Tax on inherited goods from outside EU - maison secondaire

[Elle Gee]

Can anyone provide information on tax duties for importing inherited goods from outside EU (South Africa) to a second residence in France?

I spoke to a duoane official at Toulouse airport who said as it was an inheritance we would not pay any duties - if we were moving personal goods we would have to.

But now our removal company tells us we will have to pay both taxes and VAT because it is a secondary home.

I don't think it makes any difference in this situation, but in case it does, we travel on EU passports and are tax resident in the Netherlands.

Anyone else been in this situation?

[cassis]

It's not something we've done, but on the Douane website it says inherited goods imported from outside the EU are TVA exempt "Sont exonérés de la TVA ... les biens personnels appartenant à des personnes physiques et importés

définitivement à l'occasion du déménagement de leur résidence

principale, d'un mariage, d'une succession" - which is in accord with your Toulouse official. 

http://douane.gouv.fr/page.asp?id=533

I presume you're importing directly to France or via the Netherlands so you can ask them by email, which would at least get you something in writing. Contact details on this page.

http://douane.gouv.fr/page.asp?id=263

[5-element]

The Sausage is back!!! (must be the thread on processed meat that did the trick).

[cassis]

I'm 100% unprocessed.  I have added a little fat over the years but not so's you'd notice.

[Elle Gee]

Thanks Cassis, for the suggestions - still getting different feedback from people we speak to, and horrified by what some have had to pay on duties! I'll try the email option - hope I can get something in writing from them.