Import duty from Switzerland to the UK.

[Loony]

It's that old " God, please grant me patience, but HURRY!"

I hope your scarves arrive okay!

 

[MsReya]

I've ordered stuff from L-Z a few times and no taxes/duties. One package was even opened by the customs (no damage done and carefully closed with the colourful Customs -tape). I'm not sure about pricier items, though.. And they use Fed-Ex, which is a BIG +.

 

[Alice From Italy]

They're part of EFTA so there shouldn't be any special import tax, unless it's VAT or something? Most of the economical regulations aplly to EFTA countries as well as EU, in accordance with the EEA agreement.

http://www.efta.int/


Schengen is not about taxes. UK is not part of schengen, switzerland is soon to be. Schengen is about abolition of systematic border control. It makes it easier to travel between the countries. That's why you have to show your passport when you enter the UK and not always when you go to scandinavia.

They teached me that Shengen is about the circulation of good and persons, there are no "customs" between people and good travelling through those countries. That's why I thought it could regard the no taxes at customs.

But I'm sure you don't need passport to go from UK to Italy because I did it many times...

 

[Accessory Obsessory]

I hope your scarves arrive okay!

thanks Loony.

I knew we could be friends, I LURVE anything purple! Call it what you like, if it is a cross between red and blue: IT's MINE!
I even painted my bedroom walls this gorgeous shade of aubergine.. very inspiring...!

 

[Bambie]

http://www.fedex.com/us/international/irc/profiles/irc_ch_profile.html?gtmcc=us#C09

Trade Group Member The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) between Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway Switzerland and Singapore provides for the elimination of duty on industrial products that are the manufacture of a member country.

Although not a member of the European Union, as a member of the EFTA, Switzerland has trade agreements which eliminate duty on certain industrial, farm, and fisheries products with the European Union (EU), Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Israel, Jordan, Macedonia, Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Singapore, Turkey, and West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Switzerland also holds a Bilateral Trade Agreement with Faeroe Islands.

As a member of the World Trade Organization, Switzerland provides preferential duty treatment to developing nations under the Generalized System of Preferences.

Switzerland is a signatory to the Convention of International Trade on Endangered Species (Flora and Fauna), the Montreal Protocol on ozone-depleting substances and various agreements relating to non-proliferation of weapons and military equipment including the Wassenaar Agreement, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the Missile Technology Regime (MTCR), the Australia Group, and the Chemical Weapons Convention

General Import Clearance Information Clearance Process
Customs clearance for Switzerland is usually done electronically through a system called Model 90 that provides a link between Customs and the importer's customs broker. (Manual entry is normally used only for goods that accompany a person entering Switzerland.) A formal entry is required for all non-document shipments. Although entries are submitted electronically, a waybill and a commercial invoice are required for all goods except for a few goods that are classified as documents and are non-dutiable.

Prior to submitting the entry electronically to Customs, the customs broker reviews the shipment information and uses the description and weight of the goods to calculate the amount of duty and tax and to determine if any of the contents are subject to regulatory controls such as licenses or inspections. The customs broker also arranges payment of duties and taxes since Customs requires payment prior to customs clearance. The presence of the importer's Value Added Tax (VAT) number and Centralized Customs Clearance (ZAZ) number on the customs documents helps the broker determine if the importer will pay Customs directly through a deferment account or whether the broker will need to submit payment on behalf of the importer.

Customs reviews the electronic entry and responds with one of the following clearance messages, usually in 60 minutes or less.

• Free / without (Entry is complete using electronically submitted information.)
• Free / with (Entry is permitted, but additional documentation must be submitted within regulatory deadlines.)
• Blocked (Entry is not permitted until the documents and/or shipment contents are examined and approved.)

The statistics for how often the above entry types are applied are as follows:
Free without & Free with = ca. 80.0%
Blocked = ca. 20.0%
Examination of all imports = ca. 2%

Shipments which are designated "free" or as "free / with" are eligible for immediate release. For shipments designated as "free / with" or "blocked", the customs broker will submit any required documents in their possession. For "blocked" shipments, if Customs or one of the regulatory agencies set additional conditions (such as an inspection or a license) that must be accomplished prior to customs clearance, the customs broker will assist their client in fulfilling the requirements.

Switzerland allows entries to be submitted prior to arrival of a shipment and is able to release a majority of those shipments before arrival.

Swiss importers are required to retain commercial documents relating to a transaction for five years from the date of entry. These documents may be required for Customs audit purposes. Importers who fail to keep records may be fined.

Import Controls
When imported goods are subject to regulatory controls and an import license or permit is required, the importer is responsible for requesting import permission from the appropriate department or agency. Although very few goods require that a license be obtained prior to import, shipments lacking required licenses are subject to clearance delays.

