Taking equipment to France for demonstration purposes

[charcinders]

I'm based in the UK and I build electronic equipment for scientific research. I'm going to a conference in France next month and I want to take some pieces of equipment with me to demonstrate. I'd like some advice on the best way to ensure that it doesn't get confiscated or incur customs fees. Replacement value of the goods is <£1000
I've been reading up on my options. I want to avoid the cost of a carnet if at all possible because as a small business that's a large chunk of my income.
An oral declaration at customs sounds like it would lead to problems - how can I prove that what I am bringing back is what I took out? How would it work in France...?
There's something called a simple online declaration. I've just started with this but one of the first questions is "How much did you pay for the goods". The correct answer is "nothing", because I made the goods, but it will not let me enter a value of zero.
I haven't been able to find any clear advice about this online, so I'd be very grateful for any pointers anyone can give me.

 

[Deleted member 351022]

Hi

As well as UK requirements you also need to look at French requirements. To move your goods to France and back there are 4 customs declarations one out of the UK and one into France and the same when you come back.

You should also assume that customs want duties and taxes every time you cross a customs border unless you have good reason to prove otherwise.

Have you checked with the exhibition whether they provide any advice on temporary import into France.?

An ATA carnet whilst costly acts as all the declarations you need in both UK and France.

An oral declaration is an option in the UK but it isn’t just verbal as you still need a duplicate list of goods for goods being temporarily exported. Customs keep one and you orally ( I.e tell the officer you have a declaration) then present the duplicate on return to the UK . There is also an accompanying form for this a C&E 1246 Which customs will stamp. This proves the goods were previously UK goods and therefore not subject to import duty when returned to the UK.

I cant answer whether the French would accept something similar on their side for temporary import. If they do do not be surprised if you are asked for a deposit. If you have made the goods they may be considered duty free under the trade agreement but there is no import VAT exemption.

The simplified declaration is most frequently used for permanent export or import so you will usually be expected to pay import duty and import VAT. It may sound crazy but once the good’s leave to uk they lose their duty paid status so are treated as a newly imported goods subject to duty. If you want to claim returned goods duty reliefs you can’t use this method.
HMRC use language such as what did you pay for the goods as mostly people are declaring goods they have purchased. If you haven’t purchased the goods they will still have a value so in simple terms you need to declare something that approximates a purchase price.

 

[charcinders]

I just looked up the customs duty rates on the equipment, and it is zero, both ways. I could just ship the items to the organisers duty and tax paid, and ask them to ship them back to me afterwards. That way the only expense will be the shipping cost and the French and UK VAT. I'm VAT registered so I can claim back the UK VAT. That would work out at far less than the cost of a carnet.

 

[Deleted member 351022]

Ok that would work, best of luck with your exhibition.

The answers were based on the fact you mentioned that you wanted to take the goods to France - this may be useful to someone else though.

 

[The Soup Dragon]

I asked my shipper a similar question about conference items and they said this

What you would need to do is put on the commercial invoice that the reason for export is ‘personal use not for resale’. Make sure it clearly states on the commercial invoice the wording ‘personal effects’. You would still need to declare the value of each item.

 

[Deleted member 351022]

Hi Soup Dragon

It may work but customs don’t care whether the goods are for resale or not as it makes no difference whatsoever whether tax is charged or not. Customs only allow temporary entry or duty reliefs if they are covered in law.
So it depends what you mean by conference items.

It is written into EU customs law to allow temporary duty free entry of passengers goods such as your your normal luggage Laptops phones etc . Thus if you are attending a conference there wouldn’t be a problem with your laptop.

Then you have duty free allowances for travellers which not only cover alcohol and tobacco but other goods to a specific value.Many EU countries have a limit of €430 the UK it’s £390.
There are also regulations around merchandise in baggage so anything you are carrying for business purposes such as samples, spare parts,tools etc
There are also reliefs for things like giveaways/ advertising materials etc.

There are completely different rules and allowances for goods by post or courier and by freight.
So by post or courier there is a €45 gift allowance relief from duty and vat for goods between two private individuals and £150 duty relief on goods from a business.


I would also mention would a traveler make out an invoice for personal possessions?