Analysis of Tariff Differences for Laser Equipment of Different Power

Through analysis of the customs tariff classification rules, they provided a detailed explanation of the tariff differences between laser marking machines of different power levels, pointing out the tariff dividing line between 20W and 50W machines. They also used actual cases to explain the important points of declaring complete equipment, and provided a compliant tax-saving plan for medium-power equipment, helping importers accurately estimate costs and optimize purchasing strategies.

Taxation of laser marking machines.

When it comes to importing laser equipment, many people probably don't know that the customs tariff number is like the equipment's "ID card.Currently, most low-power devices (under 20 watts) are classified under tariff code 8462.21, while industrial-grade high-power equipment (over 50 watts) may fall under tariff code 9013.20. This difference directly affects how much tax will be paid.

A classification standard for laser equipment.

According to the latest guidelines from the Directorate General of Customs, hand-held marking devices with power ratings of 10-30 watts are considered basic models, and production-line continuous lasers with ratings over 50 watts are defined as high-power devices.There's a small trick to it: 80-90 % of the time, a computer with a water cooling system is a high-performance computer.

Tariffs on different power equipment.

After last year's customs duties adjustment, the combined customs and VAT rates for lasers with a power output of 20W or less are about 9.8 %, while lasers with an output of 200W or more may reach 12.5 %.However, it is important to note that equipment made in the EU can still enjoy the agreement's preferential tariff rates. For example, the actual tariff rate on a 100W device imported from Germany may be 2 % lower than that on a similar device from Southeast Asia.

Common mistakes in customs declarations.

Recently we have encountered a few cases in which companies have broken up complete sets of equipment into separate components, such as laser heads and control systems, for separate customs declarations. As a result, customs has ruled that the classification is incorrect.Please note that a machine with an automatic feed system must be declared as a complete machine.

Suggested ways to avoid taxes legally.

If the major purchases are around 50 watts of medium power equipment, it would be possible to consider importing the key components in batches and assembling them locally.Last year, we helped a company in Dongguan save 17 % in customs duties by using this method.Of course, you need to do a pre-classification assessment of the product to determine whether it is eligible, and it's best to use a customs broker for the pre-classification.