Some regulated goods are eligible for a weight tolerance exemption that allows importation of shipments of low weight without a license or permit. Although tolerance limits are generally based on gross weight, Customs does authorize tolerance exemption for some goods based on net weight.

Customs Authorities are obligated to perform extensive and/or random review of all goods. They are obligated to process the full handling of the investigation of the goods selected for examination. They are to insure consistency in application of all necessary restrictions and exercise reasonable care in their determinations. If upon examination, goods are determined to be of a pornographic or violent nature they are subject to detainment and/or confiscation. Customs Authorities are obligated to immediately notify the public prosecutors office in the Kanton (province) where the addressee resides or the public prosecutors office having jurisdiction over the community in which the addressee resides. Films requiring an import permit/license are not subject to these measures. The final determination and enforcement of these detained goods are made through the government regulations and processes of the Kantonal Government and punishable by their laws. The lodging of complaints regarding these measures taken by customs authorities is not permissible.

Weight Declarations
Customs duties for most goods are based on the gross weight of the item (weight of the good plus the weight of its packaging) so it is important that the weight of each commodity be provided for Customs purposes. It is also beneficial to include the net weight because certain commodities subject to high duty rates (such as tobacco, watches, jewelry, etc.) have duty rates based on the net weight.

Hope you get your precios package soon!!!

 

[Bambie]

More

Import Taxes

Value Added Tax (VAT/TVA)
Value Added Tax is levied on imported goods. The normal VAT rate is 7.6%, but some goods are exempt from VAT or are eligible for a reduced rate. VAT is calculated on the transaction value of the goods, plus all charges to the port of entry (including freight and insurance) plus the amount of customs duty, if any.

Most importers have a VAT number. Although supplying the VAT number at time of entry or export is not a requirement, having it on the shipment documents can assist Customs and the importer's customs broker in the customs clearance process.

Refunds
Importers may be eligible for VAT refund on goods that are re-exported from Switzerland within 60 days of import. (For example, the goods do not meet order requirements and are returned to the foreign shipper). The importer must be able to provide proof that the goods were imported and re-exported within the 60 days period for them to be VAT-free. Proof that the goods arrived in the shipper's country may also be required. Some goods are also eligible for refunds on customs duties depending on the circumstances and providing that the refund claim is submitted within regulatory deadlines.

Other Taxes
Switzerland imposes additional taxes on certain commodities. A monopoly tax is applied to most alcoholic products. Products subject to veterinary and/or phytosanitary controls are subject to tax. Tobacco, mineral oils and lubricants, vehicles, and volatile organic chemicals are also subject to additional taxes at time of import.




Customs Fees
There are additional fees assessed when examination of goods is required, this applies to many commodities made of and or containing animals, plants and their products.

Exchange Controls
Switzerland has no exchange controls in place.

Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT's)
Switzerland does use control measures and has specific agencies assigned to enforce these controls for Precious Metals and Mineral/Fuel Oils. For controls on oils and fuel products contact; Swiss Group of Lubricating Oils and or Carbura. For controls related to precious metals see contact information for the Agency for Precious Metals Control (EMK) located at the end of this document.


Consular Fees
Switzerland has no consular fees.

 

[Liberté]

They teached me that Shengen is about the circulation of good and persons, there are no "customs" between people and good travelling through those countries. That's why I thought it could regard the no taxes at customs.

But I'm sure you don't need passport to go from UK to Italy because I did it many times...

Yes, probalby because of EU. I totally forgot. Sorry.

I have (as a citizen outside of EU) show my passport to UK, but not to Italy as a member of schengen. ^_^

 

[annanas]

I've ordered stuff from L-Z a few times and no taxes/duties. One package was even opened by the customs (no damage done and carefully closed with the colourful Customs -tape). I'm not sure about pricier items, though.. And they use Fed-Ex, which is a BIG +.

if it got through finnish customs you probably aren't supposed to pay duty they've charged me even when they shouldn't have done!



as for travel between the uk and schengen you don't have to specifically show a passport, but you do have to show valid ID (national ID or a passport) in order to travel between the uk and schengen. some moron at the airport in geneva stamped the PICTURE page of my passport once when i was boarding the plane for no reason whatsoever that i can think of. i ended up having to get a new one! luckily enough it was one of those early finnish eu passports that were slightly defective (the picture pages fell out of some of them) so my new one was free.

 

[Accessory Obsessory]

. some moron at the airport in geneva stamped the PICTURE page of my passport once when i was boarding the plane for no reason whatsoever that i can think of.

you were so beautiful and he could not have you....

Much nicer thought train now, eh?