I don’t know many people that doesn’t like to receive gifts. I think that most of us like to be gifted, spoiled and it doesn’t matter if it’s something small or huge gift. I think that the feeling is more important because you feel important, and you know you mattered enough for someone to pick something for you to make you smile (or that they even tried). You know that I don’t hide the fact that I love getting presents and it doesn’t matter if they are lacey, vibrating or engraved. And it was always like that. And I know that even though I am not working in the field anymore, girls that do still read my blog and wish for them. So, I decided to publish an article that I had prepared for some time. It’s about how you should behave while returning with gifts. Meant in the way if you should tax them (no matter how it is in Czech Republic, I’m speaking of the fact how it should be), plus I added some tips how to behave when you get some gifts while travelling.
If you order something frequently from foreign countries, especially from the countries from the third world such as Asia, America or in the recent past also from Great Britain, you know that except from paying the transport, you need to pay DPH as well or clo and this add to the price quite a lot. Anyway, how is it with the payment of clo, DPH or if you arrive with souvenir or gift?
I’d like to remain straight at the beginning, that I am going to talk about the situation when you arrive with purchased pieced from countries out of European Union which are referred to as the 3rd world countries and this also applies to Great Britain now as well. So, the ones of you that are into euro trips and shopping sprees in Milan or Paris can be relieved now.
If you are obliged to pay the difference after arrival to Czech Republic is quite easy to answer. Unfortunately, not many people think about it while arriving and they may be unpleasantly surprised at the airport. The possibility to get checked is quite small since not so many people have journalists checking all their steps as Monika Babišová who forgot to pay the clo for the purses she bought in the USA, and she got cancelled all over the internet. But I think that it’s nice to know how it should be done and what is correct so everyone can decide what to do.
There are price limits, and they differ the scale of the charges. If the price of the goods is between 22 to 150 eur or equivalent to this range after currency calculation, it’s necessary to pay DPH in the 21% range. The exception is if it’s a personal gift which has to be mentioned in the declaration and then the price range moves to 45 to 150 eur. And if the price crosses the 150 limits, you need to pay DPH with the range 21% but clo as well. Clo isn’t set by percentage range, but it’s calculated from specific list created by the Clo office. So, if you want to have at least an idea about the charge, go and check their website and the list. I recommend paying attention to arriving with alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes, perfumes, toilet waters because it’s mandatory to pay DPH and clo in all cases.
You will get to deal with the clo declaration at the airport. After you go through the passport check, you go through the customs area where you declare the goods that needs to be paid for you have no goods that needs to be declared. But even there you may get into the situation when you are chosen for a random check.
This story luckily didn’t happen to me but since I know the girl, I decided to share it with you. Almost every girl that spends her time for some financial compensation likes to receive gifts. And pretty girls love pretty bags. If you are going to a meeting with the vision of financial compensation or material gift, for example bag is the price for that, be aware of the way how you return with it back to Czech Republic. My friend underestimated the airport checks and the worst possible scenario happened to her. The client that she visited was enchanted with her to the point that he offered to take her shopping apart from the price evaluation. He bought her lovely bag apart from that. Since it was one of the first meeting and she didn’t have proper knowledge yet and she wasn’t used to be getting such gifts. So she kept everything. And because she didn’t want to get her bag destroyed, she took it to the airplane in the official packing-I mean dustbag, paper box, paper bag from the shop and maybe even the receipt from the shop as well. And then she walked through the airport security where they picked her for the random check. And maybe because she was really young, unexperienced and she didn’t know how to react – she paid for the lack of knowledge. Yes, you hear me right, she had to pay the price difference from the previous retail price. Because that’s how it’s supposed to be.
And as I already mentioned, it differs based on the type of the goods and on the retail price.
Anyway, since most of us like to take souvenirs from holidays or to visit United States to shop, I want to tell you why it’s good to cut off all the price tags from the newly bought clothing but also what to do with the things if you want to be punctual and declare it.
Great deals during shopping are eye-catching for most of the people and it can have various forms. Let’s be honest, it’s best if someone gives you credit card and you can go shopping. But if you don’t have this option and you just simply shop at vacation with the vision of saving money.
Apart from few gifts, I never arrived back home with many things that I’d like to give to others or to sell so I not only cut off the price tags but also added the clothes to the bags that were full of clothes ready for washing-I always intend on washing everything once I bring it home so there was no need to leave on the price tag. This is something that will help you during check. I stand by the fact that anyone can tell woman that she packed way too many pairs of shoes, bags, dresses or lingerie. And no matter how the customs officer looks at you, you simply needed that many things. But if you have it on the hangers with the price tags from the shop, they won’t believe you.
Another tip that unfortunately happened to me-wine lover, is to check how many litres of wine can be exported from the destination. Because due to the wine that I wanted to bring from California I had to go through the check. But thankfully they only took the one bottle of wine since everything was without the price tags. So, pay attention not only on alcohol but also to tobacco because this can bring attention to your luggage.
I hope that these weren’t new information to most of you and if so, I hope you will bear it in mind and you’ll avoid all the unpleasant experiences that might follow your arrival with souvenirs or new pieces to the wardrobe.
