Importing from Italy, advice on customs

Finance, Taxes, Banking, Insurance and Retirement
1
Hello,

For the last few years I've had some (cycling) clothing produced in Switzerland.

This year I am considering an Italian manufacturer.

Could someone tell me what happens when 10,000 Chf of goods reaches the border from Italy ?

Do I pay VAT on the invoice that arrives ?

(I doubt it, since you could have the supplier put simply anything on the invoice).

Is there instead a tax based on the estimated value, or the weight , or type of good ?

Thanks

2
Yes, you pay the Swiss VAT. The supplier does not need to put anything on the invoice. The customs declaration must have the value and it is based on that. This can be cross checked with what you pay as the recipient.

You also pay import duty and handling fees.

3
Thanks Bob.

You mention import duty and handling fee.

(beyond the TVA)

Any idea how this value is determined or what to expect with 10,000 chf of clothing ?

4
Here is the english page of the Swiss Customs Agency - you should be able to find all the relevant info:

http://www.ezv.admin.ch/index.html?lang=en

Ciao!

Paul

5

As you say, you can put anything you want on your invoice, but if the customs think it's not right, your goods won't get cleared until you can prove that wehat you paid for them. As soon as you say you actually paid more for them, it's not only the VAT you pay but the fine as well

Get yourself registered for VAt, they charge you, you charge your clients and claim back

6
I think you'll find, as for any wholesale or retail business, they charge you, you charge your clients and then pay the difference.

Think about it, if it happened the way you say then the business would be selling for less then they bought .

7
Hi,

i do not know what happens for a business.

But i recently bought some speakers from Italy (700 CHF).

What happened to me is that I did not pay the Italian VAT, thus i had ~20%

off the list price. Then the Customs did not stop my pack even is all the paperwork was truthful. Thus i did not pay the Swiss VAT.

francesco

8
Stirctly speaking correct, you pay on the way in, when you sell you add VAT to your sales price wuhcih should in theory be higher than your purchase price and the differecne between your VAT paid on the purchase and the VAT collected on the sale goes to the tax man.

9
You were lucky... Not a standard business practice, though ;-)

Paul

10
For your future travels, it is your responsibilty to stop at the border and declare the goods, it is not up to the Swiss border control to catch you.

Once you cross the border you are smuggling, and you would pay extra charges or fines if you are controlled and found out.

11
Yes i was lucky and did everything according the rules since the speakers were normally mailed.

My only point was that you should not pay italian VAT, but the swiss VAT.

and if you are lucky ...

12
When I bought a motorcycle (new) in Italy, I had to get some paperwork prepared by a commercial expiditer, cost around CHF 100.

Then I had to go do the commercial importation, and pay the VAT (in cash, CHF 1500 or so) and some small amount of customs charges (I can't recall but it was CHF 40 or so).

If you have it shipped, the shipper will do the paperwork, and add it to your bill, and you will get billed for the VAT and customs charges.

Tom