Bringing a laptop from USA to Europe
A friend of mine is going to the USA for about a week. Is it possible that he buys a laptop (around 1,200 USD) and brings it back to Bulgaria (Europe) without getting any extra taxes from Customs? And does he need to declare bringing in the laptop in and out of the country?
Best Answer
According to Timatic, you may import free of tax and duty:
Free import to passengers arriving from non-EU Member States (incl. Canary Islands, Channel Islands and other similar territories): a. tobacco products, for passengers aged 17 and older: -200 cigarettes; or -100 cigarillos (max. 3 grams each); or -50 cigars; or -250 grams of smoking tobacco; or -proportional assortment;
b. alcoholic beverages, for passengers aged 17 and older: - 1 liter of spirits over 22% volume, or non-denatured ethyl alcohol with more than 80% volume; or - 2 liters of spirits or aperitifs made of wine or similar beverages less than 22% volume, or sparkling wines or liquor
wines; or - a proportional mix of these products; and in addition
4 liters still wine; and
16 liters of beer;
other goods up to a total value of EUR 430.-.
You will absolutely have to declare the goods upon importation. Anything you are importing that you did not have before, must be declared upon your return.
Anything above this amount will be subject to tax and possibly duty.
As for the rate that you will pay, it appears the VAT in Bulgaria is 20%. You may also have to pay customs duty atop this. Be careful to check that power supplies work on Bulgaria's voltage; a pin adapter will be required, and possibly also a voltage adapter.
Pictures about "Bringing a laptop from USA to Europe"
Can I buy a laptop in the US and bring it to Europe?
While people do do this, it is illegal. The keyboard layout is likely to raise some suspicion. In case of doubt, it is the duty of the traveller to prove that the laptop has been in the country of arrival earlier - it is not the duty of the customs people to prove that it was bought elsewhere.Can I take my laptop to Europe?
As an alternative to an ATA carnet, Temporary Admission may be used to temporarily import items such as laptops into the EU, provided the relevant conditions are met. The management of EU import and export procedures is the responsibility of the customs authorities of the Member States.Can laptops be used internationally?
Unlike other electrical appliances, laptops don't require an electrical transformer to work overseas. Most laptop power adapters can convert voltage from 110-240 to power your computer, which is very practical for traveling.Do I have to declare my laptop at customs?
The short answer is, no. Customs and Border Protection do not need a warrant or probable cause to search your phone or laptop. Since 2013, the Department of Homeland Security has claimed legal authority to search your electronic devices without a warrant or probable cause at the U.S. border or international airports.How I See the US After Living in Europe for 2.5 Years
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Karolina Grabowska, ANTONI SHKRABA production, RODNAE Productions, Nothing Ahead