Sending consignments properly is half the work for customs clearance
During holiday times, many travellers use it to bring home their souvenirs. Fashionistas can use it to buy trends from all over the world, and the latest tech gadgets find their way into our homes using it. We’re talking about the international mail system. But how does customs clearance actually work for the products you order? To ensure that foreign consignments do not turn into a fees nightmare, we answer five frequently asked questions on this subject. Right at the end we even have a small surprise.
Rich Content Section
Why are additional costs charged at all when delivering consignments from abroad?
As a rule, every consignment from abroad is liable to customs duty and VAT. As the recipient of a consignment from abroad, you pay the necessary VAT on the value of the goods and customs duties on the gross weight. However, these costs should not be confused with the carriage charges paid by the sender when the consignment is posted.
Customs clearance of imported consignments made easy
When is no customs duty and/or VAT charged on import consignments?
If you live abroad and send an acquaintance in Switzerland a gift with a value of up to CHF 100, this will be duty free. Additionally, no customs or value added tax are charged if the calculated amount of VAT for a consignment is less than CHF 5 per customs declaration.
Sample calculation:
Order value CHF 90
+ transport costs CHF 10
= goods value CHF 100
VAT 8% of CHF 100 = CHF 8
How can additional costs be avoided?
We charge a surcharge of CHF 13 excluding VAT if we are unable to carry out customs clearance for a consignment because of missing, unreliable or incomplete customs documentation and we therefore need to open the consignment and possibly clarify the consignment value with the sender. Senders should therefore be made aware that postal items must be sufficiently declared before mailing. Relevant factors for us are the contents and value of the goods for customs clearance purposes. These customs documents must be affixed on the outside of the consignment.
How are the costs calculated for customs clearance?
The customs clearance costs depend on the origin of the consignment and the value of the goods sent. For consignments from Germany, France, Austria and Italy, the basic fee is CHF 11.50 while for consignments from any other country, the basic fee is CHF 16. A surcharge corresponding to 3% of the declared value of the goods is then applied (not including import levies and customs control).
Here is a sample calculation:
First the Swiss VAT for the goods needs to be calculated.
| Purchase price (including foreign VAT) | = | CHF 115 |
| less foreign VAT (e.g. 15%) | - | CHF 15 |
| plus postage (transport costs) | + | CHF 8 |
| plus customs clearance fee (basic fee + 3% of the value of the goods*) | + | CHF 14.75 (CHF 11.50 + CHF 3.25) |
| plus value-added services (e.g. inspection) | + | CHF 13 |
| Calculation basis for VAT | = | CHF 135.75 |
-> VAT due: (8% of CHF 135.75) = CHF 10.85
After determining the VAT, the total costs of the customs clearance process can be calculated.
| Swiss VAT (see above) | = | CHF 10.85 |
| plus value-added services (e.g. inspection) | + | CHF 13 |
| plus customs clearance fee (basic fee + 3% of the value of the goods*) | + | CHF 14.75 (CHF 11.50 + CHF 3.25) |
| Total costs of the customs clearance process | + | CHF 38.60 |
* Value of the goods = purchase price + postage (transport costs)
Can duties paid upon import be claimed back when returning goods?
Yes, for goods consignments returned to the sender because of refusal to accept, rescission of the sale, returns of unsatisfactory goods, damage or defects. This does not apply to consignments for which it was clear from the outset that they are only being temporarily imported into Switzerland.
Find out the details here
Last but not least
In 2018, Swiss Post will waive fees for customs inspections. This means that you won’t have to pay CHF 13 for your international parcel to be checked next year.