Many of the questions posted on this thread pertain to new commercial goods. Does anyone know if taxes are to be paid on imported used goods that one already owns? For example, I will be shipping several boxes of my used belongings (old athletic shoes, ski equipment, kitchenware, etc.) to Switzerland. Are such items expempt from import tax (it seems to me that they should be. after all, we're not taxed on every item we bring with us in our luggage.), and, if so, how do I ensure that they are not taxed? (A friend recently sent me an unannounced "gift" with a declared value of $1000, and I was met with the unpleasant surprise of a $120 fee when I went to pick it up. I'd like to avoid repeating this experience if possible.)

Customs have access to the internet and can check the normal price

So my mum lives in Belgium and she has a parcel for me. She went to the post office to send it to Geneva and they said that as of 1 January 2010 Switzerland have BANNED people from sending parcels to Switzerland! This surely can't be true can it?!?!? It supposed to be a new law to stop people from ordering stuff from other countries and bringing it into switzerland. Is this true???

I just got bitten by the new 18Fr fee. It's really a ridiculous rate to charge for opening my mail.

And I've got a few more things on the way. The Swiss catalogue price. Hmm, yet another reason for the merchants to raise their already stupidly high prices. Thank you Godfather.

What the heck?! Can't be right can it?

Been charged that on the last few parcels in November and December last year. However I have managed a few smaller low value (below 50CHF) straight to the door and no bill. So it pays sometimes to break up purchases to keep the price low.

This is actually a bit of a different question. I recently purchased something in the US and brought it back with me from a business trip. I went thru the Red line and paid the customs duty on it etc. However, when I opened it here in Swtizerland we realized there was a part or two missing that the company now needs to send me. How do I get it mailed to me without having to pay additional customs duty? Any ideas?
Thanks...

Are you moving your household to Switzerland? You need to go to a Spedition and ask them to complete the import paperwork for you. I imported my household goods, and a 5 year old car, as my own belongings and paid nothing. Even the car import was almost a formality. The Spedition (Imposrt Export Agent) will ask for proof of residence here, to attach to the customs papers. Best to ask before you ship the goods!

If you are not moving your household, throw all the stuff away and buy second hand here. The cost of shipping and import costs are way above the worth of an old pair of skis.

I need some new gear in my studio. I could actually buy it here for more than twice it's cost in the states (even thought it's made in Italy), but it would be a lot cheaper for me to order it from the US.

My fear though is that customs is going to smack the crap out of me with various charges. What's in the box will look to them like a bunch of metal and plastic parts, a spirit level and 4 cordura bags (no electric parts). The invoice will be for about US$400.

I'm trying to understand what I can realistically expect to have to pay to import this. Is it 7.6 VAT plus a handling fee?

If that's the case, it's still much cheaper for me to import it, as the local price for the same things is over CHF1000.

I ve sent you a mail about this.
duty is + 7.5% on all goods over the value of 66chf. + a handeling charge dependant on the shipper. Shipping from the us is not really cheaper by the time youve paid the extra costs.

Could you not post it for everyone to read?

well basically, it is in my humble opinion, cheaper to buy online from Germany, Austria, Italy etc via Ricardo.ch and ebay.ch. as well as digitec.ch and chillipic.ch... I have bought lenses from the USA and other equipment from the UK as well. Every time ive done so, the cost of import duty and charges made by the shippers , has worked out roughly the same as if id bought here. The only way i know of that has made it cheaper is by buying online , from Germany. Or for cameras and lenses from digitec.ch.
The german sellers on Ebay and on CH are set up for deliveries to Switzerland, and ive had no issues with them.

are you self employed? the costs would probably be deductible as costs from your AG/GmBH, or even personal taxes as doing your job if not self employed.

Doh! just realised:

is this studio in the artistic sense or in the living sense? if the living sense you are pretty much stuffed on the VAT side.

bill

Well, it's always cheapest to buy photo accessories, such as lenses, directly from Asia. Prices are the lowest to start with, and they usually put fake values on the invoice so you pay little or no tax. Clearly this is illegal and will get you shot, so don't try! ;-)

In the artistic sense. It's the hardware to install a system in my studio to hold big rolls of background paper (sick to death of wrinkled cloth ones).

B&H Photo cost is USD401. Shipping is 195 (international priority mail). Total is USD596.30 to get it paid for and here. Then add whatever customs is going to charge me - 7.6 plus a fee. 7.6 or 596 is about 45, but the fee - ?!

To buy it all new here (already checked ricardo and ebay - can't find same items) and have it shipped to my door will cost me CHF1070. No fear of extra charges.

So the only way it would be cheaper to buy here is if the fee is more than 400, right? Or am I overlooking something (highly likely lol).

if the box/package is opened by customs and it is clear that the value described on the outside of the package is obviously too low, then the customs people will correct the value to that of the local CH market AND THEN apply the VAT + charges.

Nothing that I want to buy is in anyway a camera or lens. It's just hardware. Seriously - a metal frame, some special clamps for it, the plastic rollers that go into the ends of massive rolls of paper, metal chains to roll them up and down, and some canvas type bags to hold sand. Totally boring stuff. But stupid expensive if you buy it here.

Unless the customs people are clever about studio equipment, they will probably think it's a box of bizzare junk. It looks like this:



edit: or on second thought perhaps they will think I am a very kinky person... lol

If sent by ordinary post. Will never happen if sent by courier - they have better things to do.

For ordinary post: Since value is over 500CHF, the standard procedure applies and fee is 35CHF. Details here:
http://www.poste.ch/post-startseite/...ernational.htm

Couriers typically charge between 30 and 60 CHF for taking care of custom duties.

I think you're on the safe side. If the hardware is Made in Italy, it might be a good idea to find a shop in Europe. USD195 for shipping is a lot of money.