Korean Job Discussion Forums

[vincentmiser]

Does anyone know the procedure to get a SOFA vehicle (vehicles which have been registered on US Military Bases) registered to a civilian resident alien?

[mc_jc]

Please explain more; are you trying to register your car onbase (if you are, you need SOFA status) or are you trying to register a used car that used to have SOFA plates registered at the local police station?

[vincentmiser]

Well, here is my situation.

I 'bought' a car over the weekend, and we were going to go to the DMV tomorrow to register it but the seller found that he has registered it under SOFA and he was told that it would cost around 700,000 in taxes to register it with a civilian...ie, me

It is a Kia Towner and was bought in Korea - I hope this makes things easier.
Thanks for your info

[nathanrutledge]

Well, read what the SOFA is in regards to taxation and cars.

[urlhttp://www.usfk.mil/usfk/BrowseFiles.aspx?CatID=130&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1[/url]

Best bet, read the SOFA, talk to the Korean tax people and see what they say.

[ChilgokBlackHole]

[Easter Clark]

If you buy a SOFA car that wasn't originally bought in Korea (in most cases a Korean car), then you're going to have to pay the import tax and whatever other duties the customs officials want to slap on there. Not worth it unless you don't mind paying an additional 35+% of the car's value.

If I'm wrong someone please (tactfully) correct me.

[mc_jc]

If the car is brought into Korea under the SOFA, the RO didn't have to pay the import tax as things brought over here under USFK sponsorship is untaxable (due to the SOFA).
But once it leaves the sponsorship of the SOFA, the Korean government can do whatever it wants. You should contact a taxation expert to see how this is going to work.