Hello!
I would really like to do business such as import-export, but im a private customer,not a company, living in germany, and I don´t know if im allowed to do such business, because im not a company. can anybody help me and tell me some information?

Thank you,

Lernst

Replying to [Lernst]:


Everybody do it!
YOU CAN MAKE IT GREAT.

Replying to [Lernst]:

Hello there,

Na wie gehts?? Yes it is possible to do import and export business as a private person, if you are going to use the goods within your community (like in service industry) and are not exceeding a net income of over Euro 14000,- per year.

But it is suggested that you open up a private company, or even better a KEG, since this has no liability and if something goes wrong you will not be held liable only the company name.

Its not hard, to do that, all you have to do is to go the Chamber of Commerce (Wirtschaftskammer) and get the whole info, to make it easier on the decision go to a Accountant, you will need him in any case if you are planning on doing a import-export business.

Here is the clue, as long as you don´t exceed, Euro 36000,- per annum on net income, as a company, you will be exempted from tax.
So basically you are still a private small business, and don´t have to worry about doing something wrong, with the benefit that you are not paying more then you would on taxes like being a normal employee.

Do do import and export out of germany, you need to have a tax-id number, and european-tax-id number. The tax id is like - "200-80-080" in example, and the the european-tax-id for your country "DE-2003080557" something like that. This basically allows you to do import and export.

Unless you are dealing with special goods, then you need the authorities permission and an additional license in some cases, like in plastic scraps, chemicals, dangerous goods, living products, etc.

In addition to that, you will also have to keep track on the goods input and output. You cannot just import and sale it off anywhere you like without record. Since every year the inventory should match the sales, thats where your accountant comes in, you will have to make sure you have kept records in forms of bills of your transactions. Its not as hard as it sounds.

But if you just want to import goods for private use, then you don´t need anything, as long as you state the nature of use and pay the taxes and custom duties in accordance with the customs officers and thats it.

Hope that helps you out.

Good Luck, Alles gute

Replying to [Lernst]:Thats Gr8. You can do it, But I suggest you to be cautious, Please remeber " Prevention is better then cure"

My best wishes are with you.

Re: Am i allowed to do such business?
Make sure you avoid the temptation to try and buy and sell brand name products from China. This is where most new traders take the wrong road and end up getting burned......................................................................................................................................................you are extreme,sir!

Replying to [Lernst]:
sure you can, but pls pay much more attention to your laws especailly the laws from customs, u should know how about the max amount for you importing you have to give high tax to your government,because all these will depend on how much tax you will offer. every state is different for the limitation.

Replying to [Lernst]:Hi,Lernst.
Of course,you can do word trade.
You would better learn the law and then choose the goods at frist.It is the same like you buy goods on the website.

Replying to [Lernst]: Hi, you are in a country, where you can get the best information. there is handelskammer and zoll. by handelskammer you can get the information what you have to do. as a privateperson can you not make business. you have to apply and to get permission.
i hope you have the information, what you wanted.
bye

Replying to [Lernst]:

Import/Export: Why not. For import you can ask a forwarding agency like Schenker (or others) to take care of your import documents, paying taxes and VAT (Prepayment) immediately when arriving goods outside from European Community. Not all goods are allowed for import (same for export). Sometimes there are capacity restrictions etc. Contact German Chamber of Commerce at your location. Furthermore you will get additional information at foreign Chambers of Commerce (Located in Hamburg/Berlin etc.). For import/export business you maybe need a Tax registration number, VAT-Identification number. You should have your own (small) company registration like a "Gewerbe-Anmeldung" (GewA 1), starting with EUR 20,00 at your local Townregistration Department.
Hope this helps a little bit.

Replying to [Lernst]:you need to check with you local government business license agent it is just the same as you buying something through the mail from walmart or a online store. your just buying alot of it. but if you resell the things you buy you have to have a business licence to pay taxes. the only thing here in america that they care about is you paying taxes on what you sell. but if you get a business license, you make the person buying the item from you pay the tax and you just pass it on to the government.in germany Iam not sure if it is the same

Replying to [Lernst]:You can do it by WWW.EBAY.COM