Hello my good people
I have a question about getting back your VAT after buying in Germany. I know how it works for food, toiletries, ... but I don't know how it is for furniture, clothes, home/kitchen aplliances, electronics ...
I just want to know if you are eligible for a VAT return or do you have to pay extra for some stuff ?
I'll put just a few examples below, so maybe it's easier to answer:
1. Buying a freezer for 250€
2. Buying a table for 290€
3. Buying a couch for 800€
4. Buying an expensive watch for 3000€
5. Buying clothes for all together 250€
You’re always eligable for a German VAT refund - if the shop supports it. You get back the VAT you paid in Germany from the shop next time you go. You have to have the German customs stamp your reclaim form before you enter Switzerland.
If the value of a single item (less tax) is less than 300 francs, then there’s no Swiss VAT to pay. Otherwise you must pay Swiss VAT on the article. A single item cannot be split between two people.
- Buying a freezer for 250€
tax free. DE VAT refund
- Buying a table for 290€
tax free, DE VAT refund
- Buying a couch for 800€
CH VAT, DE VAT refund
- Buying an expensive watch for 3000€
CH VAT, DE VAT refund
- Buying clothes for all together 250€
tax free, DE VAT refund
If it were just you bringing all these items over in one go, you’d have to pay Swiss tax on the lot. But if you went with another person, you could import the table tax free (but nothing else).
If you went with three other people, you’d be able to import that clothes, table and freezer tax free.
https://www.bazg.admin.ch/bazg/en/ho…ee-of-vat.html
Get the Quick Zoll app. All the information and calculators are there.
Check the prices before you travel, some items like freezers are often cheaper here.
Everything should be cheaper here given the different in VAT
To clarify, a single Receipt can not be split... because you have to put it in one person's name and show their ID to the Geman Zoll. (sometimes you even have to show the people, or sometimes the kids can stay in the car.. sometimes they even ask to see the goods... very rare but does happen if they get sus)
So as long as your total per person in under 300 then you are good - you don't need to pay Swiss VAT. If any Receipt is over 300, then you go and pay the Swiss VAT after getting it detaxed by Germany (receipt stamped for VAT free export).
In other words, check how many receipts you need with what amounts before paying.
Not so. One item worth 500 francs with two people - you have to pay Swiss VAT.
Duty is another matter. Two people can buy a 2kg leg of lamb without having to pay duty. I've been stopped and checked several times in the last 20 years, and had no problem doing this.
Firstly, thank you very much for you explanation, I really appreciate it.
So as long if the item is not above 300€, then normally I don't need to pay anything extra to Switzerland.
Does this also apply for electronic devices, for example a vacuum cleaner under 300€ ?
And once I had a strange case, I ordered some shoes from Germany to Switzerland for 150€ and then I had to pay additionaly another 20€ for Swiss customs, do you maybe have any idea why ?
Sorry for all the questions, I just want to have all the facts for the future.
300 is the limit if you carry it with you.
65 is the limit by post
Items cannot be split. Receipts of multiple items can.
Are you sure? We've done supermarket shops in the past where the bill has easily come to more than 300 CHF, and the Customs have seen the receipts and also seen that there have been more than enough people to cover the total.
Think about it. One could just fill two or more trolleys with a fraction of the total and pay separately for each trolley load. They each person in the car could have their own receipt but the sum would be the same.
Same.
The only exception was a purchase of four new tyres that the Customs said were a set and could not be split.
You need to check the links others have posted, some items like meat have individual weight limits.
With regards to VAT, it’s as stated already. What you’re talking about is duty and duty-free allowances.
The rules are here: https://www.bazg.admin.ch/bazg/en/ho…d-tobacco.html
Meat has a duty free allowance of 1kg per person. If you exceed that it’s 17 francs a kilo up to 10kg excess (23 francs thereafter). So if a single person buys 2 kg of meat, then there’s 17 francs duty to pay. However, if the total value of the goods being brought across is less than 300 francs, you don’t have to pay Swiss VAT on it.
Including Shipping Costs...
Also just cause it says a value on the box does not mean the swiss border believes it... they can also decide to bill you on what they think it's worth.
CHF 5 of VAT or CHF 5 of duty is the limit by post.
In case VAT is 7.7% or 2.5% this means a total import value (including shipping cost) of CHF 65 and CHF 200 respectively. 2.5% VAT is applied to books, newspapers, medicine, foods, and food supplements.
Note that alcohol, tabaco tax and is always levied when the items are shipped by mail. Most things are duty free, exceptions are agriculture products and items manufactured (or shipped from) North Korea, USA, or Australia. Switzerland levies duty on weight or per item basis. If country of origin is not clearly listed, standard duty rates might be charged.
If you have to pay VAT and/or Duty the shipping company will slap there own fees on top. These fees are usually at least CHF 15 (exceptions apply).
More and more foreign seller have a Swiss VAT number, and thus can charge Swiss VAT at the checkout process and you will not have to pay the outrageous customs handling fees charged by the shipping companies.
Also be aware that there is currently an embargo for any products (as always there are a few exemptions) coming from Russia.
As a link to a SwissintheUS:
https://www.englishforum.ch/forum-su…hoto-post.html
Can you now stop the strike please? I ́d hate to see you go.