Hello
In the quest to do all-carry-on for our lengthy trip, we have decided to periodically ship home souvenirs and such so we don't have to check them as baggage. Our carry-on bag is super-tiny to meet both the weight and size restrictions of EU airlines.
What is the best option in Germany to ship a box back to the US?
TIA
DHL, Fedex, UPS or try a company like Send My Bag. I've used them and they are very reliable.
I was thinking of doing exactly the same thing. Bringing carry on and shipping everything bad. Regular mail should be the best. Any other UPS, etc would charge a lot of money, correct? Regular mail would take a couple of weeks.
Just go to a Deutsche Post branch. They have boxes that you can buy there, and then ship with them, through DHL. It will not be inexpensive, and will take a bit, but it is the easiest way to do it.
I had items shipped from the store where I purchased them. They packed and mailed them and didn’t charge the VAT.
Just remember that it's pretty expensive to ship from Germany. I would ship only one package myself as the taxes are high.
Will I have to pay taxes to ship to US address with a US passport?
Is this part of the VAT?
TIA
VAT is a European tax you can have credited back to you at the airport. When shipping a somewhat expensive item the credit back to you in the store for the VAT goes a long way to paying the shipment cost. I have done it numerous times in Germany.
Will I have to pay taxes to ship to US address with a US passport?
Is this part of the VAT?
You are confusing two different things.
When you purchase just about anything in the EU, you pay VAT. It is not delineated in the price, the price shown includes it, though your receipt may break it out. You can, as a tourist, get a refund on that VAT if you are taking the items out of the country. That is a separate process of it's own, not sure if it applies to items shipped, or just carried out in luggage.
Packages coming into the US are subject to Customs, including any Duty owed. As part of the shipping process you add information for Customs (What is in the box, value, etc.) they will then notify you of any duty owed at delivery.
Paul - thanks for clarifying.
I don't have to deal with VAT (usually) so I am rusty in how it works.
I do remember all the shops being very accommodating and patient with helping get it sorted
Thanks!
You can, as a tourist, get a refund on that VAT if you are taking the
items out of the country. That is a separate process of it's own, not
sure if it applies to items shipped, or just carried out in luggage.
If the items are sent outside the EU by the store, no VAT is charged as the items are exported.
The DHL website will tell you what it costs to send your package.
https://www.dhl.com/de-en/home/get-a-quote.html
DHL & Deutsche Post are both divisions of the same company, Deutsche Post DHL Group.
If it's not a lot of stuff, consider packing a 'personal item' bag in your luggage, something like a nylon gym dufflebag. Something like this, maybe smaller -
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bueautybox-Travel-Foldable-Nylon-Duffle-Tote-Bag-Portable-Waterproof-Lightweight-Carry-On-Luggage-Sport-Folding-Weekender-Overnight-Gym-Sports/416347809
