At the risk of being shot down for even asking - does anyone know if the fine for not declaring something at customs goes up it you do it a second time?

I got stopped at the border coming back from the supermarket in France with too much meat and got a 110chf fine. That's fine, I was over the limit, happily paid, don't plan to do it again, know I should really be claiming the French vat back anyway but couldn't be bothered etc etc but just wondered if the fine is the same next time or if it goes up? Does anyone actually know rather than just want to tell me off?!

I'm going to tell you off for not claiming the French TVA back. But do you realise that you need to buy EUR 175 or more from one store in one day (in France) to qualify for a refund?

And to try to answer your question, I don't think the customs officials check your "record". Did they on this occasion? If not, how would they know if you were a hardened recidivist tax dodger?

I didn't know that. Although I was over that anyway so it would have been worth claiming. Is there a lower limit in Germany?

The customs guy took my passport and put the number into the computer. He could see everything from where I live and work to my permit details, photo and signature. I didn't quite feel I could ask if my 'transgression' was going to be recorded or not, they may have had my shoe size for all I know! He was a very nice customs chap though, very helpful considering, and very tolerant of my rubbish German, even apologising for not having all the leaflets/forms in English.

Hmmm. Well, if he's entered your details into his computer, I'd be inclined to toe the line for the next 100 years or so. For the minimal VAT amount that Switzerland asks (8% on most goods, 2.5% on most food), it's not worth finding out whether the fine escalates for a second offence.

In Germany, there's no official minimum expenditure to qualify for refund of the MwSt (VAT), although many stores won't process invoices less than EUR 10.

But for red meat they want CHF 20/kg on top of that, too.

At our local customs office, they have excellent memory and will spot cars/people they have caught before, that is for sure. Perhaps not so much so at a larger Border post- but you never know.

Why don't you just declare the meat? Duty is CHF 20/kg and for some cuts it may be well worth it.

Hi everybody. I am new and I guess I can not post new Thread now therefore it is good to see this topic on here as I wish to ask also about the Customs stuff. I am going back to visit my country next week and I wish to bring a brandnew Ipad2 home as a present for my brother there. Do I have to declare at the custom desk or stuff? I want to keep the original box and dont want to open it to display to the custom officer. What should I do? Many thank you

So you're going to buy the ipad here in Switzerland and bring it to your home country?

You will probably have to declare it when you enter your home country. So make sure you take along the receipt from the place you bought it, but you won't have to deal with Swiss customs when exporting the ipad.

Thank you so much. I hope they dont ask me to show them the Ipad like they often did when I travelled with my own laptop and also hope I dont have to pay tax 2 times (in Swiss store and in my country's customs). Have a nice weekend.

20chf per kilo? that's a rip off. May as well buy it at Migros.

Indeed (especially if you take your time and petrol into account)

I know and I'm not intending to do it again. I just wondered what would happen if I did. Does the fine go up? Do they have other penalties?

Yes you can get a crimminal record & go to prison, it's all depends on how serious the matter is.

For a fourth offence they put you in the village stocks for a day.

Cheers,
Nick

Good point. The CHF20/kilo is only for red meat imported in excess of the (admittedly meagre) personal allowance. But I guess that's the point of the original post. Again, I'd advise sticking to the limits.