Sealed iPhone from USA to Europe?
I'm in USA and i bought an iPhone. It is mine, and i want to take it to Europe by plane. The thing is, i want to go with it still sealed (my nephiew wants to see it brand-new). Can i go through check in without paying any taxes? I don't think i have to declare anything, since it's my phone. It is not intended for selling or something.
Or i have to unseal it just to be sure that they won't charge anything extra?
I don't want to pay any taxes. What can i do best?
You don't have to declare it or pay any taxes if you are planning to take it home with you when your trip is over.
Ask the German customs:
http://www1.zoll.de/english_version/index.html
It won't matter what you intend, but it will depend on what the customs officials believe. A sealed iPhone would be hard to explain as belonging to you and not intended to be sold or gifted in Germany. Worst that could happen if you try to carry it through without declaring it:
- pay import duties and tax
- pay fine for smuggling
To some extent, the outcome would also depend on whether you're a US citizen visiting Germany (probable suspicion, especially at this time of the year: that iPhone is a gift for someone in Germany) or a European citizen returnig from the US (ou'll have a hard time convincing the customs officers that you'll take the boxed iPhone back out of Germany again).
If you do declare it, you may have to pay import duties and tax, but should be able to reclaim them when you leave again with that iPhone.
Oh, and you won't have to pay the tax when checking in, but when stepping out of the plane in Germany.
You will be IMPORTING goods to the EU
(that is bringing goods in that will be left in Germany)
It will be liable for
DUTY on the type of goods
VAT on the value of goods+duty (together)
As you will be importing it to Germany, it will German VAT and Duty rates that matter
If you do not declare it to customs as you enter germany, then you
- may get away with it, no one will do a random stop and check
- may get stopped, it is found and you will be guilty of smuggling,
customs will do one or more the following
- fine you
- confiscate the goods
- charge you
- just ask for the correct VAT/Duty (unlikely!)
so your call.
and if later it is checked (in the next 6-12 months) being brought back into germany and they find it has never been legally imported into the EU (anywhere) then it and the current owner bringing it back in again, will have the same problem.
OK, for all of the above as a used / in use phone it is very very unlikely to be checked.
(there are too many around)
But as a new in a box (sealed or not), it is clearly new…
and they can check the serial No anyway.
So. Your guess as to whether you will get a random check/stop when you return
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