Will you have to get a VAT refund upon leaving Switzerland and then pay taxes when you enter the UK? Sounds like a pain in the neck to me.
I've recently driven to Switzerland and back from Scotland, I did visit the Omega and Swatch museums and the Omega Boutique but didn't buy any watches. I wasn't intending to buy any in Switzerland and the budget took a hit when I snagged a bargain on ebay 3 days before I left.
If I had purchased I believe it would have been up to me to declare it and pay appropriate duties. Leaving from Dover there was no customs check going into the EU and then no permament structures (some borders had police at the side of the road, some didn't) until crossing into Switzerland just east of Basel, but I drove through and wasn't required to stop. There were then no further customs posts going into Lichtenstein or onwards (Austria-Germany-NL-Belgium-France) until I got the ferry back across from Calais but the French check merely consisted of me opening the boot of the car, I wasn't asked about any purhcases or searched.
Where else are you planning to visit?
Haven't done a road trip but took a train in the area. From the Omega museum, you are close to the excellent Longines factory museum and the Museum Horology. You'll need to reserve a spot at Longines in advance.
I never made it to Geneva but heard that the Patek Philippe museum there is one of the best in the world.
Will you have to get a VAT refund upon leaving Switzerland and then pay taxes when you enter the UK? Sounds like a pain in the neck to me.
Wear the watch on your wrist leaving Switzerland and job done. But if You want to box to take home and they search you luggage then your goosed lol .
Getting the Swiss VAT refund is easy, the retailer will fill out the relevant forms for you, all you have to do is show the items to the Customs guy/gal at the border (usually airport) and turn in the form. The 8.1% refund will go directly to your credit card, usually by GlobalBlue, who charges a relatively small fee for the service. Paying fees and duties when you import into your country can be a pain in the neck, most of the time it is hard to find any agent to help you, they appear not to be wanted to be disturbed. Use your own judgement in this area.
So if I claim back the Swiss VAT at the boarder, not sure which boarder it will be but suppose that makes no difference, it will be a road boarder though as I’ll be driving my own car. What are the ramifications of forgetting to sort fees and duties upon return to UK?
I just wanted to collect on my road trip and wear for the remainder. It’s suddenly got complicated 😂
Thanks for this. I may add Museum Horology if I have time. May also use the trains if I need a rest from driving. Not been for about 15 years but they were immaculately clean and on time when I worked there.
So if I claim back the Swiss VAT at the boarder, not sure which boarder it will be but suppose that makes no difference, it will be a road boarder though as I’ll be driving my own car. What are the ramifications of forgetting to sort fees and duties upon return to UK?
I just wanted to collect on my road trip and wear for the remainder. It’s suddenly got complicated 😂
Download the SBB app. It'll show schedules and you can purchase tickets. It saves your routes and will show you a map, including walking times and routes if you change trains.
Yeah, that was the plan only because I just hadn’t thought about it but now thinking I need to hide the box 😀
I assume you'll be asked to declare any purchases upon re-entry to the UK.
Download the SBB app. It'll show schedules and you can purchase tickets. It saves your routes and will show you a map, including walking times and routes if you change trains.
Not all road borders are manned, I drove through a control on the way into CH but was not required to stop.
I exited into Lictenstein and the only sign of the border was a flag on the bridge.
The car and phone reconnecting to a different mobile provider were a better indication that I'd crossed some borders.
French customs looked in the boot (but not in my luggage) and I was passport checked by by the man in the union flag box in Calais and then once back in Dover I drove off the boat, out of the gate and onto the motorway.
I definitely recommend driving some mountain passes in CH, I did Gottard, Furka, Grimsel and Sustans in one day.
