French Customs / Emigrating to Europe

French Customs / Emigrating to Europe

Author
Discussion

elise2000

Original Poster:

1,536 posts

225 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
quotequote all
Hi

Following on from a closed thread (closed to to racist statements, so please can we keep this thread friendly), just a couple of questions):

If traveling into Europe (either to a 2nd home or emigrating) with household items, and customs stop you, how do they calculate/estimate/prove the value of the items to charge duty on? Obviously if possible I’m sure it’s good to have receipts/valuations of what you’re transporting.

If emigrating and using a removal company how does this work?

Is there a way of declaring stuff before arriving in France?

Thanks in advance

craigthecoupe

723 posts

210 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
quotequote all
No idea about france, but we moved to Italy. I think we had a year to bring our belongings over without taxes. we brought bits over later, and post brexit and had to provide an itinerary for what we were moving. nobody stopped or checked the van, so nothing came of it.
i do believe now that your goods have a general price/volume ratio and a generic tax is calculated from there.

You should check all of this out in advance though.

elise2000

Original Poster:

1,536 posts

225 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
quotequote all
craigthecoupe said:
No idea about france, but we moved to Italy. I think we had a year to bring our belongings over without taxes. we brought bits over later, and post brexit and had to provide an itinerary for what we were moving. nobody stopped or checked the van, so nothing came of it.
i do believe now that your goods have a general price/volume ratio and a generic tax is calculated from there.

You should check all of this out in advance though.
Thanks. It’s actually for Croatia, but driving through France and France being the entry to the Schengen area.

Mr Magooagain

10,564 posts

176 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
quotequote all
The removal company should create a declaration itinerary that’s handed over at customs. Maybe best to ask them about their intentions on the subject.

elise2000

Original Poster:

1,536 posts

225 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
quotequote all
Mr Magooagain said:
The removal company should create a declaration itinerary that’s handed over at customs. Maybe best to ask them about their intentions on the subject.
Thanks

M5-911

1,410 posts

51 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
quotequote all
We have done it twice since Brexit.

First one UK to France, we used a removal firm which does the full paper work for you. No tax.

When we came back to the UK in 2020, we moved most of the stuffs ourselves with a van. No tax either but if I remember rightly, you have up to 6 months maximum to bring all your stuff back without tax.

elise2000

Original Poster:

1,536 posts

225 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2023
quotequote all
M5-911 said:
We have done it twice since Brexit.

First one UK to France, we used a removal firm which does the full paper work for you. No tax.

When we came back to the UK in 2020, we moved most of the stuffs ourselves with a van. No tax either but if I remember rightly, you have up to 6 months maximum to bring all your stuff back without tax.
Thanks v much

rdjohn

6,332 posts

201 months

Thursday 24th August 2023
quotequote all
I know someone who drove a trailer across Poole - Cherbourg. It had settees and beds loaded. She was not challenged.

In fairness, it looked like many French trailers where its unclear if it is a trip to the decheterie, vide-grenier or déménagement.

A friend had a carrier take a lot of new stuff to Spain that got caught in the Covid trap. The carrier compiled an inventory which showed the minimum value for the stuff that he could reasonably get away with - much less than what my friend had paid. IVA was calculated and paid on the declared amount.

Edited by rdjohn on Thursday 24th August 08:50

elise2000

Original Poster:

1,536 posts

225 months

Thursday 24th August 2023
quotequote all
rdjohn said:
I know someone who drove a trailer across Poole - Cherbourg. It had settees and beds loaded. She was not challenged.

In fairness, it looked like many French trailers where its unclear if it is a trip to the decheterie, vide-grenier or déménagement.

A friend had a carrier take a lot of new stuff to Spain that got caught in the Covid trap. The carrier compiled an inventory which showed the minimum value for the stuff that he could reasonably get away with - much less than what my friend had paid. IVA was calculated and paid on the declared amount.

Edited by rdjohn on Thursday 24th August 08:50
Thanks