Turkey is one of Germany's largest furniture suppliers. Manufacturers in İnegöl, Kayseri, Bursa, Istanbul and Ankara offer a strong alternative on both quality and price for Turkish families in Germany, furniture retailers, and hotel and restaurant projects. Thanks to the Turkey–EU Customs Union, Turkish furniture enters Germany free of customs duty; what remains is import VAT and a properly structured logistics process. This guide covers the tax and document side of shipping new furniture from Turkey to Germany, the A.TR certificate, packing standards, and the door-to-door delivery and assembly process.
New Furniture or Used Household Goods?
German customs (Zoll) distinguishes between two cases:
- Used household goods: enter duty-free under the Übersiedlungsgut exemption when you transfer your residence. Details: moving household goods from Turkey to Germany.
- New furniture: treated as a commercial import. Customs duty (zero with A.TR) and 19% import VAT (Einfuhrumsatzsteuer) apply, even if you are buying for your own home.
The Customs Union and the A.TR Certificate: Zero Customs Duty
The Customs Union between Turkey and the EU removes customs duty on industrial products, furniture included. For this to apply, the shipment must be accompanied by an A.TR movement certificate, endorsed by the customs authority in Turkey at the time of export. Furniture arriving without an A.TR is charged at the EU third-country tariff (typically 0-2.7% on furniture). We issue the certificate together with the export declaration; there is nothing extra for you to do.
| Item | How it applies in Germany |
|---|---|
| Customs duty | 0% with an A.TR certificate |
| Import VAT | 19% (on goods value + freight + insurance) |
| Declaration fee | Service fee of the German customs broker |
| Turkish VAT | 0% with an export invoice (if the seller issues an export-registered invoice) |
If the import is made in the name of a VAT-registered business in Germany (GmbH, Einzelunternehmen), the import VAT can be reclaimed as Vorsteuer (input tax). For a private buyer the VAT is a final cost; we show the estimated amount as a separate line in our quotation.
Export Documents
- Commercial invoice: issued by the seller (manufacturer/retailer); product description, HS code (9401/9403), quantity, value, delivery terms (Incoterms). If the seller can issue an export-registered invoice, you pay no VAT in Turkey.
- Packing list: box/crate dimensions, gross and net weight, number of pieces.
- A.TR movement certificate.
- Export declaration: for private senders, REG Transport or our partner customs broker acts as exporter of record; you do not need to set up a company.
- Consignee details: ID and address for a private buyer; EORI number and USt-IdNr for a business.
- Wooden packaging: pallets and crates must carry the ISPM-15 heat-treatment stamp.
Packing and Loading Standards
- Large pieces such as beds, wardrobes and tables are dismantled; each part is wrapped separately and fittings travel in labelled bags.
- Corners are protected with foam edge guards, surfaces with stretch film and removal blankets.
- Glass, mirrors and marble tops travel in wooden crates.
- Upholstered items are wrapped in moisture-proof plastic plus cardboard protection.
- Commercial shipments are palletised, strapped and secured against shifting in the vehicle.
- Every piece is numbered and matched to the packing list.
Transport Options and Transit Times
Groupage (part-load)
A single sofa set, a bedroom suite or a few pieces are added to our weekly Germany departures and distributed to every German city via our Frankfurt depot. Average transit 5-9 days.
Dedicated (full-load) vehicle
For retail, hotel, restaurant and project shipments the vehicle is reserved exclusively for your load, with direct delivery in 4-6 days. Dates are planned to fit your site schedule.
Route: Kapıkule – Bulgaria – Serbia – Hungary – Austria – Germany. The goods are imported either on entry into the EU (Bulgaria) or at the destination customs office in Germany; for groupage loads a consolidated declaration is lodged in Frankfurt.
Door-to-Door Delivery and Assembly
- Halteverbotszone: in major cities we obtain the loading/unloading parking reservation from the city authority on your behalf.
- Carrying upstairs and Möbellift: an external furniture hoist is planned for the narrow staircases of Altbau buildings.
