Customs duties in Switzerland: costs of packages from abroad
Products from abroad are usually cheaper than Swiss ones. It may be expensive to clear customs, however. There are processing fees and taxes to consider, too. Here are a few tips to save money when you import parcels.
05.05.2023
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1. What costs do I need to bear in mind for packages from abroad?
Many international retailers deliver their goods to Switzerland. However, every shipment from abroad is subject to customs fees and VAT. So what originally seemed like a bargain may turn out to be much more expensive.
If you order a product from outside Switzerland, the following fees may be added to the sales price:
Freight processing fees (Post office/courier service fees for customs clearance costs)
2. When do I have to pay VAT?
VAT is calculated as a percentage of the consignment value including shipping costs, customs duties and handling fees. It applies to the following imports:
You do not have to pay VAT in these cases:
For goods under 65 francs (including shipping costs) – with a VAT rate of 7.7%. This is because the amount owed is less than 5 francs per customs declaration (your tax-free allowance).
For goods under 200 francs (including shipping costs) – with a VAT rate of 2.5%. This is because the amount owed is less than 5 francs per customs declaration (your tax-free allowance).
For gifts from private individuals living abroad to private individuals in Switzerland, provided the value of the goods does not exceed 100 francs (excluding alcohol and tobacco).
These online retailers include VAT in the sales price:
Foreign mail-order companies with an annual turnover of more than 100,000 francs in Switzerland must include VAT in their sale price. The customer does not have to pay extra for the tax. The federal government keeps a list of taxable mail-order companies (in German).
This usually doesn’t apply to smaller online shops and platforms that sell third-party products (e.g. Aliexpress and Wish). Here, VAT is charged at checkout for goods that cost over 65 francs and have cleared customs.
3. How much do I have to pay in customs duty?
Customs duties are worked out according to weight. For many products, the customs duty is less than 1 franc per kilogram. Higher rates apply to alcohol, tobacco, food, textiles and jewellery.
Only customs duties exceeding five francs are charged (e.g. by the Swiss Post). As a result, many online orders are duty-free.
4. How much do companies charge for customs handling?
Customs clearance of parcels from abroad is handled by the carrier. This could be the post office or a courier service. The carrier charges a handling fee to the customer for this service.
Depending on the provider, the handling costs vary. Swiss Post charges the following amounts for customs clearance:
Parcels from Germany, France, Austria and Italy: 11.50 CHF
Parcels from other countries: 16.00 CHF
There is also a surcharge of 3% of the consignment value. Swiss Post charges buyers a maximum of 70 francs costs. These costs are broken down for you in this instructional video by Swiss Post.
Calculate the customs duty for a package in Switzerland
Want to know how much you’ll pay for customs duties? It’s not that simple. The additional costs depend on the price, the exchange rate, the carrier and the consignment. Here is an example to give you an idea:
| Costs | Amount (CHF) |
|---|---|
| Total amount invoiced by online retailer | CHF 198.25 |
| Fees from the postal service for customs declarations | CHF 17.45 |
| Fees from the postal service for opening the shipment | CHF 13.00 |
| VAT (7.7%) | CHF 17.61 |
| Total amount | CHF 246.31 |
5. How do I take care of payment?
How and when you can pay the customs duty, VAT and handling fees depends on the carrier. At Swiss Post, you can pay import costs of up to 100 francs before delivery via the "My consignments" online service. Alternatively, you can also pay at your door with Twint or cash. If more than 100 francs is due, the amount will be collected in cash upon delivery.
Some providers may not accept cash (e.g. FedEx). If in doubt, ask in advance.
6. When is there no need to pay customs duties, VAT or handling fees?
You do not have to pay customs duties or VAT in the following cases:
the amount payable is less than five francs per customs declaration (tax-free allowance)
Gift consignments from private individuals living abroad to private individuals in Switzerland, provided the value of the goods does not exceed 100 francs (excluding alcohol and tobacco)
Swiss Post and some other providers also waive the handling fee for duty-free packages. It is best to inquire about prices with the carrier beforehand.
7. How do I save on customs charges?
Here are some tips to help you keep costs to a minimum when ordering goods from abroad:
Ask the sender to choose a cheaper shipping method.
Avoid splitting the consignment into several packages.
Ensure that the sender correctly declares the package’s contents (total value plus shipping costs, if applicable).
Use a foreign delivery address as provided by different companies (e.g. grenzpaket.ch, deutsche-lieferadresse.com, lieferadresse-konstanz.de). For a fee, you can have the package sent to a nearby address, pick it up there and bring it into Switzerland yourself. Pro: you can import goods up to a total value of 300 francs without paying VAT. Con: this is only worthwhile if the potential VAT savings are enough to offset your travel costs. However, there are some products that have restrictions you should be aware of.
Alternatively, you can transfer your parcel to a delivery shop such as meineinkauf.ch or eurogoods.ch, who will clear it for you and forward it to your address. Con: this also results in service fees that vary greatly depending on the service provider (comparison of delivery services in “Kassensturz”). In addition, you cannot reclaim the German VAT (usually 19%). (tips on how to reclaim German VAT)
8. Do you have any other questions about customs clearance?
Swiss Post’s FAQ about imports answers your most common questions about the cost of shipping from abroad. You can also reach the post office at 0848 639 639 (CHF 0.08/min from a Swiss landline; mobile rates depend on the provider).
You can reach other carriers at the following numbers:
UPS: 044 200 41 00 (Mon-Fri from 8 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.)
DHL: 0848 711 711 (Mon-Sun from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. including public holidays. The availability of individual services may vary, CHF 0.08/min)
Fedex: 0848 1 33339 (Mon-Fri from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., CHF 0.08/min from Swiss landlines; mobile rates depend on the provider)
This article was first published on 08.08.2019
