New customs charges from December 1, 2008

[Scoiattolo 1]

 

I'm having a hard time figuring out why there might be a difference between the German and the English versions of the FAQ page. The German one (http://www.zoll.de/faq/postverkehr/postverkehr/index.html) lists different cases for 3/5/10/22 Euro values, whereas the English one (http://www.zoll.de/english_version/faq/c0_postal_traffic/internet/index.html#Internet1) only refers to the 22-Euro limit. From the English version I get the impression that anything less than 22 Euros should be fine but you guys refer to the 10-Euro limit which also is quoted on the website. Does anyone have a clue on that?

 

 

Apparently it doesn't even stop at the 22-Euro bracket but there seems to be a longer list of values that caries on as 50/45/175/300/430/250/700/1000/3000/6000 here on the German site, whereas the page in English just states the following:

"Exemptions from these duties/taxes only apply to purchases of goods of low value. Thus, no import duties/taxes are levied on deliveries with a total value not exceeding € 22."

 

Does anyone have any idea why there is such a difference/discrepancy?

[ExpatinGermany 2]

How do they calculate the duty on used (really old/non-working) items such as watches?

[magneto 9]

I am going back to the US to visit family over Christmas. I plan to take presents when I leave Germany, and then bring back several gifts from my family when I return. I've never gone through customs before, and I would like to do this the right way, without getting in any trouble. I have no problem with paying any fees I need to, and worry that I will do something wrong and it will be a hassle. Is there a *smart* way to deal with all of this? How does this customs system work in the airport? I will have a couple hundred dollars worth of gifts coming back, well within the 430 euros for personal import (and I'll carry receipts with me). Should I go in the "nothing to declare" line or the other line? Should I fill out any paperwork ahead of time?

[Owain Glyndwr 888]

if you are under all the limits, you can go through the green channel.

 

If they stop you and you have all the receipts with you, you'll have no problems.

[fraufruit 42,471]

 

I just want to know who in their right mind would bother mail ordering a pair of $39.95 jeans from the US.

The same person who would pay €800 for a laptop as mentioned in the original post?

[Elfenstar 1,676]

 

...

Mail-order customers or people receiving packages from friends and relations abroad also have increased allowances for customs duties but not for import VAT (German: EUSt) - if you are receiving goods by post or courier the duty-free limit is raised to €150 (previously €22). Declared items between €22 and €150 are still subject to 19% import VAT (as before). Once the declared value exceeds €150 then both import VAT and additional customs duties are applied on the whole value. These duties vary between 0% and 17% depending on the type of goods (see list below), are in addition to the 19% VAT (7% on books) and are on the total package value including shipping costs. It does not matter whether the goods are a commercial purchase, used, or a present...

 

nice bump of this is just in time for the holidays because my family is already asking me what i would like for christmas. which exchange rate should i use when calculating how many $ in declaration they can write on the customs form when mailing it off?

 

 

...deren Gesamtwert den Betrag von 45 Euro nicht übersteigt.

 

[Owain Glyndwr 888]

i would use either the spot rate at the time of purchase or the day of (or day before) crossing the border.

[gidget_in_hamburg 114]

I've read through the posts and would appreciate clarification.

 

partner and I are getting Surfboards as wedding presents from the Australian side of the family. We'll get them end of this month as we're in Australia for 6 weeks. Do a spot of road-testing them before bringing them back to Germany (so they can sit in the Cellar). It's possible that we'll have other wedding presents as well.

 

We have to declare all that? Are we supposed to ask people for receipts?!

:blink:

[westvan 9,706]

Getting the receipts would be a good idea if you can. I think something only qualifies as "used" if you've had it for 6 months or longer. No idea how much a surfboard is worth, but you may have to pay duty unless you can convince them that the boards are fairly old.

[gidget_in_hamburg 114]

 

you may have to pay duty unless you can convince them that the boards are fairly old.

 

hmmm may be some manky second hand surfboard cases can throw them off the scent...

