Hi everyone,

I want to buy some ski equipment and a childrens bike (christmas present) this weekend. As I live in Montreux, I planned to go to France (Thonon) and to Decathlon. The prices are about 60% cheaper so this makes sense.

Is there a limit to what I can buy and will I be made to pay an import tax?

Can I just say the Ski's are a present for me from a friend?

I know about food allowances but I can not find anything for sports equipment.

If anyone can help then please do

Thanks

Alex

Limit is 300 CHF (per person per day - goods can't be split so you can't for eg share a pair of 600 CHF skis with someone).

Can you say they're gifts? Sure, but it won't affect the tax due.

Thanks Adrian,

At least I can get the bike. For the ski's I am not sure what to do

Please remember to declare what you have bought if you`re over the Sfr300 limit or you will be fined.

Take someone with you and buy the ski`s in their name? (seperate tax invoices for bike and ski`s)

Just pay the tax. It's only 8% and as you mentioned, they're 60% cheaper.

However, you'll have to pay tax on everything that you buy so in order to avoid doing that, go shopping twice. Buy the skis alone on the second visit and just pay tax on those.

I have a *ahem* friend that just comes thru a side border with purchases

n'est pas?

funny.

All the US bashing on this forum today and you don't blink at the 300CHF limit.

US limit is $800... but even then they don't bother with you if you go over by a couple hundred because it costs more to collect the duty than they take in.

Bloody CH. If they're that serious about collecting their duties then they'll post people at the border crossings and get a declaration from every person that crosses.

roflmao

Usually (as mentioned) you can bring in as much as you like but you 'should' pay the tax above 300CHF. If you have no intention of going back to the shop where you bought the stuff from then you will either take the risk and not declare it or pay both the French and Swiss tax.

A) Cheapest way = Buy in France (at a place doing tax refunds) get it stamped at French border on way out and don't declare it at the swiss border. (also illegal) then going back the get the French Tax.....therefore paying no tax at all.

B) Cheap way = As above but declare it and pay Swiss tax. Then go back to shop and get the french tax back

C) Not so cheap way = B but not going back to get the French Tax back.

D) Swiss way = Just buy it in CH


(A) assumes that you do not require a swiss stamp to get the French tax back and depends on how much the authorities communicate to see who has not declared...e.g several months later getting a nice letter from the CH border police asking for lots of money as a fine and the tax.

Does that sound right..?

Just wondering how many times or how often people get stopped at the border? I haven't been yet, although I also haven't crossed too many times. I am in no way saying I want to smuggle in goods or what not, I am truly curious as to who is always getting stopped! I know, if you are over the limit you need to stop and declare goods, but if you are under the limit, you don't need to present the stuff to the authorities, do you?

Ok, much clearer now.

Thank you eveyone

Alex

They were checking all the stamped customs documents of every car the other night as cars left the border area and checking the insides of the cars with torches to confirm numbers of occupants.

I'm confused...

When you buy stuff outside of Swiss and then import it you get charged 8% but you claim back the VAT from the country you bought it in which is more than 8%.

So not only is it cheaper, you get more money back for importing it as well...

so why would you not want to import it?

If in doubt you may present your stuff to the customs. If you willfully cross the border with an over-the-limit amount and get checked you will be fined.

Remember .... customs guys also operate inside the country, so you can also be randomly stopped and they check what you`ve got in the car.

If you buy enough, Decathlon will give you a form to reclaim the French VAT - which is much more than 8% so worth doing the form-dancing to get it all done.

On average I get stopped around once per month but not at the border; stopped at controls that are within Switzerland & a few kilometers from the border.

Interesting! But if I am under the limits, then there is nothing to worry about, right - you don't need to stop and declare your goods? I am worrying a little bit about Christmas as we will be celebrating in Germany and bringing some presents with us (and back...efficient, no?) and I am not anticipating being over the limits - but I just want to make sure I know what I am expected to do!

Some people believe the laws don't apply to them and they'll save more money by not paying import duty where required.

over 180 Euros you can claim back the French VAT, it really does not matter how much you spend as the VAT refund is more than trice the tax payable. If the car has 4 people then potentially 1200 CHF exc VAT can be imported free of charge!

But don't you have to go back to the store to get the VAT back?

I just go across for the cheaper prices. I can't be bothered with green forms and long lines and waiting. Pfft.