Bringing an item from Switzerland to the UK
Discussion
Hi,
now I have been through the UK Gov website and also the Swiss gov website, I have even called hmrcs' duty line which they couldn't help either.
So, I am going purchase and collect a used item from Switzerland and bring it back to the UK.
I shall use the the most direct route ( through France) and enter Switzerland at Basal.
I am going to purchase the item from near Zurich of which a receipt will be given by a private individual.
Now from what I gather I have to the following:
1) when arriving at Basal customs point, declare the item and its destination as the UK, show the receipt and fill in a form.(what form)
2)drive through France to the tunnel.
3)at the tunnel customs show them the form and receipt I filled at Basal customs.
4)Arrive in UK, go to customs and pay any duty ( the item is actually zero rated ), pay the VAT @ 20%.
5) Arrive home in the knowledge that I have everything correctly.
Is the the way to do it ? I don,t want to run into any issues as my french is very limited.
The hmrc duty people said I would have to pay duty in the first EU country I pass into; I am not sure this is correct as I would theoretically have to pay it twice( although its UK zero rated)
Probably someone has done this ?
thanks any advice would be greatly appreciated.
now I have been through the UK Gov website and also the Swiss gov website, I have even called hmrcs' duty line which they couldn't help either.
So, I am going purchase and collect a used item from Switzerland and bring it back to the UK.
I shall use the the most direct route ( through France) and enter Switzerland at Basal.
I am going to purchase the item from near Zurich of which a receipt will be given by a private individual.
Now from what I gather I have to the following:
1) when arriving at Basal customs point, declare the item and its destination as the UK, show the receipt and fill in a form.(what form)
2)drive through France to the tunnel.
3)at the tunnel customs show them the form and receipt I filled at Basal customs.
4)Arrive in UK, go to customs and pay any duty ( the item is actually zero rated ), pay the VAT @ 20%.
5) Arrive home in the knowledge that I have everything correctly.
Is the the way to do it ? I don,t want to run into any issues as my french is very limited.
The hmrc duty people said I would have to pay duty in the first EU country I pass into; I am not sure this is correct as I would theoretically have to pay it twice( although its UK zero rated)
Probably someone has done this ?
thanks any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Assessment for duty and VAT is at the point the goods enter the EU .. in this case France.
Duty is zero as Switzerland is part of EFTA and, assuming the items don't attract any of the special VAT rates in France, VAT will be charged at the French standard rate of 20%.
What is it ... will it attract attention?
Duty is zero as Switzerland is part of EFTA and, assuming the items don't attract any of the special VAT rates in France, VAT will be charged at the French standard rate of 20%.
What is it ... will it attract attention?
bubblebobble said:
Hi,
so I pay at point of entry the countries current VAT rate (20% France) at customs.
I presume I will get evidence that I have paid to show english customs and therefore not have to pay vat when I enter the UK as it has already been paid?
thanks
Should you need it you will have the evidence from the French authorities, but you don't need to do anything when you get to the UK.so I pay at point of entry the countries current VAT rate (20% France) at customs.
I presume I will get evidence that I have paid to show english customs and therefore not have to pay vat when I enter the UK as it has already been paid?
thanks
You are an EU arrival so no need to declare/stop etc.
Hi,
so I have been trying to make sense of the swiss gov website.
I have a tariff as they seem to be universal across europe.
Question is: do I need to fill in any forms to hand to french customs so I can pay the vat or do i just rock up with the item and go into the declare section and show the invoice? than pay the VAT?
I have no idea.
so I have been trying to make sense of the swiss gov website.
I have a tariff as they seem to be universal across europe.
Question is: do I need to fill in any forms to hand to french customs so I can pay the vat or do i just rock up with the item and go into the declare section and show the invoice? than pay the VAT?
I have no idea.
bubblebobble said:
Hi,
so I have been trying to make sense of the swiss gov website.
I have a tariff as they seem to be universal across europe.
Question is: do I need to fill in any forms to hand to french customs so I can pay the vat or do i just rock up with the item and go into the declare section and show the invoice? than pay the VAT?
I have no idea.
