Buying the Macbook Pro .. TAX???

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Level 1

4 points

Buying the Macbook Pro .. TAX???

I recently went on the apple store (Canada) to purchase a 17 inch Macbook Pro 200 GB. I was buying the MBP with a non US/Canada credit card, but shipping it to a Canadian Address. I clicked "Place My Order", and everything went smoothly, and the price for my MBP and accessories was $3,457.90 + $23 shipping. After about half an hour, I received an email saying that I was not allowed to pay with a non US/Canada credit card, and that I would have to wire transfer them the money. So I went back to view my order, to know how much to send them, and for some reason, the price jumped up from $3,457.90 to $3,966.50. It had added a $485.60 tax!!! I do not understand why it did this, and it just added it without notifying me, and when I was going through with the order, it did not say a single thing about taxes. This is only after it sent me the email informing me of the payment problem. Now, I am not quite sure if I should go on with the transaction or if this "tax" thing is normal. Help would be greatly appreciated.

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Feb 24, 2007 8:10 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Feb 24, 2007 8:59 PM in response to manzalawy7

Sales tax will be added to all orders. Because you are purchasing from a Canadian store the amount of tax charged is based on the Canadian GST and PST (about 14.5 percent.) Apple will not sell without charging the appropriate sales tax regardless if it's an online or in-store order.

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Answer 2

manzalawy7 Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 24, 2007 9:14 PM in response to Kappy

are there any rebates or anything?

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Feb 24, 2007 9:18 PM in response to manzalawy7

If you leave the country within 30 days of purchase you can get a rebate for taxes. You can pick up the paperwork at the airport. After sending in the paperwork it may take a while before you get the check. Note that this will not in any way obviate the payment of duties or import taxes for the country of destination.

You would be wise to check with Canadian customs as well as Egyptian customs to determine what your obligations and/or exemptions are.

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Answer 4

manzalawy7 Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 24, 2007 10:04 PM in response to Kappy

So, here's the deal. I am an Egyptian citizen living in Egypt. My cousin in an Egyptian citizen who is legally attending university in Montreal. Are we exempt from these taxes? Basically, is there any way at all to avoid these taxes? Should I just order it from the a dealer in the US, and ship it there? Or do the taxes still apply? HELP?! My dad will screw me over when he finds out about these taxes, seriously ...

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Answer 5

WBW

Level 4

1,265 points

Feb 24, 2007 10:41 PM in response to manzalawy7

If the laptop is for you to bring back in Egypt you can get a refund for the tax as Kappy explained.

If the laptop is for your cousin, you have to pay tax.

Either way you will pay tax upfront.

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Answer 6

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Feb 24, 2007 11:58 PM in response to manzalawy7

Being a citizen of another country doesn't exempt you from paying sales tax to purchase something that stays in the country. Only if you are a "tourist" who leaves within 30 days can you get a reimbursement of taxes on certain items. If the computer remains in Canada with your cousin then you will have no claim for a reimbursement of the sales tax. Even if you order the computer from a dealer in the US you will still pay US sales tax. When the computer arrives in Canada your cousin will have to pay Canadian duty on the computer.

Sorry, but this is the way things are. You should have learned the facts before telling your father differently.

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Answer 7

manzalawy7 Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 25, 2007 4:47 AM in response to Kappy

last question .. my cousin in bringing it to egypt yes, and it is not for him, correct. But, i sent it to HIM and the billing Address is for HIM. he has a student visa in canada as well, am i elligible for the rebate?

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Answer 8

a brody

Level 10

85,320 points

Feb 25, 2007 6:45 AM in response to manzalawy7

Being a student he may be eligible for student discounts. Check the Apple Store for education to see if the school he is attending is listed on their online store. Most colleges and universities offer a student discount to Apple products. K-12 usually offers discounts to teachers. He should have placed the purchase himself, and you could have reimbursed him the amount before he purchased it himself if he does not have the funds.

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Answer 9

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Feb 25, 2007 12:09 PM in response to manzalawy7

It doesn't make any difference who purchased the computer. If your cousin does not leave the country within thirty days of the purchase it is not entitled to a sales tax rebate. Furthermore, the rebate is only given to the person whose name is on the receipt - you - so unless you leave the country with the computer within 30 days of purchase there's no rebate.

Had you done some additional homework you would have known that if your cousin, who is a registered student in a university or college, is entitled to the academic discount on the computer purchase. Unfortunately, because you made the purchase you're not entitled to the academic discount unless you, too, are a registered student in a college or university or if you are a teacher in K-12 or university or college.

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