If companies in Germany want to import industrial equipment and components from abroad or export them abroad, there are various contacts with the authorities. The requirements of the importing and exporting companies differ in terms of whether they are doing business with non-EU countries or with member states of the European Union.
Import in Germany:
If a company wants to import industrial equipment and components in Germany, it can first obtain information about any import bans or restrictions. Companies can get advice from the IWM Customs – Information and Knowledge Management Customs or from the Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Chambers of Crafts. Depending on the country of origin of the industrial equipment and components seller, the importing company has to deal with different authorities. And they also have to buy the services of a company that provide them logistic or legal services in another company like from there they are buying the equipment’s. These companies are mostly providing the services like industrial equipment and components provider. Like the one we suggested here is famaga.com. A distinction is make between trade in industrial equipment and components with other EU countries and trade with non-EU countries.
From European-Union Countries:
If the industrial equipment and components to be imported come from a member state of the European Union, the importer must meet other obligations within the framework of this intra-trade. If such an import is carried out by a company for the first time, the sales tax identification number (USt-IDNr.) must be applied for at the Federal Central Tax Office. The VAT ID no. is an independent number that is issued to entrepreneurs in addition to the tax number of the regionally responsible tax office. German companies also have the option of using the foreign VAT ID number. of the relevant supplier to be verified by the Federal Central Tax Office. This can help to avoid additional clarifications with the tax office or the payment of the tax amount during the further processing of the import. The purchase of the industrial equipment and components must be reported to the tax office in the advance sales tax return. This must be done by all companies subject to VAT.
From non-European-Union Countries:
If the industrial equipment and components to be imported come from non-EU countries, the German company is obliged to apply for an EORI number from IWM Customs once before the first import. The EORI number is required by companies to declare exports or imports to customs. The obligation to provide the EORI number already exists from the first export or import process. Since October 2019, the EORI number can also be applied for electronically via the customs portal for citizens and business customers. Changes to master data are then also made in this way. The advantage of this procedure is that you can make changes to the master data yourself. For the online registration, only a Elster made out to the company is required-Certificate required. Alternatively, a form can still be filled out and sent in writing, by e-mail or fax to the General Customs Directorate.
Export to Germany:
If a German company wants to export industrial equipment and components to other countries, other requirements sometimes apply. Here, too, the contacts with the authorities for exporting industrial equipment and components to third countries differ from those for exports to countries of the European Union. Irrespective of whether it is extra or intra-trade, the customs information and knowledge management, the chambers of industry and commerce and the chambers of crafts advise exporters on questions relating to export bans and restrictions.
To European-Union Countries:
When exporting industrial equipment and components to other member states of the European Union, a one-off application for the sales tax identification number must be submitted to the Federal Central Tax Office. German companies have the option of having the identification number of the relevant recipient verified by the Federal Central Tax Office.
The deliveries of the industrial equipment and components must be reported to the tax office in the advance sales tax return. This must be done by all companies subject to VAT.
In addition, the exporting company must provide proof of a certificate of arrival. The confirmation of arrival serves as written proof to the tax office that the tax-free intra-Community delivery has also reached other EU countries. This is to prevent tax evasion. This proof can be provided by having the delivery confirme by the recipient of the industrial equipment and components.
To non-European-Union Countries:
Before exporting to non-EU countries for the first time, German exporters are obliged to obtain an EORI from Customs Information and Knowledge Management the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control forwards some of the applications to other authorities, such as the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy or the Federal Intelligence Service. In addition to the application, a declaration of the end-use of the industrial equipment and components must be submitte and the order and contract documents and, if applicable, technical documents must be submitted.