Sending free software from the U.S. to Germany

Hello,
So I ams till working with my university back home, in Oregon, and they give students free copies of Microsoft word and Windows upgrades. They are legal and come from an agreement between Microsoft and the university. However they had to send it to my US address so my mom plans to ship it to me. I am curious what she should put on the customs label. How do you explain it was paid by a university or student program and is duty free.

Any thought are great.

I know the programs costs hundreds of euros in Germany and I don't want them to think I owe duty on that amount.

Best wishes

Rena

Tell them it's cigarettes.

Haven't we been through the whole 'paying duty where necessary and how to deal with forms' thing with you before?

Good old keydeck. Its been so long. Luckly I have pulled my head out of my arse and grown a thicker skin so I wont cry about it this time. I have lived and learned and no longer send cigarettes from the US, and we have all learned that 50 is the max lol. However I am still curious as to what to label on the customs declaration. University software? Any thoughts?

Rethread the thread - I think the same rules apply

Dealing with a packagage detained by customs...

I am amazed by peoples memories on here. While I received a lot of valuable information from the previous discussions no one ever answered what to list on the us forms. Isn't software that costs hundreds of dollars different from a gift? Perhaps I am stupid, but I don't get it. I am also shipping my old laptop, and I have the same questions about that, I somehow don't think a letter from mom is gonna get this stuff through customs.

We know how to use the search function

It's ok I have come to terms with the fact that wonder woman, the word defile, and importing cigarettes will always be associated with me lol.

You are importing goods of value from the USA to Germany. How you obtained the goods in the USA or what was paid (or not) for them is irrelevant. Unless considered part of your personal effects in a one-time shipment as part of your relocation into this country, this software is a taxable import and in no-way can be considered "duty free" as you suggest in your original post. Import duty and import VAT will be calculated and charged on the perceived (not necessarilly declared) value at the point of entry and charged to you as recipient.

Having said all that installation of Microsoft software is licensed using an alphanumeric key. If you can find an identical installation CD/DVD for the software you have received in Germany, then your Mother can simply dictate the installation license key over the phone to you so you can install accordingly. As far as Microsoft goes this is completely legal, as far as the German customs are concerned, less so, but I promise I won't tell. If you can't find the relevant CD/DVD locally have you Mother copy it onto a server somewhere and copy it over here yourself.

I was under the assumption I could send things into the country duty free for up to one year. Is this incorrect. How can you do it all in one shipment if you are sending multiple boxes. Would it be best for me to send everything in with the boxes of personal effects including these software and electronics as I have only been a resident a few months.

Furthermore, next dumb question lol how do they asses value to used electronics as they have decreased in value?

What is the basis for your "assumption"? You are allowed one shipment, which may be multiple boxes, completely free of duty or tax as part of your relocation, so long as these are personal effects, and in general not new items. If you have been "resident" for a "few months" you may have past the time limit for such a shipment which is intended to be imported into the country to coincide with your establishment of residence.

They assess realistic market value.

I read on the zoll website I believe. I will look for the link and post it here. It stated that you could import duty free for up to one year as long as you have proof of registration in Germany as well as proof you lived in the US previously. It also said that you can apply for an extension of up to three years if you are not able to move things for certain reasons.

Well worse case can't I just bring them in with me the next time I fly back to the US?

http://www.zoll.de/english_version/faq/a0_...n_ec_countries7

Not the link I was looking for but this says computers are duty free from private importing.

ll removal goods should be imported around the time of your own arrival and registered with the German customs authorities within 12 months after establishing residence in Germany. Should this prove impossible, you are requested to submit proof that the goods could not be imported at that time, in which case the entry must be effected as soon as the cause for this delay has been removed but no later than 3 years after your actual move.

Found it
http://www.germany.info/relaunch/info/cons...oms/moving.html

First of all, that list is for travellers arriving in the EU, not people transferring their permanent residence. Secondly, there are two levies on any goods imported into the EU/Germany - customs duty and VAT. Compters are indeed free of customs duty, but VAT at 19% still has to be paid in addition, as the text above the table states.

Yes, but you can't bring things in piecemeal. This is a one time shipment of all your personal effects. "you are requested to submit proof that the goods could not be imported at that time...". I doubt late arrival of a software package at your US home would count.

If it is software, why not just have someone back home create an .iso image of the media and use ftp (or even Skype file transfer) to download it? It takes forever, but I've done it before, then you don't have to deal with any of the customs/postal mess.

Strictly illegal, but that's also what I suggested.

Oops Sorry. I really gotta learn to read all posts before I open my big mouth.