Which six things should you check before paying for goods shipped from Germany to Taiwan?
This page helps you assess shopping in Germany, export documents, Taiwan imports and shipping options. HowBridge currently only offers consolidated shipping from China to Taiwan and does not offer a German consolidation warehouse. Ask the actual seller and carrier about direct delivery, export invoicing, prices and transit times.
| Checkpoint | What to confirm | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Price and VAT | Whether checkout includes German VAT and whether the seller issues an export invoice | A 19% VAT rate means you can subtract 19% from the VAT-inclusive price |
| Specifications | Model, 230V/50Hz rating, plug, charger input and warranty territory | A German brand or plug adapter guarantees safe use in Taiwan |
| Shipping | Packed dimensions, actual and volumetric weight, and battery and knife rules | If a store ships an item, every postal service, courier or forwarder will accept it |
| Taiwan's regulations | CCC code, import requirements, BSMI/NCC/TFDA or quarantine requirements | Personal use, small quantities or original-brand products are always exempt from import permits and inspection |
| Duties and taxes | Customs value, duty rate, commodity tax and the import business-tax base | All German goods attract a fixed 5% customs duty |
| After-sales service | Return address, deadlines, international postage, dangerous-goods returns and regional warranty | EU return policies or a worldwide warranty necessarily cover Taiwan |
Can you simply deduct Germany's 19% VAT from the price?
No. Most goods in Germany attract the standard 19% VAT rate, while some may qualify for 7%. When a price includes 19% VAT, the tax component is the VAT-inclusive price multiplied by 19/119, or about 15.97%; it is not a 19% deduction from that price. Whether an export sale is charged without VAT depends on the seller's transaction, delivery and export-evidence procedures.
Tourist VAT refunds are a separate system. Germany's federal portal explains that eligible non-EU residents must take goods out of the EU in their own accompanying luggage. Luggage sent by post or a forwarding agent does not count as personal luggage. Travellers usually pay VAT first, then request a refund from the retailer or refund provider using customs-validated export documents. Processing fees may reduce the amount received.
| Scenario | Conditions and documents | Questions before buying |
|---|---|---|
| The store ships directly to Taiwan | The seller determines whether the transaction qualifies as an export supply and retains export evidence | Does checkout exclude VAT? Who issues the invoice and who is the exporter? |
| Delivery to a German address followed by forwarding | The original sale may remain a German domestic sale with VAT; a forwarding document does not automatically change the invoice | Will the seller accept later export evidence and issue a refund? |
| The traveller takes the goods out personally | Non-EU residence, at least EUR 50.01 per receipt, export in accompanying luggage within the deadline, and customs validation | Does the store participate, where is the final EU exit customs office, and what fees apply? |
| Import into Taiwan | German VAT treatment does not change Taiwan Customs' authority to determine customs value and taxes under law | How are the CCC code, freight and insurance, commodity tax and business tax calculated? |
Which specifications and restrictions matter for German-brand products?
Festool, Wüsthof, Miele, Bosch, Birkenstock and Adidas are named only to identify brands. Their inclusion does not imply a partnership, guaranteed savings, endorsement of authenticity or current delivery promise. Check official product pages, invoices and terms on the purchase date for prices, stock, manufacturing origin, returns and warranties.
A brand may offer different models for different markets. For appliances, check rated voltage, frequency, plug, power and repair support in Taiwan. For cordless tools, check the tool, battery, charger input and carrier rules separately. For kitchen knives, check blade length, materials, intended use and carrier restrictions. For shoes and clothing, compare EU sizes, actual measurements in centimetres and return costs.
| Category | Documents and specifications | Main risks |
|---|---|---|
| Tools and lithium-battery equipment | Full model number, ratings, battery Wh, and UN 38.3/SDS documents when required by the carrier | Batteries may face postal, airfreight or return restrictions; a shared platform does not guarantee charger compatibility |
| Appliances | 230V/50Hz rating, power, plug, safety markings and warranty territory | 110V/60Hz is common in Taiwan; a plug adapter changes plug shape, not voltage |
| Kitchen knives and cutting tools | Product name, blade length, material, use and safe packaging | Sellers, airlines, postal services, couriers and Taiwan's regulations may impose separate restrictions |
| Footwear and clothing | EU size, shoe last, actual measurements in centimetres, materials and manufacturing origin | A brand's home country is not necessarily the manufacturing origin; international size exchanges and returns can be costly |
Identifying brands and retailers
What should you confirm about German forwarding addresses and returns before paying?
