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Getting sales tax back at the border with France. Any experiences?
Aug 15, 2011 @ 17:23

 


According to this article, it is possible to get taxes back for purchases made in other countries, upon entering Switzerland (and then, depending on the cost of the item, you may have to pay Swiss taxes, which are lower). 


http://fr.comparis.ch/comparis/press/sparnews/artikel/2011/01/mehrwertsteuer_zurueckfordern.aspx


Has anyone done it at the border with Ferney for example? What are the practicalities to be aware of? Should I fill out forms? 


I just got some speakers at Amazon France, had them sent to a friend's house in Ferney; and if I can get the sales tax back, the final price woudl be almost half than at Fnac in Switzerland :-)


Please share your thoughts or experiences. Thanks. 


 

The text you are quoting:

 


According to this article, it is possible to get taxes back for purchases made in other countries, upon entering Switzerland (and then, depending on the cost of the item, you may have to pay Swiss taxes, which are lower). 


http://fr.comparis.ch/comparis/press/sparnews/artikel/2011/01/mehrwertsteuer_zurueckfordern.aspx


Has anyone done it at the border with Ferney for example? What are the practicalities to be aware of? Should I fill out forms? 


I just got some speakers at Amazon France, had them sent to a friend's house in Ferney; and if I can get the sales tax back, the final price woudl be almost half than at Fnac in Switzerland :-)


Please share your thoughts or experiences. Thanks. 


 


xavieroAug 15, 2011 @ 17:23
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Re: Getting sales tax back at the border with France. Any experiences?
Post 1
Aug 15, 2011 @ 19:26

Two years ago, I was doing the other way CH-FR. I got the tax refund at the Swiss border in the office called 'Change'. They reimboursed me the tax for everything exceeding 300 CHF, so consequently they do not return anything if the price of your goods does not exceed 300 CHF.

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Two years ago, I was doing the other way CH-FR. I got the tax refund at the Swiss border in the office called 'Change'. They reimboursed me the tax for everything exceeding 300 CHF, so consequently they do not return anything if the price of your goods does not exceed 300 CHF.


Eryk S, Aug 15, 2011 @ 19:26
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Re: Getting sales tax back at the border with France. Any experiences?
Post 2
Aug 15, 2011 @ 19:45

Ohh, there's a manual on the french webpage:


http://www.douane.gouv.fr/data/file/1268.pdf


Best, ES

The text you are quoting:

Ohh, there's a manual on the french webpage:


http://www.douane.gouv.fr/data/file/1268.pdf


Best, ES


Eryk S, Aug 15, 2011 @ 19:45
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Re: Getting sales tax back at the border with France. Any experiences?
Post 3
Aug 15, 2011 @ 19:46

Was it the total price or per item?

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Was it the total price or per item?


FerneyL, Aug 15, 2011 @ 19:46
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Re: Getting sales tax back at the border with France. Any experiences?
Post 4
Aug 15, 2011 @ 21:05

Hi,


in the case of your speakers, you will not get the VAT reimbursed, sorry! :- )


In general, you can get VAT reimbursed whenever you buy something in a country different from the one where you are a resident, but only if you buy for an amount above a certain amount (this changes from one country to another) in only one shop, in only one day. Here is a link to the minimum amount in each country: http://www.global-blue.com/traveller-services/tax-free-shopping/refund-calculator/


Then, to shop taxfree you:


- ask the shop to fill in a form


- then, when you cross the border out from the country where you bought the stuff, you get the form stamped by the customs


- then you go to a tax free refund point (there is one at the Geneva airport it is the American Express) or you get your refund through your credit card


The reason why in your case this does not work is that you got the goods shipped to your friend in France, from amazon.fr so they were not officially exported to switzerland.


Hope this helps..

The text you are quoting:

Hi,


in the case of your speakers, you will not get the VAT reimbursed, sorry! :- )


In general, you can get VAT reimbursed whenever you buy something in a country different from the one where you are a resident, but only if you buy for an amount above a certain amount (this changes from one country to another) in only one shop, in only one day. Here is a link to the minimum amount in each country: http://www.global-blue.com/traveller-services/tax-free-shopping/refund-calculator/


Then, to shop taxfree you:


- ask the shop to fill in a form


- then, when you cross the border out from the country where you bought the stuff, you get the form stamped by the customs


- then you go to a tax free refund point (there is one at the Geneva airport it is the American Express) or you get your refund through your credit card


The reason why in your case this does not work is that you got the goods shipped to your friend in France, from amazon.fr so they were not officially exported to switzerland.


Hope this helps..


Lorenza J, Aug 15, 2011 @ 21:05
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Re: Getting sales tax back at the border with France. Any experiences?
Post 5
Aug 15, 2011 @ 22:26

 

According to this article, it is possible to get taxes back for purchases made in other countries, upon entering Switzerland (and then, depending on the cost of the item, you may have to pay Swiss taxes, which are lower). 

http://fr.comparis.ch/comparis/press/sparnews/artikel/2011/01/mehrwertsteuer_zurueckfordern.aspx

Has anyone done it at the border with Ferney for example? What are the practicalities to be aware of? Should I fill out forms? 

I just got some speakers at Amazon France, had them sent to a friend's house in Ferney; and if I can get the sales tax back, the final price woudl be almost half than at Fnac in Switzerland :-)

Please share your thoughts or experiences. Thanks. 

 


Aug 15, 11 17:23

This has puzzled me for a long time... people shopping in Germany do this all the time. Is the law different if you shop in Germany than if you shop in France?

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This has puzzled me for a long time... people shopping in Germany do this all the time. Is the law different if you shop in Germany than if you shop in France?


Paxxie, Aug 15, 2011 @ 22:26
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Re: Getting sales tax back at the border with France. Any experiences?
Post 6
Aug 15, 2011 @ 22:35

For purchases above 170 Euros (approximately, I don't remember the exact amount) you can have the VAT reimbursed at the shop where you bought the items providing that you completed the export formalities: As for France, when you stop at the border, they will stamp a VAT form made of three sheets: one to be mailed to a central office (the usually give you a stamped envelope) one for the shop as a proof that you exported the goods and one for your records. Easy. In exchange, you'll pay the Swiss VAT. The net profit is around 10%.

The text you are quoting:

For purchases above 170 Euros (approximately, I don't remember the exact amount) you can have the VAT reimbursed at the shop where you bought the items providing that you completed the export formalities: As for France, when you stop at the border, they will stamp a VAT form made of three sheets: one to be mailed to a central office (the usually give you a stamped envelope) one for the shop as a proof that you exported the goods and one for your records. Easy. In exchange, you'll pay the Swiss VAT. The net profit is around 10%.


Free, Aug 15, 2011 @ 22:35
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Re: Getting sales tax back at the border with France. Any experiences?
Post 7
Aug 15, 2011 @ 22:49

Guys, everything is in this manual delivered by french customs... It is extreamly well explained in French, English and Spanish.

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Guys, everything is in this manual delivered by french customs... It is extreamly well explained in French, English and Spanish.


Eryk S, Aug 15, 2011 @ 22:49
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