does anyone know if we should be paying custom fees for items sent through usps to to us here in switzerland? we just moved here and i sent most of our stuff this way. my computer- which i have owned for more than 3 years arrived and they want me to pay $440 to get it from them. i had (maybe mistakenly) thought that you did not have to pay the fees for those items that you owned for longer than a year that were part of your move.
Also based from our experience there are certain shipping companies that have EXPENSIVE service charge on top of the cstom fees for example EMS and DHL
I cannot answer your question directly as I do not know. However, when we moved over we had a freight forwarding company do all of it for us. We had to supply them with these papers ahead of time. I believe they are presented to customs at the port of entry.
If one could do it retroactively what's to stop them for claiming everything they ship.
Even if it's possible? Do you still have the original receipt/invoice for the stuff you shipped? If not, it's probably a lost cause as there's no evidence the stuff is that old.
You should be able to go back to Swiss customs and state that these are your used household items and should not be taxed. If you include copy of your Swiss residence permit and descriptions of the items and their "repalcement value", the Swiss customs may just charge you a "small" fee and let the items through.
They are holding onto the items and they can always open up the boxes to verify what you are claiming . They did that to me once, and after a written explanation, they let it thru, at no cost. Now I think they charge "admin fees".
Has anybody tried to ship things after the 18mth "importation deadline" set by customs?
When we moved here it was initially going to be for 2yrs, so we left our house in England full of our stuff behind. Now we want to move over some of the furniture and other stuff. The problem is, we have been here nearly 3yrs now, well outside the period of time for importing with domicile.
I was in a similar situation, over my boat. I talked to the seepolizei and they said that as long as I could prove that I owned it before I moved here, they did not have a problem with it. Seems like there are regulations, and depending on who you discuss with, there are various answers. The Swiss are sticky with getting their taxes too.
Perhaps you should try discussing (preferably in person) with one of the "higher ups", like the supervisor, etc and see what kind of answers you get back?
If you do not have it in writing, I would not pay. They can always claim they gave you wrong information and "sorry about that". I would send them a registered letter (normal in this case), explain the situation, and ask them for an updated bill for the tax (if any) and related forms that have to be filled out.. Letter in english will be fine. Send back the completed form (registered letter), pay the new bill and ask for when your package will be delivered.
I am in exact same boat. I shipped some boxes through USPS while moving and did not have all the paperwork. Now the boxes are at postoffice with ~90chf customs fee each. Post office is asking me to take them and fill paperwork for refund. I am reluctant. Did you get your money back? Did they charge any kind of admin / processing fee?
you have to complete customs form 18.44 for any household goods you are bringing in and be sure to tell them that you are still moving and that this is not the last shipment. You have to have owned these things for (I think) 6 months for them to be tax free.