Hello,
This is my first post and I have a big question:
I have just arrived in Zurich (3 weeks ago) and the company I have moved to have a relocation package which includes shipping my items. As I was already aware of the unfurnished apartment trend in Zurich, along with my old furniture I bought some new stuff (some new dining room chairs, a new coffee table) before I left (thinking it might be cheaper). I have now learned that swiss customs require you to have owned your furniture for 6 months +. Does anyone have experience (for a limited amount of new furniture if I take it out of the packaging), will it get stuck???
Any thoughts
They are very strict if you tell them...
But if you list everything and put it's second hand value they probably won't even check...
I didn't even have my stuff with me when I did the customs declaration, it was already here, I just went down on my bike a few weeks later with a list when I got my permit.
If you are really cheeky you could probably claim the VAT back from where you bought it as well as not declaring it for import duty...
Hello Rhubarb Crumble !
When I moved a year ago, I also had some new stuff. I took off boxes and labels. No one looked in the trunk to be honest, so I don't know what would have happenned if they did but if you take off everything that may suggest this is new, I guess it is ok
Maybe some other EF member can help you more, but I wouldn't worry much about that. Make sure your papers are correct, and it should be fine.
Welcome in Switzerland !
I don't think you can actually, you have to be in Switzerland for more than 6 months to ask for VAT back
So I was told...
Ha ha thanks Cran I think claiming VAT back might be too cheeky for me but good to know
I thought the same myself. I have sent my poor father on a mission to my garage to remove all boxes, labels, instructions etc.
Thank you
Rhubarb Crumble....mmmmm....yum.
But where's custard?
Interesting story - When I imported all my stuff, I provided a list of all my stuff, and when the guy asked where my van was (ie about to action a search), I pointed it out.
Luckily my passenger/brother had open the side door, and it was visibly jammed full to the roof.
The customs guy decided it probably was too much effort at that point.
Our stuff was imported by our friends (in a large van). At first, they simply passed the border and no one stopped them. Then they remembered about the paperwork, turned around, exported the stuff back to Germany and went to customs office where the guy responsible did not show even the slightest interest to check out the contents of the van. He simply stamped everything and that was it.
I was fairly disappointed about the lack of attention, because I spent quite sometime preparing all the lists and forms.
Would you have preferred customs to make you unload and unpack everything?
When we moved here we had quite a bit of new furniture.
We built some of it only to have the movers disamantle it again for transport and some we bleft as flat pack as you are allowed a certain amount of new stuff.
The movers were obviously used to it as they immediately said 'We'll put all the new stuff right at the back of the truck don't worry'.
We filled out the paperwork and had no problems. Mind you we were moving a 4 bed house worth of stuff so I don't suppose the customs guys would have fancied unloading all that lot.
I did the same thing when we relocated in February from California. Having learned how expensive stuff is here in CH we stocked up on various items including furniture, wine etc.
Never had any problems with custom clearance of the container.