Forgot item cross-border, how to ensure no import duty on owned item

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1
Hi all

Whilst visiting family in the US, I forgot a few items summing up to around 2k CHF in value. Family will post it back to me no issues, however, I want to make sure I do not get charged import duty on items I own, especially when originally purchased in CH.

Should they simply mark it as a gift? or value it lower and say returned item? Not sure what the formality is here from a customs perspective as the item is over the 50 chf limit (or whatever it is now?)

Thanks in advance

2
Do you have receipts? If so scan/send them to your relatives and have them include with the shipment. If not, is there anything else that would suggest the goods were purchased in Switzerland - such as a Migros own brand.

Otherwise have your relatives label the shipment as "forgotten goods returned to owner", and hope for the best.

I find being honest in these situations is always the best.

3
Maybe ask you family to take them out of the boxes and remove the stickers......

4
Without receipts- it will just be a lottery. Will your parcel be the one they check, or not.

Now I don't want to pry, but what sort of stuff are you talking about? Are they clearly second hand? 2 k is quite a lot to just 'forget'.

5
A 2k camera is very easy to forget at the hospital when you're in a rush, dealing with two small kids and in the midst of a family emergency.

Yes, I have the receipts from Migros mElectronics delivered to me at my home in CH, but surely there is a way to just return owned (used) goods back to owner.

What's stopping buying something from abroad and just include the receipts as if it's the same item - the receipt doesn't prove this. Wouldn't make sense to buy from abroad as electronics mostly cheaper here anyway with additional warrenty.

Agree, just be honest but don't want to deal with all the unnecessary questions should this occur hence was looking for guidance.

6
Years ago, I left my laptop in the UK. I had it couriered to me, with the declaration that it was a forgotten item being sent over. It arrived next day with no issue. No duty, no tax.

7
OK, much clearer now. So for a camera, there will be photos on the sd card that you can vaguely describe. So send them the receipt, with vague description of photos and that you forgot camera on a visit, and that should be fine. The receipt is the key here.

Because sending stuff saying it was 'forgotten', etc, is used too often to cheat the system and the customs people know it.

8

Send who the receipt? What does photos on an SD card have to do with anything? These are not proper controls as someone can easily just print the receipt in the US and transfer photos to an SD card if someone really wanted to game the system. That's why I'm asking what exactly is required here. Anyway, I'll just put forgotten item and see what comes.

9
It is not absolute proof, but some proof which will probably be acceptable, as there is no speciific 'system' in that case.

Send the receipt to the person who will send the camera back, scan and e-mail so they can print it so they can include it in the parcel, and a short description of photos, like family photos in garden, etc. in case they want to check the card.

It's not complicated.

10
Personally I'd ask whoever's sending the camera back to first either remove the SD card before posting or copy the photos onto another card and send that separately. Especially if the photos are previous or irreplaceable.

11

Send your family the receceipt, get them to print it and include it in the package and idicate that they are sused goods you accidently left behind.

People don't bother with all this to "game the system" for a 2k camera, there are a lot of far more profitiable scams than this

12
Whatever you do, do not declare a lower value because if it gets lost or damaged then it's the declared value that counts.

13
I'd talk to the customs people. As the camera's used its current value won't be more than a triple-digit amount, so only little gain by trying to smuggle and thus not really worth much bother.

You'll have proof of your recent flights there and back, the receipt, and probably a few pictures (a backup is strongly recommended), certainly that should do.

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14

The declared value only counts providing the insurance is also paid for, i think the max amount for the post is Chf 300.-- without supplementary insurance.