Discover the best way to buy an iPhone 15. Find out what's best for your pocket.
Sales of the iPhone 15 in the United States begin this Friday (22). The price of the most basic model is US$ 799 (about R$ 4,107 converted directly), while the more robust iPhone 15 Pro Max with 1 TB costs US$ 1,119 (R$ 6,163). In Brazil, the same models were announced with prices of R$ 7,299 and R$ 13,999, respectively. The difference is R$ 3,192 for the regular option and R$ 7,836 for the premium version.
Given this gap, many Brazilians consider importing smartphones to save money. Importing may seem like a profitable activity, but there are taxes and fees to consider before deciding to buy a cell phone abroad. So, keep reading to find out if it is worth importing the iPhone 15.
American taxes
Apple's latest iPhone lineup is hitting the US market, ranging from the 128GB iPhone 15 to the 1TB iPhone 15 Pro Max, priced from $1,799 to $1,599. However, you should be aware that this amount may increase due to local taxes. In the United States, each state has different tax rates.
For New York, for example, this number is 8.49%. In Florida, this number is 6.80%. If the tourist dollar exchange rate is R$ 5.14, this means that a 128GB iPhone 15 costing US$ 799 will cost R$ 4,107 plus 8.49% of the New York mobile exchange rate. The final price is R$ 4,455. In Florida, the same smartphone costs R$ 4,386.
Some US states, including Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon, do not charge sales tax, which is more advantageous for buyers. Therefore, for those who intend to purchase a new iPhone while traveling to the United States, it may be interesting to consider states with low tax rates, such as Alaska (1.43%) and Hawaii (4.35%). In addition, the so-called “Tax Free” is available in Texas and Louisiana with rates of 8.17% and 9.45%, respectively. In this way, the consumer pays the taxes at the time of purchase and receives the refund later.
IOF of Brazil
If you choose to purchase the iPhone 15 directly in a US store using an international credit card, the final price of the product will include Financial Transactions Tax (IOF). The current rate for purchasing abroad with a credit card is 5.38%. One way to avoid the 5.38% tax is to open an international account in dollars. This will allow you to select the amount you want to send to this account from another account in reais. Currency conversion happens instantly in the app and you can use your international debit cards without being charged IOF.
Additionally, the exchange rate is lower because these are considered commercial dollars and not tourist dollars.
Federal Revenue Restrictions
You also need to be aware of the possibility of taxation by the IRS. The Brazilian government sets a limit for tax-free purchases of US$1,000 per person arriving by air or sea. If the amount exceeds this limit, a fee of US$50% will be charged on the excess amount.
Is it worth importing the iPhone 15?
The total cost of iPhone 15 models in Brazil is on average 108.5% more expensive. Although the differences are significant, consumers who opt for imported products have more to consider. It is important to know your tax costs in the US and Brazil so as not to be surprised by fees that will significantly increase your final price. Therefore, if you are planning to buy your iPhone 15 on a trip abroad, calculate the final price taking into account all the costs mentioned.
