Hi, want to the get a coat from the US: http://www.schottnyc.com/wool-clothi...uffle-coat.htm and would like to know how much import tax I will have to pay? The Coat costs $230.00 and shipping is $82.65 total cost $312.65. Will I have to pay the tax on the total price of just the cost without shipping? Thanks

Also I live in Zurich if that matters.

You will pay about 7.something% on the total cost including shipping plus an administrative fee. Mine was CHF19 when I received a shipment from FedEx.

Hi Everyone,

Just bumping this thread as it was a couple of years ago.

I'm assuming import tax is now 8% basically the VAT?

Or is it like with cars a 4% import tax in addition to 8%?

Cheers, Stew.

you'll pay 8% on the value of the item plus shipping, and an admistrative fee - depending on the service could be another chf 20-30 if i recall correctly.

I thought the total tax (including VAT + regular customs charge) was about 17%.

I think that's horrible if the shipping cost is included on the taxed amount. It doesn't seem right, since it's not like we're importing the shipping itself. Grrr.

You can't be taxed for shipping costs, only on the merchandise.

i'll have to check, but i think you are taxed on shipping. but the tax is 8%, not 17.

You are definitely taxed on the value of goods + shipping costs. Search the forum there are heaps of threads on this or have a look here and here. You are taxed the rate of 8% (2.5% for books) plus a handling fee depending on the value of the item/s and who is sending it (the fee is often higher for couriers). Normally for purchases incuring less than 5CHFtax the tax is waived.

Here's a web page about it, from the Swiss Post:

http://www.post.ch/en/post-startseit...n.htm#txt32980

There is a VAT charge of 8% plus regular customs fees, but I don't see what the percentage is for the regular customs fees. (Again, though, it seems I remember it usually totaling to about 17%). That page also seems to state that shipping cost is not included in the VAT tax (though maybe it is included in the customs fees?)

Ugh... sometimes I feel a bit penalized (financially) for the fact that Switzerland has almost no manufacturing sector. It's certainly nice to not see factories everywhere, but at the same time, it pains me to have to pay so much extra when I want or need to order something from abroad.

There threes things to consider:

- import duty
- VAT
- admin/brokerage fees

Which ones, all or none depends one what is being imported and how.

VAT is now 8%.
If duty is due depends on what you are importing. Cars have duty charges.
And yes, VAT is chargeable on the shipping.

Postage is added.
"What are the components of the value of the goods on which VAT is charged?"

-carriage <--- That's postage/shipping costs.

final price you pay = admin fee + (cost of item + duty + delivery cost)*VAT rate (8%)

admin fee may or may not be with VAT (i can't remember) and depends on your mathematical expanding convention

I guess I should have posted it in my last post. I figured people could read it on their own since Carrie so kindly posted. But, anyway, here it is the part you mention:


"What are the components of the value of the goods on which VAT is charged?

The value of the goods has a number of components.

Invoice amount

- Foreign VAT
- Rebate
- Discount
- Deposit on packaging

------------------------------------

+ Credits
+ Commission
+ Licence rights
+ Carriage
+ Import/customs duties, border veterinary controls, precious metals controls, etc. (calculated automatically)
+ Customs clearance

= VAT VALUE"

Ah, it didn't occur to me that that's what "carriage" meant. So thank you...
But ugh... now I'm all the more frustrated since we are, in fact, also charged VAT/customs for the shipping fees.

Easy.

8% VAT (on the total, including shipping), plus CHF 18 paperwork.

Tom

probably still cheaper than buying in CH.

It really depends on what it is you want to import. You have to really do the calculations to see if it's worth it.

Before we left CH I imported a small kiln to bring with me down here. Yes, it was available in CH but the price including shipping via FedEX, admin fees, VAT, etc, etc. it was still CHF350 less than in CH. Now with the exchange rate the way it is... I'd bet I could have saved another 100/150 unless the Swiss seller also lowered her prices. Somehow I doubt she did though.