[iCol]

Well well well, I is heading my merry way back over to NYC in a couple of weeks to see friends and, well, just generally hang out for ten days or so.

However, while I am over there, and to make the most of the excellent exchange rate between the UK and US, I was half thinking of plonking down some of my hard earned cash on one of these new black MacBook thingemigigs to replace my PowerBook G4.

But I was wondering, is there a way for overseas visitors to avoid the 8% sales tax in NY? I would ideally be wanting to buy the compy from the Apple Store, as it would make it easier if I were to have to return it if I could just take it to the Apple Store here in London. Also, I don't really want to have to leave NY to go to a state with a lower level of sales tax...

So, any ideas, hints or tips?! Cheers guys, much obliged.

(ps. also wondering what MYSF might bring in the way of Apple related goodies... that exchange rate might work out to my advantage once more!)

Col

[Dork.]

Nope. Not at all. Whether or not you're a citizen has no bearing on it, The Great State of New York wants their cut.

Well, there is one way: order it mail-order and have it shipped to your friends' house, so you pick it up when you visit. Certain mail-order houses don't charge sales tax because they don't have a presence in New York State (a loophole which probably won't last too much longer, so use it while you can!). Then, all you have to do is convince your friendly Customs officer when you return that you brought that shiny new MacBook with you in the first place, so you don't need to pay duty on it.

[iCol]

Yes, I plan on disgarding the box and packaging in New York and carrying the lil book back as hand luggage. I am a photographer, so will also have the PowerBook and my cameras with me, so it won't look too suspect! I am just travelling with my digital darkroom and studio, is all.

Shame on the tax front though - I thought there was a loophole for overseas visitors, in the same way that if you came over here, you could quite often claim back your VAT (17.5%).

Col

[Dork.]

Originally Posted by iCol 

Shame on the tax front though - I thought there was a loophole for overseas visitors, in the same way that if you came over here, you could quite often claim back your VAT (17.5%).

No, that would make too much sense, so it's not something that The Great State of New York can comprehend.



Actually, I suspect the real reason is that since the Sales Tax is strictly a state concept in the US, and there is no national sales tax, if rebates were offered to visitors from overseas they'd also have to be offered to visitors from other states, and since many people from NJ and CT work in NYC that would get very messy....