French Customs Point near Basel for tax / VAT refund

Finance, Taxes, Banking, Insurance and Retirement
1
Hello

In our recent visit to Paris we bought something expense and the shopping mall gave us the global refund blue form and we also got the tax refund money in cash upon presenting passport & credit card. We were told to get the customs stamp at the airport before leaving, we flew back from Paris to Zurich from CDG 2G (air france) which didn't have any customs (being a schengen terminal it seems). Since its a good money and we only returned yesterday I would like to submit this form to the nearest french customs point (maybe in Basel??), pl help me in doing this

Also note that we declared this item at swiss customs and paid the import duties

Thanks in anticipation

2
You already have the tax refund in cash? They did this without the customs stamp? Then you're done. Don't bother getting it stamped.

However, if you want to, take it to Badischer Bahnhof or the Rhein Centre crossing just up from Kleinhueningen.

3
The item is bought at Galleries La Fayette (French Harrods), they have the facility to do the blue form and pay money in cash on presentation of passport & credit card. I think if I dont get the customs stamp I feel they will claim this money back using my credit card. The 2 locations you mentioned are the german customs, can these be stamped there??

4
SBB has French customs, as does the airport.

Are you sure you have your money back? I was at GlF a month or so back and didn't get a refund until I submitted the stamped form.

5
Thanks Carlos, I will goto the SBB Basel tomorrow then

There are three locations in paris to get your VAT back in cash upon presenting blue form, passport & credit card. 1 is in GlF itself and the other 2 are on champs elysee.

6
Hi - I think the Basel sbb french stamping place is closed - anyone else recommend a french stamping place near basel?

thanks

7
An "attestation de présentation des marchandises" issued by a French Consulate.

As a last solution.

8
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you can do the export stamp at any EU border post, not just one from the country you bought the products from.

So the German border post should be fine, and probably less hassle than the French one.

9
The border crossing on motorway A35/A3 coming from Mulhouse has one (well at least had last year).

10
When taking the TGV back from France into Basel, it arrives directly at the Swiss side not the French side, so where does one get the customs form stamped?

11
You don't. You have to slyly take the forms back into the EU and get them stamped when you (re-)exit. You could try asking on the train if there are any border/customs police on board.

12
But with the goods too, right?

13
Theoretically, yes. Not sure if they'll query you as your stuff is from France, but I know people who have arrived back from Germany on Sunday and then on Monday just walked around the border controls at Basel Bad Bf and got the form stamped.

14
When I came back about 3 weeks ago there were no French Customs guys on the train so I gave the form to the conductor.

It arrived back in the post today, duly stamped.

15
About " I feel they will claim this money back using my credit card . "

Yes, this is exactly what they will do.

16
I bought some stuff in France the other week and would like to get my receipt stamped by the French customs. I couldnt see a French office last time I drove through the A35/A3 border, though it was dark and I did not look thoroughly. There is definitely not one anymore at the SBB.

Anyone know if it is still open, and at what times?

Can anyone confirm this to be true?

17
1. I had an invoice stamped at that exact border crossing about 6 weeks ago around 1 am. So I think they are open 24/7. Keep in mind that the French have a minimum amount... I think it needs to be 75 euro or something. The Germans will stamp any invoice. You need to park your car on the Swiss side and then walk to the other side of the motorway. The Swiss customs guy who had just waved us through looked at me when I walked to the other side and quickly came over to me when I returned, to check the invoice I got stamped

If the items were purchased a few days before you show up at the border crossing they might ask you to show them.

2. You need to have the invoice stamped at the first location where you leave the EU. It does not matter whether that is the French side or the German side. The Germans are less fussy about the value on the invoice so when in doubt you should go there. Having said that, the French customs people were very very friendly but perhaps it helped that I speak French.

18
It's strictly more than 175 euros, actually, so at least 175.01 euros; and that amount must be reached through purchases from the same store on the same day.

19
All exports must be declared upon the first time the goods leave the EU. Returning to the border at a later stage to get bills stamped is (officially) not possible.

EU counts as EU in this case, so you can have a German export stamp on a French bill or vice-versa. Doesn ́t matter.

Rgds, Christian

20
I had some goods I brought with me from France, stopped at the borderpost on the French side (Geneva motorway crossing) to get the papers stamped, drove 10 meters to the Swiss customs check and got pulled over.

So (at least at the Geneva crossing) the French customs either rings their Swiss counterparts and squeals OR the Swiss customs keeps an eye on who gets in to get the papers stamped on the French side OR if you have a car that looks to be a little more expensive than the average car (and not with GE plates) you will be pulled over.

I found the Swiss customs at Geneva to be very arrogant, not willing to speak anything but French (I tried first German then English) and very little helpful. I was polite through out the "check" as I get this guilty feeling the second something like this happens even though I have nothing to hide.

Well, we did not have to pay anything as the total value was below CHF 600 for the two of us (which we knew)...