HowBridge currently has no German consolidation warehouse, and this page does not provide receiving addresses in Frankfurt, Munich or Hamburg. If you use a third-party forwarder, first obtain written rules for accepted goods, address format, parcel limits, consolidation, inspection, insurance, disposal, returns and dangerous goods. A German address does not guarantee that the seller accepts forwarding or will process an export VAT refund.
- Confirm that the store permits forwarding addresses and that payment details, billing address and recipient-name format will not cause the order to be cancelled.
- Check whether the warehouse accepts lithium batteries, knives, liquids, aerosols, food, goods containing animal or plant materials, and oversized appliances.
- Request arrival photos, packed length, width and height, and actual weight. Obtain updated billable dimensions after consolidation or reinforcement.
- Check compensation limits for loss, damage and undeclared goods, and keep orders, invoices, serial numbers, packaging and customer-service replies.
- Before paying, include German domestic shipping, storage, consolidation, international freight, insurance, Taiwan duties and taxes, and possible return postage.
How should you compare German official stores, marketplaces, postal services and couriers?
Amazon.de, Zalando, OTTO and MediaMarkt are named only to identify retail channels. International delivery, forwarding-address acceptance, returns, VAT, payment and product restrictions vary by seller, item and date. One store's terms cannot be applied to an entire marketplace.
| What to compare | Information to obtain | Common misconception |
|---|---|---|
| Price | VAT-inclusive or VAT-exclusive price, currency, discount conditions and payment fees | The difference in listed prices equals the difference in total landed cost |
| Delivery | Direct shipping to Taiwan or German domestic delivery, packed dimensions, tracking and proof of receipt | Prime, free shipping or delivery estimates apply to every address |
| Returns | Deadline, destination, labels, original packaging, dangerous goods and international costs | Free returns within Germany include free return shipping from Taiwan |
| International carriage | Prohibited and restricted goods, actual or volumetric weight, oversize fees, declarations and claims | Postal, courier and freight-forwarding products all have the same rules |
| Import into Taiwan | CCC code, import requirements, customs value, EZ WAY or formal customs declaration | Fees collected by the store are Taiwan Customs' final assessment |
What are the six steps for shipping goods from Germany to Taiwan?
A shipment with a customs value of no more than NT$2,000 generally qualifies for low-value tax exemption, except tobacco and alcohol, agricultural products under tariff-rate quotas, frequent imports and other statutory exclusions. Customs value includes the goods, freight and insurance. Above the threshold, customs duty follows the actual CCC code, while import business tax is usually 5% of the statutory tax base. A fixed 5% customs duty does not apply to every item.
- Record the full model, materials, function, manufacturing origin and transaction price, and whether the seller invoices with VAT or as a VAT-free export.
- Check the actual product's CCC classification and import requirements. Separately check the competent authority's rules for electrical, radio-frequency, food, medical, cosmetic, animal, plant or wood products.
- For appliances, check 230V/50Hz, plug and power. For lithium batteries, check Wh, whether installed in equipment, and carrier documents.
- Obtain packed dimensions and actual weight, then confirm volumetric weight, oversize fees, restrictions, insurance, transit times and return rules with the actual carrier.
- Declare the product name, model, quantity, transaction price, freight and insurance, manufacturing origin and use accurately. Express-shipment recipients should complete EZ WAY identity verification and advance customs authorization as notified.
- On delivery, record the outer packaging, seals and serial numbers, and check the tax statement and specifications. Address shortages, damage or declaration discrepancies within the seller's and carrier's deadlines.
