Paying Duty In Transit En Route From Outside Europe To UK

agrinnall

jammin wrote: »

It's not related to Schengen, it's related to the EU-wide customs union. FYI, the UK is not in Schengen, Germany is.

Thanks for pointing out the bleeding obvious, I do know that the UK is not in Schengen, the point I was making is that Germany (in my case) was the first point of entry into the Schengen Area and that's where it appears duty would be payable. If you're saying it's not due to Schengen does that mean the same would apply for somebody transiting a UK airport from outside the EU en-route to another EU country?

jammin_2

agrinnall wrote: »

Thanks for pointing out the bleeding obvious, I do know that the UK is not in Schengen, the point I was making is that Germany (in my case) was the first point of entry into the Schengen Area and that's where it appears duty would be payable. If you're saying it's not due to Schengen does that mean the same would apply for somebody transiting a UK airport from outside the EU en-route to another EU country?

Yes, exactly that.

mikey72

Call me a cynic, it seems more a way to increase income into the point of entry country in a hard economic time, whereas before it would have been paid to the country of destination.

jammin_2

mikey72 wrote: »

Call me a cynic, it seems more a way to increase income into the point of entry country in a hard economic time, whereas before it would have been paid to the country of destination.

That is probably a welcome bi-product as far as the Dutch are concerned, in this example. VAT is always payable to the country through which the goods first enter the EU.

ScottySmog

spheric wrote: »

I've only transitted from outside the EU through AMS a few times, but from my memory there's nothing between international arrivals, and departure gates for the UK/EU.

When leaving the Schenegen area at Schiphol (B & C gates and D gates higher than 59), you have to pass through passport control to gain access to non Schengen gates, including the hell hole that is gate D6.

I have experienced the same issue as Tojo Ralph on arrival in the UK and was told I'd broke the rules. Fortunately, I must have caught the customs officer in a good mood that day :j

Tojo_Ralph

Having transited through Schiphol a couple of times since posting this thread I finally remembered to take a photograph.

The image is taken at the point where you decend the staircase, stop, and turn to your right, whereby you are faced with the below scene.

1. The Red arrow I have drawn indicates the direction of travel through the zig zag pen to securty.
2. The "Nothing To Declare" is on the Gate D6 sign along with other information.
3. The "Goods To Declare" desk is red ringed and off to the left at 90 degrees to the direction of travel.

CG19a

I might be wrong, but I believe that to pass through the "blue" lane your baggage tag should have the green stripes down the side indicating that you originated in the EU, for example, when I last flew from America back to the UK via schiphol I didn't have the green stripes on my baggage tag, so had to go through the green lane on arrival in the UK rather than the blue lane.

phatbear

Have'nt read this whole post so not commenting on it however the last post is a tad incorrect for example the canaries are outside the EU but oddly they use the white and green baggage tags but passengers should use the green or red channel

Tojo_Ralph

Tojo_Ralph wrote: »

I am hoping that there is somebody, perhaps a bear out there who can explain.

phatbear wrote: »

Have'nt read this whole post.

And there was me hoping you would.

CG19a

phatbear wrote: »

Have'nt read this whole post so not commenting on it however the last post is a tad incorrect for example the canaries are outside the EU but oddly they use the white and green baggage tags but passengers should use the green or red channel

My apologies. I thought that the green stripes have some baring though on which lane you should go through.