⌛ Harley-Davidson

The following is part of an e-mail I received from the Philippine Bureau Of Customs. The Philippine Embassy in Canada obtained this information for me on my request. I am extremely impressed with the assistance I was given.

This information may be helpful to some. It can act as a general guideline for anyone interested in importing their motorcycle(s) from North America for personal use in the philippines.

Tragically, I lost my best friend in a motorcycle accident some years ago. Personally, I do not ride on motorcycles.


Kind regards,

Sandcastle


----- Original Message -----



Greetings! In the Philippines, Customs would base its computation from US Blue or Red Book value with its corresponding depreciation.



$ 16,995 Suggested factory retail price

0.8 20% wholesale allowance

13,596

0.8 20% depreciation

10,876.80

1.04 premium and insurance Duty Php 169,932.00

11,311.87 Vat 88,580.00

300 freight Total Php 258,512.00

11,611.87

48.781 exchange rate

566,438.72 dutiable value

0.3 rate of duty

169,931.61 customs duty

566,438.72 dutiable value

1,800 misc

738,170.33

12% vat rate

88,580.44

2005 Models

- Harley-Davidson XL883C

246kg Engine 883 (Customs taxes and duties PHP106,309.00)



- Harley Davidson XL1200R

256kg Engine 1200 (Customs duties and taxes PHP132,664.00)



- Harley Davidson FLSTSC SPRINGER

321kg Engine 1584. (above example) (PHP258,512.00)

 

Harley Davidson

Thank you so much for posting the information on bringing in motorcycles.

We are moving to Dumaguete in spring of 2009, and I have 8 motorcycles I want to bring with me. Based on your computations, the tax on the 2006 Harley was about $1,700 U.S. after conversion? Is this correct?

Also, all of my bikes are large displacement Harleys. Do you know of any restrictions on engine size?

Once you pay the import, is there any problems getting them licensed for daily use?

Any help on this subject would be appreciated.

thanks so much,
2 blackbelts

 

Harley-Davidson

Hello 2blackbelts,

You had requested motorcycle (import) information a while back. I hope this helps you.

Based on the examples, the US currency(taxes/duties) would be as follows:

PHP 106,309 = 2,205.12 US
PHP 132,664 = 2,751.79 US
PHP 258,512 = 5,362.21 US (largest displacement model)

There is NO restriction on engine size; all Harley-Davidson models can be imported.

Once you pay the total fees requested, you are good to go. You will have absolutely no problems licensing them for your personal use.

2blackbelts, let me know if you need more information.....I have an excellent contact.

Kind regards,

Sandcastle

 

Harley Davidson

Hello Sandcastle,

Thank you again for your information.

Unfortunately, all of my bikes are of the large displacement variety. Paying over $5,000 each US is rather high. The total equates to over $40,000, plus freight to get them there.

Someone told me that you can send them partially disassembled, and put them back together once you have picked them up. Then, you only pay the tax on parts. Do you know anything about this?

Anyhelp is sure appreciated, thanx for your help.

2blackbelts

 

Harley-Davidson

Hello 2blackbelts,

In the interim, please review the following link below.

Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers' Website

A Philippine Ambassador has opened an excellent contact line for me at the Bureau Of Customs. I will contact this person tonight (Sunday in Canada ; Monday in the Philippines) for you. I should have more information soon.

Any confidential points will be sent via private message. (not e-mail)

Kind Regards,

Sandcastle

 

2blackbelts,

The following is the (last) piece of information I can offer to assist you.

You have plenty of time to contact DTI-BIS (e-mail address listed) before your move...regarding importing all 8 of your motorcycles. Rest assured that there is a solution to this and no doubt you will have all your motorcycles with you in the Philippines.

New villa construction in the Philippines is LOW. So whatever you have to pay for Customs (taxes/duties) to have your motorcycles is really irrelevant. Look at your total costs ; what you accomplish (lifestyle) in the grand scope of things is really affordable. This should not be an issue. Just do it....and you will be happy.

Kind regards,

Sandcastle


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COPY......COPY......COPY......COPY

As to your query to import them DISASSEMBLED. Surely it will peg a lower duties, however, IT WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to register them at the Philippine Land Transportation Office (LTO). THESE MOTORCYCLES, take note, could only be imported one (1) for every person. In your case, you need three (3) people. Because this regulation was derived from the Phil. DTI-BIS. I suggest that it has to be brought in here one at a time with the owner and WITH PRIOR AUTHORITY TO IMPORT from DTI-BIS.



Bureau of Customs






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Its indeed a big problem to bring all eight HD motorcycles into the Phils. I suggest , that you have to inquire from the Phils DTI-BIS on how to handle this kind of situation, since this is the Agency that issue Authority to Import for USED motor vehicles and motorcycles. The Philippine Bureau of Customs is limited only to computation of Customs duties and taxes and releases of goods from customs custody. I suggest that an inquiry should be made from BIS. Here is their email address iad_bis@yahoo.com and look for Mr Jun Deveza or Ms Pijuan.




Bureau of Customs



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All the stories I've heard about importing a vehicle or motorcycle into PI are horror stories.

Once PI Customs get your bike(s) on the pier, you're doomed as doomed can be.

One guy from Dgte imported a 500cc bike and ended up paying as much in duty as he paid for the bike!

One couple who'd gotten retirement visas, and were assured there'd be no duty on their huge container of household goods, told me once the container arrived in MNL, that if they didn't pay $6000 extortion (her words) they wouldn't get their container.

Im many cases, the duty climbs every day you delay in paying it.

The advice has always, always been - Don't do it! Certainly not the 'legal' way.

There are used and sometimes new Harley's for sale in PI.

Check out Motorcycle Philippines for classifieds

 

Forexworld.com > Home
Did somebody mention motorcycles?

 

One Filipino guy I met in Cebu back in 2000 says he can get motorcycles into PI undercover. He seems trustworthy, but I can't vouch for him.

He's on the motorcyclephilippines.com forum a lot. Can't remember his username, but I can go there and find it if anyone really wants to get in touch with him.

I was emailing him last year after discovering he was on that board.


Otherwise do NOT attempt to bring in 8 motorcycles. Even if you pay the duty in advance, customs will claim they were undervalued etc to wring more money out of you.

Besides, there's just not enough destinations to bother having that many bikes in PI. Even the US Consulate in Cebu (John Domingo) who has a Wide Glide says he can ride his m/c group's Sunday breakfast ride to Bogo almost blindfolded..

Somewhere I've got a pic of him on his Glide at the Dgte Poker Run back in 2001 or 2002.

Most of the islands have only 1 road running around the coat of the island. Once you've traveled that a few times, you realize there just ain't that many places to go.

The Trans National Hwy heading out of Cebu City has awesome views though.

And, other than local shade tree mechanics, there's no motorcycle shops once you're out of Cebu City or Dumaguete City. All those cities on the maps of Cebu and Negros are one horse towns. Blink and you've gone through them.

Can't even get a good cup of coffee, much less spare parts for a Harley.

You can order Harley parts from various sources in Cebu, but on Negros, there ain't no Harley parts shops.


I put 3500km on my Honda in 5 mos while living in Cebu City. Rode from San Carlos to Dgte with it after ferrying it over from Toledo..

 

Harley Davidson

Thanks for the help. I just joined the Philippine Motorcycle forum. It is very good and helpful.

I only plan now on bringing one or two bikes over. When I get closer, I'll let you know, and maybe get some suggestions on how to do so.

All the best,
2 blackbelts