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PdS, Custom Duties

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bogart2
  1/28/2018 13:28 EST

Would like to confirm that someone with PdS has 6 months from receipt of the visa to import household goods duty free. Is this right? Has anyone paid import duties on household goods?
Am thinking of leaving move of goods until after the spouse receives her PdS. My understanding is that she will have a few months in which to apply after we arrive in Italy.

maluza86
  1/28/2018 22:23 EST

Buongirono Bogart2,

Here is the link to the information from the US Embassy Italy website.

https://it.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/visiting-living/

The specific answer to your question is that HHGs may imported duty free within 6 months of receiving RESIDENCE. It's tied to residency not PdiS, although technically you can't establish residency without a PdiS. :

"A motor vehicle may be imported duty-free within six months of receiving the certificate of residence from the Anagrafe and if owned for a period more than one year. Imported vehicles must be registered and Italian license plates obtained. For more detailed information, contact the vehicle registration office, Pubblico Registro Automobilistico (PRA).

Household goods may be imported duty free within six months of receiving the certificate of residence from the Anagrafe. An experienced and reliable shipping agent can simplify customs-free importation of household effects.

I moved to Italy in February 2014, applied for my PdiS within the timeframe and received it within 30 days. However, I did not actually establish residency until December of 2014 due to numerous circumstances. Regardless, when I shipped my containers in Feb of 2015, they (Dogana officials) checked to ensure I had residency....all was good and I did not get charged any import or duty fees. I also shipped my Harley Davidson as my vehicle.

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bogart2
  1/29/2018 11:24 EST

Thank you! The site is helpful.
I wonder if there are duties on shipment of household goods of an EU (Irish) citizen when the goods ship from the US. Anyone know? My objective is to find a legitimate way to put off shipment and avoid import duties.
The websites indicate that there are permits required for import of art and electronics. Does anyone have experience with importing either?

maluza86
  1/29/2018 11:35 EST

From what I understand the information I posted applies to an American citizen moving to Italy, regardless of from where. I know Italians living abroad can move their HHGs back to Italy when repatriating...they just need to submit the requisite HHGs inventories to the Italian Embassy prior to the move. In your case as an EU citizen you may want to check the Irish Embassy website.

With regard to the other question, I shipped paintings, electronics and Persian carpets/rugs and did not have any issues. They were listed on my HHG inventory sheets.

Kenntak
  3/22/2018 18:46 EST

I understand that household goods may be imported duty free within six months of receiving the certificate of residence from the Anagrafe. The problem is that my wife wants to take her jewelry with her when we arrive in Italy, and have the household goods shipped the same time. Since residency takes 3 months, does that mean we will be unable to use the one-time duty exemption?

longfje
  6/12/2018 14:56 EST

I plan to move to Sicily in 2020. I have 2 1972 Harleys, and I'm hoping to get a new Heritage. Were there any issues at all with the motorcycle? I plan to keep the Heritage original, but the other 2 bikes have some reproduction parts. The sportster has drag pipes on it.

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maluza86
  6/13/2018 02:04 EST

I moved my 2004 Heritage Softail Classic with me in 2014. I did not have to pay any import, customs or duty on it as you are allowed to import 1 vehicle without any fees as an American moving Italy.

It has Vance and Hines Long Shot mufflers on it and everyone in the Harley group I rode with told me it was going to be a problem and to put the original mufflers back on and once it passed inspection then put the Vance and Hines back. However, I sold the originals long ago so that wasn't an option. After much consternation and hiring an agency to take care of all the paperwork required to register it in Italy, I decided what the heck, worse thing they can do is fail it on inspection. So I went ahead with the process. The only thing I did change before the inspection was the color of the rear turn signal lens covers. In Italy they have to be amber, mine were red. So I bought new lens covers and swapped them out, no big deal.

When it came time for the inspection it had to be done at the main vehicle inspection agency in Brindisi instead of in my local town of San Vito Dei Normanni, since my motorcycle was a new import, San Vito would have been much easier as we know the people, so I was a little leery about what would happen in Brindisi.

After driving up to the inspection dock, I turned off the bike and waited. My wife (who is a dual national and speaks Italian fluently) said whatever you do, don't rev the motor ;-) So they go through the whole inspection process check all the turn signals, VIN number etc, all the documents...then get stuck on the rear tire. They couldn't find the metric number and were convinced I changed the tire to a larger size than the original. Once I figured out what they were looking for, I helped them find it and there were no issues...then on to the moment we all were waiting for..."please start the motor".....So I start it with as little fanfare as possible and the guy listens for a second and says "It's a Harley...give it a little gas!!" So all my consternation was for naught and it all worked out.

maluza86
  6/13/2018 02:06 EST

Kenntak,

All you need to show is that you applied for residency, they'll be able to check that in the system.

I did not have my permanent residency when we moved our HHGs, but had gone through the process by time they arrived. The agency verified it with the Anagrafe.

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