Just declare on entry to France, ask if you have to pay VAT so I have been trying to make sense of the swiss gov website.
I have a tariff as they seem to be universal across europe.
Question is: do I need to fill in any forms to hand to french customs so I can pay the vat or do i just rock up with the item and go into the declare section and show the invoice? than pay the VAT?
I have no idea.
What sort of value are we talking?
Is this something that will be obviously just "purchased" in Switzerland?
How big is it?
Years ago we imported some new clocks from CH.
All paper work present and correct.
Got to Dover and went through Red channel.
HMRC then placed the goods in a secure compound whilst we went to sort out the paper work at Customs House and pay the duty. All very painless, collected goods and on our way.
no doubt there will be some changes you might get to HMRC at dover or where ever and just show the paper work and pay the duty later.
We never involved the French Customs
All paper work present and correct.
Got to Dover and went through Red channel.
HMRC then placed the goods in a secure compound whilst we went to sort out the paper work at Customs House and pay the duty. All very painless, collected goods and on our way.
no doubt there will be some changes you might get to HMRC at dover or where ever and just show the paper work and pay the duty later.
We never involved the French Customs
anothernameitist said:
Years ago we imported some new clocks from CH.
All paper work present and correct.
Got to Dover and went through Red channel.
HMRC then placed the goods in a secure compound whilst we went to sort out the paper work at Customs House and pay the duty. All very painless, collected goods and on our way.
no doubt there will be some changes you might get to HMRC at dover or where ever and just show the paper work and pay the duty later.
We never involved the French Customs
There is no duty payable on imports from CH, as they are part of EFTA.All paper work present and correct.
Got to Dover and went through Red channel.
HMRC then placed the goods in a secure compound whilst we went to sort out the paper work at Customs House and pay the duty. All very painless, collected goods and on our way.
no doubt there will be some changes you might get to HMRC at dover or where ever and just show the paper work and pay the duty later.
We never involved the French Customs
The point of entry to the EU was France, so you should really have declared them at the CH/FR border.
Edited by sgrimshaw on Thursday 25th February 10:38
bubblebobble said:
Hi,
thanks for the reply.
The item is an old non working 80s arcade machine, value is 400-500CHF
It weighs about 140kg.
The private seller will give me a receipt for the value.
I shall be transporting in a van.
There is no need to declare it.thanks for the reply.
The item is an old non working 80s arcade machine, value is 400-500CHF
It weighs about 140kg.
The private seller will give me a receipt for the value.
I shall be transporting in a van.
For arrivals into the UK you have a duty and tax free allowance of £390 for "other goods" from outside of the EU, undoubtedly France will have similar.
If stopped just show the invoice, there should be no VAT to pay.
ETA - I just checked and the tax free allowance for France is 300 EUROs
Accordingly you'll be slightly over the allowance if stopped on entry into France.
Your call, but I know what I would do
Edited by sgrimshaw on Thursday 25th February 10:48
sgrimshaw said:
There is no duty payable on imports from CH, as they are part of EFTA.
The point of entry to the EU was France, so you should really have declared them at the CH/FR border.
VAT had to be paid. But the above is what we did.The point of entry to the EU was France, so you should really have declared them at the CH/FR border.
Edited by sgrimshaw on Thursday 25th February 10:38
So I have been double checking import duty. I have been using the pitney bowes duty calculator.
I used HSS code: 9504500000 and also have used 95043000 (coin op)
the link below lists what countries will charge in duty /VAT, if you scroll down you can see france.
http://www.dutycalculator.com/dc/169547/electronic...
Both codes show no duty payable either to the french customs when buying from switzerland and also none payable to uk customs.
It states just the vat is payable.
I really need to make sure this is the case before I book my tickets on the tunnel.
Any advice again appreciated.
I used HSS code: 9504500000 and also have used 95043000 (coin op)
the link below lists what countries will charge in duty /VAT, if you scroll down you can see france.
http://www.dutycalculator.com/dc/169547/electronic...
Both codes show no duty payable either to the french customs when buying from switzerland and also none payable to uk customs.
It states just the vat is payable.
I really need to make sure this is the case before I book my tickets on the tunnel.
Any advice again appreciated.
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