We will probably go to Lorrach next to Basel to buy some big item (value about 700EUR), it will be probably Mo-Fr but late evening. I never actually did shopping in DE and was only told that I have to stamp my reciept and pay CH VAT aftewards. Question is: where exactly I do that, in DE Zoll or CH Zoll? How to find open hours of Zoll? I found some DE and CH websites with Zoll open hours but there are a lot of details about open hours for some specific needs and I got lost...
Get the stamp from the German customs office. If the opening times are not clear you should probably go there ask in detail.
Usually at Lörrach the German Zoll is open until about 9pm.
The Swiss side is usually closed by then. However I've also seen them in the office doing stuff at that time.
The Swiss Zolls seem to be open and closed at random, just to make it a bit more interesting running the border with your booty.
BTW be aware that in some cases the guys from the German customs office will happily call their Swiss counterparts to inform them that you are bringing items that are over the limit.
Weil am Rhein Autobahn (the one on the A5/A2 motorways) is open 24/7. You go to German customs first to get the export stamp, then go to the Swiss customs to pay import duty.
oops... and what is the limit???
anyway, shouldn't I go to swiss zoll in any case?
Thanks!
And the Swiss ones are also open 24/7? Is is the same autoban? For swiss tax - can I do that later if they are closed (by mail e.g.)?
It's the same border post. You can do it by mail, but not "later" - you have to use the customs mailboxes at the customs point if the post is closed.
Limit is CHF 300.
You can reclaim the German VAT on any amount of purchases, but you only need to pay Swiss VAT if you are bringing in goods above the limit of CHF300- per person.
If you buy something for CHF200-, you can quite legitimately claim back the German VAT and make no declaration at the Swiss customs post.
Some people want to have their cake and eat it, so they try to cheat, claiming the German VAT back on their CHF700- TV, then not bothering to declare it to the Swiss (even though they're supposed to). The Germans give a heads-up to the Swiss customs patrol, and they stop the car. Result = VAT + fine.
For the German one, you need to pass when someone is there so you can get your stamp. For the Swiss one, you can simply fill out one of the forms (make sure you keep a copy for yourself in case you are stopped by the Grenzwache) and pop it into the postbox. The instructions on the form are very clear, and are in English, French, German and Italian.
A few days later you will get a bill in the post from the Swiss Customs guys. Easy-peasy!
Ok, I see now, I wasn't even thinking that I don't have to pay Swiss VAT
In the shop they told me that they already subtract German VAT and I have to send them back stamped paper.
This 24/7 counter has always someone to stamp? Is there any web site to check for specifically this counter both DE and CH sides?
This is quite unusual -- you should double-check that you've understood this correctly. The normal practice is that you pay for the goods (including VAT), export them, then return later with a stamped form. Then the store refunds your money.
By doing it the way you've outlined, the store is basically bearing the risk of having to pay the VAT themselves, which is what they'll have to do if they don't get the stamped form back.
Exactly, they told me that they will be in trouble if I don't send it back
Normally they ship to Switzerland, but this specific item can't not be shipped anywhere due to producer's restriction.
The counter is usually manned until 10 pm Mon-Fri (shorter on the weekend).
I have had this as well. I used to go over the border from Neuchâtel to get pictures framed in Pontarlier, and the shop where I went always deducted the French VAT and just charged me the net price, trusting me to do the necessary at customs.
Maybe it's a small shop/big shop thing - the small ones need the business and are prepared to take the risk for a (hopefully) returning customer, the bigger ones are just following company policy.
Same with a ski shop in Chamonix , they saw me a couple of times & did not charge French TVA on a pair of skis.