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Ship laptop home?
Thu, 05/15/2008 - 22:44
I am headed to France for 6 weeks for a research/study abroad type program. I pretty much need to bring my laptop for this. But then I’m backpacking for four weeks through Europe and I don’t want to have the extra weight or worry by carrying my laptop. I also plan to not fly out of paris, so I can’t store it there and pick it up on the way back.
I was planning on shipping a small box of things home before I go backpacking: some clothes, few souvenirs. I was thinking about shipping my laptop as well. Anyone heard of this? I think I could package it up to make it safe, but I’m worried about being taxed by shipping it the the US. Thoughts?
You should not be taxed on shipping your own used stuff back to the US after 6 weeks study abroad. However, after you see shipping rates, any small amount of tax will seem inconsequential.
how much would the shipping rates be? I did find one post on another board where some people shipped home some stuff through La Poste with a flat rate box (40 euros). Can la poste be trusted?
Probably, but at the 40 euros rate you’ll quite possibly be home before your laptop.
Take the proof of purchase of that laptop with you. Ideally if it has a serial number. Then, declare this upon arrival to Europe as your own property and claim to take it back to the US. This may require filling out a customs declaration form. The customs clerks at the point of entry should be helpful. When you return to US, before packing the laptop to be sent back, get that original Customs Declaration you were filling in when entering Europe, let the European customs stamp it again (as outgoing item) and put that form inside the packing of your laptop along with American proof of purchase. That way, when the U.S. customs open the package, they will know that this laptop was purchased in the U.S., brought to Europe and sent back, and that the VAT was paid for it in the U.S., thus there is no need to impose an import duty on it. Serial number should be the same on the laptop, on the proof of purchase, and on the Customs Declaration from the EU customs office.
If you have any questions about Prague or Czech and Slovak republics, ask me.
If you only want to search train or bus connection within Czech&Slovakia and/or to neighboring countries, use www.cp.sk or www.idos.cz search engines. For domestic transport, they also show prices.
papyr, thats a great bit of advice. i never thought of that, but you could really save yourself a lot of problems doing that and its not all that much work if you plan for it. nice…
Frankfurt, Munich, Venice, Florence, Nice, Barcelona, Paris
Eurotrip Developer
I was thinking about shipping my laptop as well. Anyone heard of this? I think I could package it up to make it safe, but I’m worried about being taxed by shipping it the the US. Thoughts?