HYDRAULIKPRESSE 2/2013 - einseitig - Hansa Flex

work & lIFe arBeiT & leBen
Foto/Photo: Bundesministerium der Finanzen (www.zoll.de)
Foto/Photo: iStockphoto
Ob am Flughafen oder auf der straße: Zollkontrollen sind bei jedem Grenzübertritt möglich.
at the airport or on the road: customs inspections are possible at every border crossing.
anyone who intends to import goods from abroad must be thoroughly
familiar with the applicable customs and import regulations.
Many of those affected, particularly holidaymakers, look upon customs and the
associated inspections as a nuisance. But customs protect the economy from distortion
of competition, consumers from substandard goods from abroad, and the
population from transnational criminality. In Germany, the Customs administration
employs over 40,000 staff at more than 250 customs offices. In 2011 alone,
it earned over 123 billion euro. the primary objective of the Customs administration
is to combat economic crime – from product piracy to classic tax evasion. It
also serves to protect consumers as well as combating terrorism and preventing
violations of species protection provisions. and it is the debt collector for the German
Federal republic. It is empowered to collect unpaid receivables from foreign
debtors both inside the country and at customs checkpoints at the border. In 2011,
the Customs administration added almost 1.2 billion euro to the domestic budget
this way.
dO nOT exceed duTy-Free liMiTs
there is a lot to remember, especially for people who are travelling. Because holidays
abroad are often the occasion for carefree shopping, after all, the chances of
finding great bargains are good. whether these are items of clothing purchased
in the USa, electronics in Japan or wine in Italy: But you should always find out
what quantities of the goods in question can be imported into your home country
without paying customs duties. It is true, customs borders no longer exist within
the european Union. as a result, in general products that are intended for personal
use can be brought home without incurring any customs payments. But there are
limits above which even these items cannot be imported entirely free of charge.
Individuals travelling by air or sea from non-eU countries can bring goods up to a
value of 430 euro into the eU without payment. For visitors travelling by rail or bus,
and those driving cars, the customs-free limit is 300 euro. If the value of the goods
they are bringing in exceeds this limit, customs duty must be paid on them. If the
duty-free allowance is exceeded, the goods are subject to 19 per cent vat as well
as the applicable customs duty rate, which varies from two to 15 per cent.
although these two general travel allowances apply, many goods may only be
imported in limited quantities regardless of their value.
THe FOllOWinG Guidelines apply
• within the eU, individuals may bring with them either 800 cigarettes, or 400
cigarillos, or 200 cigars or one kilogram of tobacco. on the other hand, if they are
travelling from a non-eU country they are limited to either 200 cigarettes, 100
cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250 g smoking tobacco.
• within the eU, individuals may bring with them either ten litres of spirits, or ten
litres of flavoured alcohol beverages, or 20 litres of intermediate products such as
fortified wine or vermouth, or 90 litres of wine or up to 110 litres of beer. For those
travelling from a non-eU country, one litre of spirits, two litres of sparkling or fortified
wine, four litres of non-sparkling wine or 16 litres of beer are duty-free.
• within the eU, ten kilos of coffee are permitted. Individuals travelling from noneU
countries may bring with them 500 grams of coffee or 200 grams of coffee
extracts, essences or concentrates.
• Individuals arriving from non-eU countries may bring technical goods with a
value up to 300 euro into the eU duty-free.
• It is also permitted to import 50 grams of perfume and 0.25 litre eau de toilette.
• travellers both inside and outside the eU may bring up to 10,000 euro in cash with
them without having to declare it.
• Fuel may only be imported duty-free from an eU member state if the fuel is in the
vehicle’s fuel tank or in a reserve tank on board the vehicle. however, the quantity
that is carried should represent a reserve quantity – about 20 litres for a motor car,
approximately 60 litres for a lorry.
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