Taxation of Housings entering Germany / EU

Daniel,

I did buy my Nauticam GH5 housing at Backscatter in the US back then, as it was not becoming available in Europe in time for an upcoming dive trip. I searched for the customs bill but could not trace it. However, what I do recall is that all-in-all I ended up paying around 10% more than what I would have payed buying in Europe.

Therefore, unless there is a special situation (item not (yet) avail in Europe or super deal for a used housing etc...) I would advise you to buy in the EU. Also these custom rates are sometimes unpredictable depending into which category the officer places it. Also, unless your sender uses a high quality carrier (UPS the best for US-shipments), sometimes stuff gets stuck for a week or two in customs. Not always the best experience!

onderwaterhuis.nl in Holland is my preferred and highly trusted supplier in Europe for UW camera stuff these days.

Burkhard

Interesting, Daniel. The basic taxes and VAT don’t sound too bad. But, as you say, add up all the other bits and pieces and it’s barely worth while. Or the opposite!

I got a relatively low-cost replacement part for a wet lens mount from Canada some months ago and the add on charges were quite a shocker.

Just adding my experiences with Camera gear and UW housings. I have been working as a photographer for the last 20 years (last 5 years here in Germany) and without fail customs will always charge you if importing anything. I have lived in 5 different countries including China and can say that German customs always checks the value and opens the package, so I would think you are pretty much guaranteed to be charged the 20% and then an extra customs handling fee. This has to be one of my greatest frustrations with living in Germany, otherwise an absolutely awesome place to live and work!!!

The B&H Photo website in the US has a tax, delivery, charges calculator when you put an item in the shopping basket. It does not make for happy reading for exports to Europe.

And it wont get any better with Agent Orange in charge...

Here another report of sucessfully importing a housing from U.S. to Europe via Wetpixel advertisment:

Recently I acquired second hand, private, a Nauticam housing NA-EM1II and viewfinder 45^o from US. The seller posted the items November 20th in Miami and they arrived November 23rd in Vienna. It was not before December 7th that they were released from the Austrian coustoms (state officers, you know ) and arrived in Austrian countryside on December 12nd...

Besides of gaining a new friendship I made a bargain (48% of the amount I would have to pay for new equipment, inclusing import taxes and transport).

I only can recommend buying 2nd hand from US...

Wolfgang

P.S.: I just see that the title is "Taxation to Germany": in my case it is, of course "Taxation to Austria"...

(but it should be the same in entire EU)