I ordered some pawpaw ointment and adult milk powder from Australia. Value + Postage = 120 CHF and didn’t get taxed. I wonder why and what category these products fell into.
Curious about importing baby milk formula?
Does anyone have a list of goods you can ship from overseas without Swiss duty and tax, as long as value + postage doesn’t exceed 200 CHF? (Except books and nutrition supplements)
1)VAT , there are three kind of goods:
VAT free. Art. 21 and 23 VAT Act https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classifi...index.html#a21
Reduced rate (which is 2.5% at the moment of writing) Art. 25 VAT Act https://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classifi...index.html#a25
Normal rate: All the rest
2) Duty , this depends on country of manufacturing/origin.
The duty rates can be looked up at xtares.admin.ch and normally either depend on weight or per piece. For most countries of origin the duty rate is 0, the big exception is the USA.
3) Other taxes
Alcohol: https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/home...rits-tax-.html
Beer: https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/home...rits-tax-.html
Tabacco: https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/home...xcise-tax.html
4) Import license Some goods need an import license.
Salt: needs a license if you import more than 50kg http://www.salz.ch/wp-content/upload...140201_def.pdf
Wine and also grape juice: might need a license http://www.cscv-swk.ch/Upload/Dokume...tt-d-10.18.pdf
5) Forbidden goods or other restrictions :
See also Swiss customs on Pron, Weapons, Narcotics, Counterfeited goods, Speed trap warning devices, Endangered Animals etc: https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/home...risations.html
The above is a non comprehensive overview. For further details please also see the Swiss Customs website, which is available in English:
https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/home...itzerland.html
and
https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/home...nd-duties.html
If still unclear contact Swiss Customs https://www.webapps.ezv.admin.ch/app...ex.php?lang=en and get clarification before you order.
I don't know the ins/outs of the tax stuff here, but I've done three online orders, in the three months I've been here, with the following results...
iherb.com (from US), supplements, $89.80 total, shipped thru DHL, no taxes/fees
iherb.com (from US), supplements/coffee/bottle, $64.00 total, shipped thru Post/SwissPost, no taxes/fees
spartoo.com (from FR), boots, €87.20 total, shipped thru Colissimo/SwissPost, package was sitting at SwissPost for TEN DAYS! They sent a letter by snail mail requesting a copy of receipt, which had to be mailed back. I was then charged 37.50chf in fees. Is that the "Swiss Efficiency" I've been hearing my wife boast about the last 15yrs? SMH
I take it if you've just moved here from LA. I have a feeling you might not be very happy living here
Are you a psychic? lol...I'm workin' real hard on liking it. SERENITY NOW!
It seems non-swiss retailers with a turnover of over CHF100,000 will have to account to the Swiss Government for the VAT directly - charging the customer upfront, rather like the way intra EU taxable trade to retail customers is handled.
If that's the case it should not need to be customs cleared and so there should be no further charges to pay. Swiss Post needed a year to update their systems they said and this policy should come into effect on January 1st 2019.
However, I've since seen nothing more on the subject. Does anyone know anything about this?
As the new rules only apply to VAT but not duty the goods still have to clear customs (which is done directly by the shipping provider such as Post, DHL, etc.)
Reason it comes fully in force January 2019 is because the full regulations and procedure have not been published by the federal council before 15 August 2018.
For more information on the subject see the end of this thread:
Neither unexpected nor out of the ordinary. So what is the issue ?
No issue, simply replying with my recent personal experience placing orders outside of CH... All of which were over 62chf, yet only the one from France got held by SwissPost for more money.
I can just repeat my self. Neither unexpected nor out of the ordinary. All as it should be. So what is the issue ?
I think you take top place for that Moniker, the person you insulted is one of the best informed posters on this site when it comes to rules and regulations.
In basic English, as you don't seem to understand too much else, You just screwed up big time !
The first 2 had a limit of CHF 200, NOT CHF 62 (or 64.94 as it is now).
"Foodstuffs, books, newspapers, medicines, other everyday consumer goods - 2/5%"
(Supplements and coffee in your case)
Tom