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  1. #1

    Default Does an American Returning from Living Abroad Have to Pay a VAT

    My husband and I (both American citizens) have recently moved back to the United States from living abroad for the past 4 years. In that time, we have acquired some household goods and souvenirs. The company that shipped our goods from Italy to the US has said that we have to pay a VAT. I do not understand why we have to pay a VAT on items that are used. The majority of our items are clothes, books and a few paintings. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    131

    Default Re: Does an American Returning from Living Abroad Have to Pay a Vat or Equiv

    The VAT may be on the service of shipping the goods out of Italy if you contracted in Italy.

    You are not real specific on the contract terms with the shipping company.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
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    Default Re: Does an American Returning from Living Abroad Have to Pay a Vat or Equiv

    The United States has no VAT. I doubt anyone here is an expert in Italian tax law. However, would you not have paid the VAT when you purchased these items?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
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    Default Re: Does an American Returning from Living Abroad Have to Pay a Vat or Equiv

    Quote Quoting Bubba Jimmy
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    The United States has no VAT. I doubt anyone here is an expert in Italian tax law. However, would you not have paid the VAT when you purchased these items?
    Yes, you would have. However, an Italian company, trying to explain the additional charges to OP, would not necessarily use an exact english translation, to explain duty taxes. They would to view them as VAT taxes.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Does an American Returning from Living Abroad Have to Pay a VAT

    If you have acquired them in the past few years, you will likely be paying US taxes on all of them, unless you present receipts showing them to have been purchased over 1 year before the entry date. The exception, would be items obviously older than 1 year.

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