If I was to buy the speaker system below from amazon UK and then ship it to Switzerland, would I be able to claim back the UK VAT from Swiss customs?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...pf_rd_i=468294

This brand isn't for sale anywhere in Switzerland (I usually buy from digitec). Any tips in general would be grealy appreciated.

I am completely clueless here, but what I can suggest is going to Lorrach (if your near Basel) and claiming the tax back from there?

You can claim UK VAT back (but it is not from Swiss custom). However, you will be liable for Swiss VAT.

How do you claim the UK VAT back if you send it by post from the UK?

The retailer should not charge it in the first palce as the goods are being exported outside of the EU, normaly you have nothing to do.

correct.

however another issue you may encounter is that amazon uk doe not ship certain electronic goods to Switzerland.

Correct, amazon don't ship electrical items to Switzerland - so I'll have to use my parents address in the UK and then get it sent to Switzerland.

If you buy them abroad and ship them to a UK address then i'm not sure you can get VAT back on them (maybe someone else can clarify).

Plus, to send them here you will pay Swiss VAT and the customs handling charges, which will be around an extra £100.

If shipped to a UK addy then you wont get the VAT back - unless the retailer sends you the appropriate forms

The fact that Amazon send the goods to a UK home means the VAt is not reclaimable if then sent to Switzerland.

When I purchased skis from a French company and had them delivered to Switzerland; I had to pay Swiss VAT on import. I then had to send the Customs paper work back to the French company as proof for him to refund the VAT to me which he transferd to my bank when he received the documentation.

A way round importings stuff (you have to understand that I always look for ways round regulations) is to find somebody who has moved and become resident within the last three years and then bring them in as that persons old personal belongings (more than 6 months old I believe) which would then be free of Swiss VAT BUT you would not be able to claim the VAT you paid in the UK.

Yes, this is the correct way of doing it when you import personnaly because until the retailer can prove, (customs stamp) that the good have been exported, he is liable for the VAT, which in France is 19.6% i believe.

Once you have exported the marchandise and had the form stamped by the French, you send it back to the retailer and he refunds your tax. Failure on his part to do so can quickly be resolved with a phone call advising the next call you have to make will be to his local fiscal authorities. The retailer is entitled to deduct a percentage to cover administration costs, the percentage is not defined and can be quite high. Hermes in Paris for instance only reimburse 10% and this is perfectly legal.

You do not need a Swiss customs stamp on the form to reclaim French VAT, but as the French and Swiss customs tend to be together, you will need to explain why you went to the French customs and declared nothing at Swiss customs.

With such close cohabitation, one would imagine that there maybe some collusion between the customs officers.

The very best time to cross the border is during a Swiss-France football match, with the Swiss winning by at least 1 goal !

When you purchase from a company who uses either the post office or a freight forwarder, it is then this that is used as prove of export and you do not need a seperate customs stamp to prove export.

No you cannot recalim VAT in this case as no export has taken place.

Thanks for the feedback guys, really appreciated.

Another option could be to get them delivered to a friends house in Loerach, Germany, then take the hit and pay the Swiss VAT when I bring them across the border! (Or smuggle them across)!

No, this is not an option, you have to export outside EU; Germany is EU !

Unfortunately amazon only ship within the EU. Delivery outside is not an option.

I think Richer Sounds in the UK do export and that might solve a load of problems for you if they do the kit that you are after and they are very competative.

http://www.richersounds.com/