customs - ie - cars

baxi7


Joined: 23/09/2008
Posts: 130

Message Posted:
24/03/2009 14:42

be carefull , customs have impounded over 2000 oversees reg cars todate . most will be fined - some will be sold off - some told to leave the island .

Amber


Joined: 26/09/2008
Posts: 561

Message Posted:
24/03/2009 14:49

For what reason ?

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
24/03/2009 15:21

Amber msg 2



"For what reason ?"



If you are resident in the TRNC then you must (after a year I think?) register your car in the TRNC if it is not TRNC registered. Some people have not done this as a means of avoiding high import duties on TRNC registered vehicals and have until recently been getting away with this for years. The government is now clamping down on those that have been exploiting this situation.

Amber


Joined: 26/09/2008
Posts: 561

Message Posted:
24/03/2009 16:37

Thanks Erolz,



It is no longer a year you get to register your car. Not exactly sure what the new ruling is, ut my car came in July last year and has to be registered now. Sadly people do not get to learn of the changes to the rules and have been fined etc.



I was asking just in case another rule has been brought in that nobody is aware of.

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
24/03/2009 16:42

Amber I would hope that the clamp down is not punishing those who have been caught out by rule changes. There is no doubt that some people,both cypriot and non cypriot, were seeking to avoid TRNC registration/import duties on cars with intent, either by buying a car in the south or Turkey and just using it in the North with the original registration indefinately or bringing cars over from UK and elsewhere and keeping them on UK registrations for years and years. Hopefully the clamp down is on those people and consideration will be given to cases where the persons intention was not to avoid duties.

poodle


Joined: 24/05/2008
Posts: 21

Message Posted:
24/03/2009 16:55

It's true. Friday I had my car with Greek plates impounded. Friends had 2 cars impounded on Wednesday. I teach at GAU and they are checking there everyday, even going to the offices of all the foreigners. The man I drove with to Customs in Lefkosa told me that they are combing the streets for Greek and UK number plates to impound.



I went there today and found out the fine is 300TL and you will be escorted to the border. If your car is there for more than a week, you will be charged 10TL a day. If the car remains for more than 3 months, they will auction it.



According to the Turkish speaking friend that came with me to customs, this is not something that will blow over after the election.



Lovely, isn't it? Maybe if the import duty was reasonable, people would more willingly pay it.

baxi7


Joined: 23/09/2008
Posts: 130

Message Posted:
26/03/2009 13:16

i would have thought the reason is obvious - use buses , taxi, hire cars , raise revenue on people from have no vote - . fines , vehicles auctioned , duty , registration fees , road tax , ferry fares port dues , ( see cyprus today 7/3/09 page 10 ) .

Amber


Joined: 26/09/2008
Posts: 561

Message Posted:
26/03/2009 15:41

Baxi7



When I said for what reason I meant what reason do they have to fine or impound cars. I have been penalised myself due to a change in the law that I was not aware of. Was told last year I had one year to pay import duty, this has now changed have to pay this now.



I know why they are trying to get money in any way possible.

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
26/03/2009 15:48

Amber-that rule has not changed you have one year to pay the import duty ,but you need to renew this after 6 months have passed.

Amber


Joined: 26/09/2008
Posts: 561

Message Posted:
26/03/2009 15:58

Hippo,



The rule has changed. My car come over in July last year. Because I have not been out of the country since then I have had to pay the duty now - did it today in fact.

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
26/03/2009 16:23

Hippo you are quite wrong my friend, my car was impounded several weeks ago and it was only here 4 months..the rules change and noone is told.

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
26/03/2009 16:34

Anyone want to buy a bicycle?

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
26/03/2009 16:37

AJ I am thinking of going round on a donkey ..

robbie c


Joined: 07/07/2008
Posts: 176

Message Posted:
26/03/2009 16:49

I drove my L200 over last January and was told that I had 1 year in which to pay the duty/taxes as long as I went to the customs after 6 months to re register with them.I then went to Turkey in the L200 to a friends wedding.Which still left me with 5 months to pay the duties/taxes.When I arrived back in the North The Customs then told me as I had a temporary residence I now came under a different ruling and had only 30 days to pay.Show me where that is in the book of rules?

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
26/03/2009 22:41

Hippo stands corrected he does, this place gets worse day after day

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
27/03/2009 10:44

AJ, see: -

http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/12603.asp

Amber


Joined: 26/09/2008
Posts: 561

Message Posted:
27/03/2009 11:12

Hippo,



Its also the rules change day after day!!

Dixie Normus


Joined: 22/02/2008
Posts: 820

Message Posted:
27/03/2009 11:33

Excellent range of 98cc scooters, 2 sroke reliable cheap to run, special discount for conficated uk and forigen vehicle owners.



Dixies Motors, a better way to see Cyprus.



D.N

Geoff


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 1370

Message Posted:
27/03/2009 12:26

What about GCs visiting the TRNC? When they buy car insurance at the border, and are driving their GC registered cars? Are THEY also liable to have their car impounded??

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
27/03/2009 12:48

Geoff msg 19



No they are not. The clamp down is on those that live in the TRNC yet use non TRNC registered cars.

Mrwilson



Joined: 31/10/2008
Posts: 470

Message Posted:
27/03/2009 13:17

Does anybody know of the Auctions these cars are being sold at. Maybe it would be cheaper to buy back than pay the duties ???

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
27/03/2009 13:21

As far as I know it is a closed auction

Mrwilson



Joined: 31/10/2008
Posts: 470

Message Posted:
27/03/2009 13:24

Probably for the Customs officers.

Stubs


Joined: 01/07/2008
Posts: 641

Message Posted:
27/03/2009 13:35

What happens if someone works in the North but lives in the South? Would customs impound their car?



Secondly what happens to those who live in the north but work in the south. Would the south authorities take the same view?



I think some ex-pats have to bear some responsibility for what has happened. Many have imported their cars and after a year still not paid their taxes. Did they think that he government was just gonna let them off with that? This is tax evasion, not avoidance!!!

baxi7


Joined: 23/09/2008
Posts: 130

Message Posted:
27/03/2009 16:37

not quite true , i think expats have overstayed there wellcome ? .