Returning item to EU for repair

PeterOHanrahanrahan

I purchased a medical device for home use in 2015 from Germany which I need to send back to them (a business) for repair.

What would be the best way of declaring the machine and value for customs forms requirements - i.e. reasoning and value?

If it matters, it still partially works but in its current state cannot be used for its intended purpose, i.e. not worth its original full retail value. I am not sending all the original accessories the device came with either.

Also I'm not sure if regulations have changed or if it's relevant otherwise, but at the time of purchase, if I was to buy the same machine from the UK, VAT would not have been payable due to the nature of the device.

Thanks for any advice.

Sandtree

Just mark it as returned goods. You will presumably be paying for insurance on the parcel so just make sure the insured and declared values are the same. 

The challenge, and what is out of your control, is how they mark up the parcel when they return it to you as that will determine what taxes are due. 

Its the reason that its being purchased for that determines VAT in the UK if you were buying a new one... the Mrs has the same with her continuous blood glucose monitors, if she declares she has diabetes and they are being bought for monitoring the condition then they are VAT free whereas if you say you are doing it for "fun"/curiosity etc  then VAT is applied. 

Ditzy_Mitzy

PeterOHanrahanrahan said:

I purchased a medical device for home use in 2015 from Germany which I need to send back to them (a business) for repair.

What would be the best way of declaring the machine and value for customs forms requirements - i.e. reasoning and value?

If it matters, it still partially works but in its current state cannot be used for its intended purpose, i.e. not worth its original full retail value. I am not sending all the original accessories the device came with either.

Also I'm not sure if regulations have changed or if it's relevant otherwise, but at the time of purchase, if I was to buy the same machine from the UK, VAT would not have been payable due to the nature of the device.

Thanks for any advice.

Be sure to state on the paperwork: 'Ich nichten lichten das devize' and that its value has decreased by at least 'trenter percenter'.  

PeterOHanrahanrahan

Sandtree said:

Just mark it as returned goods. You will presumably be paying for insurance on the parcel so just make sure the insured and declared values are the same. 

The challenge, and what is out of your control, is how they mark up the parcel when they return it to you as that will determine what taxes are due. 

Its the reason that its being purchased for that determines VAT in the UK if you were buying a new one... the Mrs has the same with her continuous blood glucose monitors, if she declares she has diabetes and they are being bought for monitoring the condition then they are VAT free whereas if you say you are doing it for "fun"/curiosity etc  then VAT is applied. 

Thanks for the advice. I was advised by the company to mark it as 'for repair' rather than return as it's six years old and a bit too long for returning an order. I guess the issue is VAT in Germany also - I'm not entirely sure if certain medical devices qualify as VAT free over there as they do here, so it's the taxes there and here that may cause an issue. It is used for treatment rather than for fun as you've mentioned.

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

PeterOHanrahanrahan said:

I purchased a medical device for home use in 2015 from Germany which I need to send back to them (a business) for repair.

What would be the best way of declaring the machine and value for customs forms requirements - i.e. reasoning and value?

If it matters, it still partially works but in its current state cannot be used for its intended purpose, i.e. not worth its original full retail value. I am not sending all the original accessories the device came with either.

Also I'm not sure if regulations have changed or if it's relevant otherwise, but at the time of purchase, if I was to buy the same machine from the UK, VAT would not have been payable due to the nature of the device.

Thanks for any advice.

Be sure to state on the paperwork: 'Ich nichten lichten das devize' and that its value has decreased by at least 'trenter percenter'.  

Funnily enough that was a tempting prospect - but I don't think it'd be the news I'd be losing if I did