If part of the travel budget is earmarked for buying cheap electronics on vacation, you should make sure that the supposed bargain does not turn into a cost trap, after all, customs can impose fines of up to 50,000 euros. And criminal proceedings for attempted tax evasion are not exactly pleasant either.
The USA trip or the backpacker trip through Asia has been planned for a long time, now it’s finally starting. The travel budget is well filled, because the low prices for electronics promise real bargains. However, the price advantage can be over very quickly if you find out after your holiday that the device is not working properly in Germany or that its operation is not permitted at all. Some things that you should consider when buying electronic devices on vacation are quickly clarified: The new laptop should have a German keyboard if you don’t want to get used to typing. A foreign mains plug – there are 20 different ones worldwide – can still be “bridged” with an adapter.
Electronic devices from other EU countries – check the CE marking
As far as the technical safety of electronic devices is concerned, you are usually on the safe side within the EU. Because in other EU countries, only electronic devices with the CE mark may be sold. If that’s not the case, hands off! It is most likely product piracy, which will cost you dearly at customs.
However, despite the CE marking, you could still have problems if the device has a defect. The warranty is valid for two years across the EU, but you have to deal with the dealer from whom you bought the device. Even if you were to find a dealer in Germany, there is no guarantee that they have the appropriate spare parts.
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Cheap smartphone from the USA – what you have to consider
When vacationing in the USA, the cheaper prices for an iPhone, for example, are tempting. However, if you buy a smartphone with a SIM card while on vacation, make sure that the device also works with a SIM card from Germany. Otherwise, the SIM lock of the foreign mobile phone provider quickly puts an end to the joy of the new smartphone.
With inexpensive smartphones, savings are often made on the language selection. Without German it can be difficult to find the right settings. In addition, when buying a smartphone in a non-European country, you must make sure that the device also supports the frequency bands used in Europe, so that you do not have to accept any restrictions when surfing the Internet or making phone calls. This applies in particular to LTE reception, because almost 40 different frequency bands are used worldwide for this standard.
In Germany, mobile phone providers use frequency ranges of around 900 and in some cases around 1800 MHz for GSM. In Germany, UMTS transmits at frequencies around 2000 MHz. Smartphones receive LTE in the 800 MHz range, and in some cases also in the 900 and 1800 MHz ranges and around 2000 and 2600 MHz.
You should better refrain from buying a 5G smartphone on vacation. In Germany, the frequency range between 3.4 and 3.8 GHz and occasionally frequencies around 700 MHz are used for this. But 5G can also be used in many other frequency ranges. As with LTE, there is no international harmonization here. The topic of frequencies also plays a role when buying a drone. The remote control frequencies used must also be approved in Germany. In Germany, the frequencies 2.4 and 5.8 GHz are usually used for the radio connection to the drone and a camera attached to it.
Customs require this for electronic devices
If you bought an electronic device while on holiday within the EU, all taxes are already included in the purchase price. If, on the other hand, you return to Germany from a non-EU country, you must verbally declare goods to be declared to customs if the so-called travel allowance is exceeded.
For air and sea travel, the allowance is 430 euros. Of course, this applies to all goods purchased on holiday and imported into Germany, such as clothing, alcohol, cigarettes or even electronic devices. If you are not traveling by plane or ship, the allowance is 300 euros. For travelers under the age of 15 it amounts to 175 euros. If the value of the electronic device is above these amounts, an import duty is due. It is 17.5 percent of the value of the goods if this is not more than 700 euros. If the device is even more expensive, customs will demand additional duties. In any case, keep the proof of purchase, otherwise the value will be estimated by customs at a flat rate, which is often to your disadvantage.
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Better not to cheat – the burden of proof lies with the traveler
Anyone who thinks they can pass off their new smartphone as their own, which they already had when they started their journey, should know that customs are quite capable of determining the origin of electronic devices. In the case of particularly high-quality goods, he can also request proof of purchase. The burden of proof is on you.
If you are caught smuggling, you will have to declare the goods. With a goods value of up to 700 euros, a customs surcharge in the amount of the goods value is added in any case. So you pay double. In addition, a fine of up to 50,000 euros could be imposed on you.
For goods over 700 euros, criminal proceedings are initiated for attempted tax evasion. There is a risk of a fine of up to 360 daily rates or, in very serious cases, imprisonment for up to five years. In any case, it is certain that the holiday relaxation is over quickly.