Switzerland tax-free limit reduced to 150 CHF from 2025

[Phil_MCR]

@curley

I never bothered to get the German VAT back. So it was new to me when I heard yesterday that people could claim it back yet not pay the Swiss VAT. If this is the case, 150.00 is still a generous solution.

Yes, the sweet spot is if you buy just under 300, you can claim back the foreign VAT, but pay no Swiss VAT.

[Phil_MCR]

I know. I asked to clarify as originally you talked about duty so I wanted to check that you were actually referring to import VAT

[Roxi]

You can.
However for 2025 the app taxes everything at 8.1%. The reduced tax is unavailble until 2026 unless you do it in person at a manned crossing or via a registration box.

Independent goods declaration via the ‘QuickZoll’ app

Private individuals can use the ‘QuickZoll’ customs clearance app to independently declare their goods for import and pay any duties directly via the app. In the app, the normal VAT rate of 8.1 per cent is applied to all goods. For the time being, customs clearance at the reduced VAT rate of 2.6 per cent is only possible verbally at a manned border crossing or in writing via a registration box. Independent customs clearance via the ‘QuickZoll’ app at the reduced VAT rate is expected to be possible from 2026.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Wertfreigrenze im Reiseverkehr wird auf 150 Franken pro Person gesenkt

[ShirleyNot]

@BelgianMum

We haven’t been shopping in France for years.
We’ll bring stuff back if we happen to go there for something else but we don’t go specifically for shopping.

We’re a bit the same. Did a few trips up into Germany for “woo! cheap shopping” years ago but probably more because of the novelty of it all. Can’t be bothered with all the hassle nowadays, and it’s not that cheap anyway. Maybe it would be a different story if we were right up on the border but life’s too short.

[Tom1234]

@Phil_MCR

A few years ago I was shopping across the border from Basel in Germany and sometimes just didn’t bother to claim back the VAT to avoid the queue/hassle.

We went last week just for a day out in Konstanz.

It’s a three hour round trip so it really was just a day out and not something we do regularly and although we went to a supermarket, it was only to get a few things we can’t easily get here.

Apart from shower gel and stuff like that, nothing really seemed much cheaper although I was shocked at the abundant choice in Edeka having not been for ages.

[curley]

@Phil_MCR

I know. I asked to clarify as originally you talked about duty so I wanted to check that you were actually referring to import VAT

Who me? Naaa, I never talked about duty. And I came in much later in the conversation than your post I referred to.
However, never mind

Knowing I won’t win any friends with this I am beginning to wonder why any amount should be VAT-free at all if the German VAT is being reclaimed? Where was the logic in this all these years?

[marton]

@curley

Where was the logic in this all these years?

It is more work for border guards that probably costs more than the value of the extra tax recovered.

Suppose you bring in CHF 300 of groceries. The tax recovered @2.6% is around CHF 7.5. For this, the guards have to check the value, work out the tax, collect the tax, and issue a receipt.

[Bowlie]

It’s for the Swiss retailers who are big contributors to campaign finances. Another reason for transparency where are politicians get their money.

[Axa]

If the Swiss retailers fail at retailing, they can apply for a job as border guards

[Tom1234]

@curley

Knowing I won’t win any friends with this I am beginning to wonder why any amount should be VAT-free at all if the German VAT is being reclaimed? Where was the logic in this all these years?

I always thought a duty free allowance was to make things flow easier at international borders.
Without it, people would need to declare a box of chocolates, or an umbrella they had bought that day because it was raining on their day out abroad, or a half-eaten ice-cream lolly their child hadn’t finished eating before crossing the border.

The fact that people go every week to do their weekly shopping was never really the intention of duty free, anywhere but now it is so easy to cross international borders in the Schengen area, people do just that.

There are two ways to stop it, or reduce it. The Swiss parliament has chosen one way.

The other way would have been (as has been mentioned) to allow parallel imports, remove price fixing and remove controls which means at certain times, only Swiss produce may be sold.

It’s pure capitalism for people to go where they want to shop, at the price they want.

Anything else is a bit East German, really.

[Axa]

There is an alternative solution, but I’m sure no one will like it.

Anyone remembers which the number 1 criteria to be eligible for VAT refund? It’s to be a resident of a non-EU country. So, Switzerland applies to the EU and no more tax refunds, ever!

[gaburko]

@Axa

There is an alternative solution, but I’m sure no one will like it.

Ursula von der Leyen likes this!

[curley]

@marton

It is more work for border guards that probably costs more than the value of the extra tax recovered.

Suppose you bring in CHF 300 of groceries. The tax recovered @2.6% is around CHF 7.5. For this, the guards have to check the value, work out the tax, collect the tax, and issue a receipt.

But that’s the same now
I know the federal budget is tight - it’s that bad then?

[Ace]

@Tom1234

Apart from shower gel and stuff like that, nothing really seemed much cheaper

You clearly weren’t buying meat.

I wouldn’t buy German meat anyway, it has a reputation for poor quality and animal welfare, but it’s cheaper there than in France, and a hell of a lot cheaper than CH.

[gaburko]

@Ace

I wouldn’t buy German meat anyway, it has a reputation for poor quality and animal welfare, but it’s cheaper there than in France, and a hell of a lot cheaper than CH.

I agree. However on the rare occasion that we’d shop in Germany it would be in Hieber, where the Txuleton, Argentinian grain fed beef and the Wagyu are a few times cheaper than in CH.

[Tom1234]

@Ace

You clearly weren’t buying meat.

I wouldn’t buy German meat anyway, it has a reputation for poor quality and animal welfare, but it’s cheaper there than in France, and a hell of a lot cheaper than CH.

I mostly buy Swiss meat and Swiss fruit and vegetables.

But yes, German meat is pretty poor.

[AlexSec]

Might be bad for some ppl that work in commerce near the border → if shops see clientele diminishes
Might be good for some kids / “day-workers” since they can post themselves in the car parking when Entering CH with a big sign saying "Ausfuhrschein / 1 person per 10/15 CHF " [might not have spelled that correctly]

[marton]

The Irish steaks in Aldi Germany are good and at a good price usually around 25 euro per kg or if you like US steaks they currently have rump steaks for 40 euro per Kg.

[curley]

@AlexSec

Might be good for some kids / “day-workers” since they can post themselves in the car parking when Entering CH with a big sign saying "Ausfuhrschein / 1 person per 10/15 CHF " [might not have spelled that correctly]

That’s what crossed my mind as well when this thread started. I was thinking bigger as a whole new German business-line

[marton]

You asked

@curley

wonder why any amount should be VAT-free at all if the German VAT is being reclaimed? Where was the logic in this all these years?

When I gave you the answer you replied

@curley

But that’s the same now