[Elfenstar 1,676]

tell your australian friends/family to give you money if they can as wedding presents. if you are caught with loads of wedding presents, probably expensive, you will be forced to pay the tax on them if you get caught at customs. this happened to a friend of mine (she ami, he german) - they brought back a fabulous crystal glass wine set with them as hand luggage, of course. they got stopped - customs officers didn't care, they paid a gimongeous amount of tax on their goods.

[gidget_in_hamburg 114]

sheez. thanks all for the heads up.

 

we have asked for financial support towards the 6 week honeymoon but it was more from the 20kg luggage limit aspect. I had not thought about gifts being taxed and 2 surfboards will soak up most of that new allowance (there's no way they are not coming back with us!)

 

bless the TT forum for making me aware of it!

[Gorgo 141]

 

I had not thought about gifts being taxed

If it's not a gift or personal item you don't have any free allowances at all and everything is taxed from the first €.

[Hutcho 2,227]

 

I think something only qualifies as "used" if you've had it for 6 months or longer.

 

Incorrect. "Used" is 10 years. That means for example, technically, if you leave the country again with the surf boards and come back in, it's possible they will stop you again and ask for proof you have paid MwSt on the boards.

 

It's very rare that something that hasn't obviously been bought on your current trip would be pulled up, but it can happen.

[Guy 196]

 

which exchange rate should i use when calculating how many $ in declaration they can write on the customs form when mailing it off?

 

Not surprisingly, Germany has a rule for this:

 

Standardised currency rates for import duty - 2009 version

 

Currently USD 1.4957 to the Euro.

 

Edit: But this entry on the same website says USD 1.36230 as of 20th May 2009. D'oh.

[Mariposa 1,281]

Guy, that article also says that exchange rate is only valid until the end of the month (in your case, May - or the respective month for the other entries of USA in that list). The first link shows the current exchange rate, valid until December 31st.

[Greyhound54 11]

What a great post. I sure hope our local Zoll Amt reads and heeds it. Other day I had two small packages from US, Recorded books actually from a friend so obviousl used. Because pacakges from us weighing less than 16 oz do not required Customs Tag the value of the contents are sort of up to you and the agent. Anyway, I handed her the two unopened packages, and she took th postage stamp rate, $2.30 and $2.65 and told me under 10 Eur Euro you owe nothing. I agreed with her and left. They always ask for a sales receipt and of course with a gift there is none.

I am ordering a Kindle Electronic Book Reader and I was very curious about how much duty. Looks like none only the 19%. Wonder how they collect that?

Can'tthank you enough for this post.

GH 54

[YorkshireLad6 7,152]

 

Looks like none only the 19%. Wonder how they collect that?

 

Cash on delivery. The courier service or post office will process the import and deliver it to you with a request to pay the taxes levied on delivery (plus a few € processing charge). If there are any queries from the customs side (e.g. regarding content or alleged value) they will hold the package and contact you and invite you to answer their questions or ask you visit them personally. If you object to their determination of fees you can return the package back to the sender or back to the customs office for clarification.

[Greyhound54 11]

My question is to Yorkshirelab66. Note you are retied like me. We recenlty received info that we couuld receive thru APO packages under 1 lb with a value of Euro 22; but in your post you mention that as of 1 Dec 2008 the limit was increased to Euro 150.

Could you share with us the source of your information as I would like to give it to the USAREUR Customs Office.

Below

"Another benefit for retirees is that the German FMOF Customs Department agreed they can use the U.S. forces postal system and receive packages in Germany up to a value equivalent to 22 euro without paying taxes or duties, Strumpen said. She added that efforts are currently ongoing with the FMOF Customs Department to work out procedures for declaring parcels to German Customs authorities. The 16 oz. Department of Defense-mandated weight restriction when using the U.S. forces postal system has not changed, Johnson added.is the quote from a recent USAREUR message;"

Thank you,

Greyhound 54 Near Franfurt

[YorkshireLad6 7,152]

Not sure if "Yorkshirelab66" comes here very often, but in his absence, maybe I can help. If you read my original post you'll find most of the answers you need, supplemented by this FAQ from the German customs authorities.