sarusaru Posted August 21, 2014 Posted August 21, 2014 Hi guys! I'm an exchange student from Thailand. I'll be living in Germany till year end, and I'm super excited that there are two LEGO stores not too far from where I live; LEGO Store Wiesbaden and Frankfurt! The point is, as a non-EU resident, I know I can get some tax refunds for my lego purchases when I leave the EU. However, when I ask for more details about this, the two LEGO stores had different answers for me. So I would like to ask you guys on here instead. Here are my questions: 1. How many months do I have, from the time of purchase, till I have to take my lego out of EU and still get a tax refund? -- the guy in LEGO Wiesbaden told me I have to export the goods within 3 months, but the people at Frankfurt store told me 6 months. I'm lost! 2. I've been told that I also have to show the items to customs officers at airport in order to get the customs stamp on my tax refund form. However, the store clerk told me that the lego also has to be in its unopened, unused, original packaging. Is this true?? Can I open and build it first, then repack? Thanks in advance!
62Bricks Posted August 21, 2014 Posted August 21, 2014 You have to export it within three months, and it has to be presented at customs unused and unopened: http://www.berlin.de/en/tourism/travel-information/1741381-2862820-value-added-tax-vat-refund.en.html
ronenson Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 I noticed in the link above, it says that it's applicable for non-EU residents, but since you live in Germany, I'm not sure you are a non-EU resident.
klinton Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 I noticed in the link above, it says that it's applicable for non-EU residents, but since you live in Germany, I'm not sure you are a non-EU resident. He doesn't live in Germany. He lives in Thailand. He's to 'live' in Germany for the next few months. I don't think that makes him a citizen.
antp Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 Isn't there a risk of import tax when coming back to Thailand, if you officially export it from Germany? :D
Kivi Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 Isn't there a risk of import tax when coming back to Thailand, if you officially export it from Germany? :D Probably not if you bring it in reasonable quantities which you can prove are for personal use and not for resale. I don't know Thai customs regulations, but such were my experiences for bringing things into or out of EU this way.
sarusaru Posted August 22, 2014 Author Posted August 22, 2014 You have to export it within three months, and it has to be presented at customs unused and unopened: http://www.berlin.de...-refund.en.html Oh that's too bad but Thank you for the link! I noticed in the link above, it says that it's applicable for non-EU residents, but since you live in Germany, I'm not sure you are a non-EU resident. He doesn't live in Germany. He lives in Thailand. He's to 'live' in Germany for the next few months. I don't think that makes him a citizen. Yeah, I'm still qualified because I'm just gonna be in Germany for less than 6 months and my permanent residence is still in Thailand. Isn't there a risk of import tax when coming back to Thailand, if you officially export it from Germany? :D like Kivi said, if it's not too many or too big, then the customs usually let it go. ;)
Wardancer Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Keep in mind that for regular sets, LEGO stores are often not the cheapest place. Big supermarket chains or Amazon.de or Ebay Kleinanzeigen might be cheaper.
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