What are common questions about shipping from Germany to Taiwan?
Does a refund of Germany's 19% VAT reduce the price to 81% of the listed amount?
No. The 19% VAT component of a VAT-inclusive price is that price multiplied by 19/119, or about 15.97%. Tourist refunds and export transactions each have their own eligibility conditions, and refund services may charge fees.
Can I claim a tourist VAT refund after sending goods to a German forwarding warehouse?
The tourist accompanied-luggage refund does not apply. German authorities explicitly exclude luggage sent by post or a forwarding agent from personal luggage. The seller must determine whether an ordinary export exemption or refund is possible based on the transaction and export evidence.
Can a German 230V appliance be used in Taiwan with just a plug adapter?
No. An adapter changes plug shape, not voltage or frequency. Check the nameplate input range, power, 50/60Hz compatibility, transformer requirements, safety and warranty. Ask the manufacturer or a qualified electrical professional if unsure.
Does a German brand mean German origin and the same duty rate?
No. Brand location, place of purchase, shipping location and manufacturing origin are different fields. CCC classification, materials, function and origin may all affect duties and import requirements.
Can a power tool's lithium battery travel by air with the tool?
It depends on battery Wh, quantity, whether installed in equipment, packaging and the carrier's route. A store's ability to deliver within Germany does not guarantee acceptance by an international airline or forwarder. Obtain written confirmation before paying.
Do all Germany-to-Taiwan shipments attract 5% customs duty?
No. Customs duty depends on the CCC code and Customs' assessment. The 5% figure usually refers to Taiwan's import business tax rate, whose base includes customs value, import duty and other taxes or charges required by law.
Which official sources and research support this guide?
Checked: 2026-09-20. German VAT, tourist refunds, export transactions, Taiwan tariffs, product controls and carrier rules are separate systems. This guide provides a checking sequence and does not replace a seller's, carrier's or competent authority's assessment of an individual case.
Cross-border logistics research indicates that reliability, shipment information, customs-clearance capability, returns and risk control should all inform service selection. Listed prices and per-kilogram freight rates alone are insufficient. The research does not rank HowBridge or substantiate particular brands' quality, price differences, or 2026 freight rates and transit times.
- German Value Added Tax Act (UStG) §12 — 19% and 7% Tax Rates
- German Value Added Tax Act (UStG) §4 — Tax Exemption for Export Supplies
- German Value Added Tax Act (UStG) §6 — Export Supplies and Conditions for Travelers
- German Federal Portal — VAT-Free Shopping for Non-EU Travelers
- DHL — International Shipping by Private Individuals and Battery Restrictions
- DHL — Current Product Specifications for Shipments to Taiwan
- Customs Administration — Taxes and Fees Payable on Imported Goods and Their Calculation
- Ministry of Finance Laws and Regulations — Regulations Governing Customs Clearance Procedures for Importing and Exporting Postal Parcels (郵包物品進出口通關辦法)
- Customs Administration — Advance Confirmation of Customs Clearance Authorization for Express Shipments in 2026
- European Commission — CE marking
- Ministry of Economic Affairs Laws and Regulations System — Regulations Governing Exemption from Commodity Inspection (商品免驗辦法)
- Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) — Commodity Inspection Exemption Section
- Taiwan FDA (TFDA) — FAQ on Import Inspection of Food for Personal Use
- Taiwan FDA (TFDA) — Mailing Medicines and Personal-Use Restrictions
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA) — Reminders about Importing Animal and Plant Products Purchased Online
- Ministry of Agriculture Laws and Regulations — Quarantine Guidelines for Wood Packaging Material Used with Imported Goods (輸入貨品木質包裝材料檢疫作業要點)
- Chou Chih-Feng (周志峰) — An Evaluation Model for Overseas Warehousing and Logistics Service Providers in Cross-Border E-Commerce (Doctoral Dissertation)
- Ho Ying-Chin (何應欽) et al. — An Evaluation Model for Overseas Warehousing and Logistics Service Providers (Journal Article)