into the country through customs. Instead, they are transported via waterways to neighboring countries and then smuggled across the border. Purchasing smuggled vehicles is already considered smuggling ordinary goods, and penalties are determined based on the amount of tax evaded. The consequences of smuggling are as follows: According to China's Criminal Law: 1. Articles 153 and 157 stipulate that individuals smuggling ordinary goods or items with tax evasion between 50,000 and 150,000 yuan will face up to 3 years imprisonment or detention, plus a fine of 1 to 5 times the evaded tax. 2. Tax evasion between 150,000 and 500,000 yuan results in 3 to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of 1 to 5 times the evaded tax; in particularly severe cases, the penalty is over 10 years imprisonment or life imprisonment, plus a fine of 1 to 5 times the evaded tax or confiscation of property. 3. Tax evasion over 500,000 yuan leads to over 10 years imprisonment or life imprisonment, plus a fine of 1 to 5 times the evaded tax or confiscation of property; in particularly severe cases, life imprisonment and confiscation of property are imposed.
