Hi
I am going on travel in the USA, and would like to buy a new iPhone. I have come to understand there are additional taxes (there's only VAT included in prices in Europe), which are different in different states. I'm travelling through Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah.
Which has the lowest taxfare?
And also, how am I sure the phone is simlock-free? I'd very much like to use it at home as well :)
Thank you!
iPhone XS
The only way to get a SIM-unlocked phone is to buy it directly from Apple. No other merchant sells unlocked phones, although some of them lie and say their phones are unlocked. Even from Apple you must specifically request an unlocked phone.
Sales taxes are local; there are over 6,000 different taxing authorities in the US. So even within a state there are wide differences depending on the city where you buy the phone. Other than Delaware, Montana, Oregon and New Hampshire you will most likely pay sales tax no matter where you buy the phone. About the highest you will pay is 12% (state + local). And California is near the top. Here's a useful wikipedia article on this subject: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_taxes_in_the_United_States
ADDENDUM: Note that if you buy a phone in the US it will have to be returned to the US for any service, in warranty or out-of-warranty.
The only way to get a SIM-unlocked phone is to buy it directly from Apple. No other merchant sells unlocked phones, although some of them lie and say their phones are unlocked. Even from Apple you must specifically request an unlocked phone.
Sales taxes are local; there are over 6,000 different taxing authorities in the US. So even within a state there are wide differences depending on the city where you buy the phone. Other than Delaware, Montana, Oregon and New Hampshire you will most likely pay sales tax no matter where you buy the phone. About the highest you will pay is 12% (state + local). And California is near the top. Here's a useful wikipedia article on this subject: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_taxes_in_the_United_States
ADDENDUM: Note that if you buy a phone in the US it will have to be returned to the US for any service, in warranty or out-of-warranty.
As Lawrence mentions, it’s not just about what State sales tax is lowest, but is the Apple store you shop at in a city or county with city and/or county sales taxes (e.g. NYC).
There is no federal sales tax at point of sale on consumer products since the USA is a republic, with nearly all control over intra-state commerce residing with each State government.
Apple doesn’t set taxes, no company does. The State and local governments do. An Apple Store will collect whatever sales taxes the are required by law to collect depending on where that store is located. So an Applesrore in New York City would collect 8.875% (4.5% NYC + 4% NY State + 0.375% by the Metro commuter district commission). A store in Atlanta will collect 8.9% which is the combination of GA state plus local Atlanta city and county taxes. My nearby Raleigh NC Applestore will collect 7.25%, while the Applestore in nearby Durham County will collect 7.5%.
I've looked into that Wikipedia article and found that Utah or Nevada has the least percentage of taxes, but in the end it's just how the Applestore will set its taxes or have I got this wrong?
Buy an iPhone on my vacation in the US
