![]() What You Should Know Before Visiting Germany and the European Union number of cases in which customs authorities have carried out targeted cash controls on travelers. Therefore, a number of important rules must be considered when traveling across borders with EUR 10,000 or more. Traveling with certain material goods must be reported to customs when exceeding a defined value. important. Many travelers correctly presume that cash must be declared well known, however, that cash must also be declared upon leaving for an international trip. For example, travelers flying from Germany to the United States with around EUR 13,000 need to make two customs declarations: the first one at the customs office of the country of departure (Germany), and the second one at the customs office of the destination (USA). For this reason, it is important to identify the customs office's location in advance. At airports, be it Frankfurt Airport or London Heathrow, the declaration is to be made before the security checkpoint. Start at Baggage Screening of the carry-on luggage may already initiate non-compliance procedures, with customs offices in general withholding 25 percent of the carried amount to cover the expected fine. Where several people travel together, further attention should be paid to how much cash each individual is carrying. The declaration always applies to the person carrying the cash. It is irrelevant whether the money carried by one person is also intended for any accompanying persons. If the money is not declared, customs offices are rigorous. In this case, the money should be split prior arriving at the airport. the EU. Even if the amount of EUR 10,000 is exceeded, no taxes or duties it would have been required, fines up to one million Euro are possible. Differently material goods like souvenirs. When traveling to the Federal Republic of Germany from a non-EU country via ship or plane, adults are allowed to carry undeclared goods worth up to EUR 430. Children under 15 may only carry goods worth up to EUR 175. Goods like tobacco products and liquors have different limits and are valued separately. If these exemptions are exceeded, goods can be seized and draconian penalties may be prepared by customs authorities. to Tax Evasion tax evasion, with the latter being handled by revenue offices. When it comes to imposing penalties for small offenses, however, customs authorities far exceed what is imposed by revenue offices for comparable offenses. Using Frankfurt am Main, Germany, as an example, the revenue and finance authorities impose penalties in the form of "daily rates" for smaller tax evasion offenses. The person concerned has a choice of either paying the assessed daily rate or spending 24 hours in custody for each rate. The overwhelming majority decide to make the payment. The amount of the daily rate depends on the person's individual income situation and varies between EUR 1 tax law, fiscal offenses and tax frauds. He also advises individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations on all aspects of the German sales tax law, income tax law, corporate tax law, commercial tax law, estate tax law, the tax code and the customs code. Tower 185 Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 35-37 D-60327 Frankfurt am Main Germany +49.69.76.75.77 810 Fax winheller.com/en |