- Assembly: dismantled items are reassembled on site and packing waste is removed (optional line item).
- Storage: if the delivery address is not ready, we hold the goods at our Frankfurt depot and deliver in stages.
- Photographed delivery report.
For Businesses: Regular Furniture Exports to Germany
If you run a furniture store, e-commerce site, hotel or interior design practice in Germany, our weekly departures provide a robust logistics backbone for regular supply from Turkey. Imports are made with your EORI and USt-IdNr, import VAT is reclaimed as Vorsteuer, and customs duty is eliminated with the A.TR. If you buy from several manufacturers, we consolidate at our Istanbul and Gaziantep depots. Details: Turkey–Germany commercial freight logistics.
What Determines the Cost?
- Volume and number of pieces: a dismantled bedroom suite is 3-5 m³, a corner sofa 4-6 m³, a dining set 3-4 m³.
- Packing standard: standard wrapping or wooden crating for glass/marble.
- Delivery scope: kerbside delivery, carrying upstairs, Möbellift, assembly.
- Customs and taxes: export declaration, A.TR, German import declaration, 19% VAT.
- Insurance: full cover on the invoice value.
- Delivery city: the Frankfurt area is quickest; Hamburg, Berlin and Munich need extra distribution time.
Pre-Purchase Checklist
- Share the door and staircase measurements of your home in Germany with the manufacturer; Altbau doorways may be 80-90 cm wide, but the staircase turns are tight.
- Avoid large one-piece items; ask for knock-down (dismantlable) construction.
- For units with integrated lighting, check for a CE declaration of conformity and a European (Schuko) plug.
- Ask the manufacturer for an export-registered invoice and the HS codes of the products.
- For upholstered items, obtain the fabric and filling specifications (a mandatory label for commercial sale in Germany).
Example Scenario: Restaurant Furniture from Kayseri to Stuttgart
A restaurateur opening a new restaurant in Stuttgart orders 24 tables, 96 chairs and a bar unit from a manufacturer in Kayseri. The manufacturer issues the export invoice and packing list; the products are palletised and delivered to our Istanbul depot. Customs duty is zero with the A.TR certificate; because the business imports under its own USt-IdNr, it reclaims the 19% VAT as Vorsteuer. The dedicated vehicle reaches Stuttgart on day four, and our crew completes assembly three days before the opening date.
Why REG Transport?
- Over 12 years of hands-on experience: thousands of completed shipments for families and businesses on the Turkey–UK and Turkey–Europe routes.
- Our own fleet and depots: warehouses in Istanbul, Gaziantep, London and Frankfurt; weekly scheduled departures that do not depend on third-party hauliers.
- Licensed customs operation: export declarations in Turkey and import declarations in the destination country are handled by our partner customs brokers; we prepare all documents on your behalf.
- One point of contact: the same account manager from survey to delivery, with updates at loading, border crossing and delivery.
- Transparent quotation: freight, packing, customs, insurance and delivery are itemised separately in writing; no surprise costs.
- Insurance: CMR included; optional full-cover insurance on the declared value.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much tax will I pay in Germany on furniture bought in Turkey?
Customs duty is 0% with an A.TR certificate; 19% import VAT is paid on the goods value and freight. We show the estimated amount separately in the quotation.
Can the seller deliver the furniture to your depot?
Yes. Items delivered to our Istanbul and Gaziantep depots are inspected and packed; we also collect directly from manufacturers in İnegöl, Kayseri and Bursa.
Can I ship new furniture together with my used household goods?
Yes; they travel in the same vehicle, and on the declaration the used goods are shown as exempt and the new furniture as dutiable, listed separately.
What if something is damaged?
CMR insurance is included; full-cover insurance on the invoice value can be added. Damage found at delivery is recorded on the delivery report and compensated.
Is assembly included?
Assembly is an optional service and is shown as a separate line in the quotation.
Get a Quote
Share your furniture invoice / packing list or the product dimensions, and we will send you a written quotation the same day covering freight, customs, estimated VAT and assembly options: quote form. For service details, see our international furniture shipping and Germany route pages.
