You can order for your company from Amazon, AliExpress, Temu or another online shop through a business account with the shop, a company card or your procurement team. If a foreign seller is entered in the Swiss VAT register, it charges Swiss VAT. Otherwise import VAT and customs clearance are due on import. Through Vemente you receive the invoice from Vemente, made out to your company.
What an invoice from an online shop needs
For your company to book a purchase properly, the invoice must name your company as the buyer. Whether a foreign seller shows Swiss VAT depends on its turnover in Switzerland. That is what the law and the Swiss Federal Tax Administration say.
‘Die Rechnung muss den Leistungserbringer oder die Leistungserbringerin, den Leistungsempfänger oder die Leistungsempfängerin und die Art der Leistung eindeutig identifizieren […].’Translation ‘The invoice must clearly identify the supplier of the service, the recipient of the service and the nature of the service […].’
‘Erzielt ein (in- oder ausländischer) Versandhändler bzw. Versandhändlerin pro Jahr mindestens 100 000 Franken Umsatz aus Kleinsendungen, die er bzw. sie vom Ausland ins Inland befördert oder versendet, gelten seine Lieferungen als Inlandlieferungen. Er bzw. sie wird in der Folge in der Schweiz mehrwertsteuerpflichtig und muss sich im MWST-Register eintragen lassen.’Translation ‘If a mail-order business (Swiss or foreign) achieves a turnover of at least 100,000 francs per year from small consignments that it transports or ships from abroad into Switzerland, its supplies count as domestic supplies. It then becomes liable for VAT in Switzerland and must register in the VAT register.’
The shops named here have no connection with Vemente. Whether buying through Vemente fits your rules is your company's decision.
Your routes when buying from online shops
| Open a business account with the shop | Some shops offer accounts for companies, with the invoice made out to the company. Each shop states whether this is available for your company in Switzerland and with which payment method. |
|---|---|
| Pay with the company card | Where there is a company card for online purchases. Your company decides who holds it and up to which amount. The order confirmation and the shop's invoice are part of the expense report. |
| Pay with your own card and claim it as expenses | Where your expenses rules allow it. Whose name the shop's invoice carries depends on the details in the customer account. Until the reimbursement, you carry the amount yourself. |
| Order through your company's procurement team | Procurement orders from the shop or from a supplier that is already set up and carries the item. Price and delivery time may differ. |
| Order through Vemente | Your company sets up Vemente once as a supplier. Vemente checks the seller and pays the shop. It's quick. |
Vemente buys from the shop, the invoice is made out to your company
Vemente buys in its own name, also from large online shops and on marketplaces. You receive the invoice from Vemente, made out to your company.
We check the seller in the commercial register, against sanctions lists, for export control and for adverse media. Then we pay the shop.
You receive a quote by email. We order once you have accepted it and the order is approved. Depending on what your company sets, orders are approved automatically, through Vemente's AI approval or by your people. The fee is 2.8% of the order value, minimum CHF 19, or EUR 19 in euro countries.
If the goods come from abroad, Swiss Post or the courier usually bills you for the clearance, any customs duty and the import VAT. These amounts are not part of the invoice from Vemente.
If something is wrong, damaged or missing, we sort it out with the supplier.
Questions about online shops
Does a foreign online shop show Swiss VAT?
That depends on the seller. A seller with at least CHF 100'000 a year in turnover from low-value consignments to Switzerland must register in the Swiss VAT register. A registered seller charges Swiss VAT on all consignments to Switzerland. The recipient then pays no import VAT. Low-value consignments are consignments with an import VAT amount of up to CHF 5. In addition, since 1 January 2025 a platform through which goods are sold counts as the seller towards the buyer. The ESTV keeps a list of registered mail-order sellers and platforms.
Is there customs duty on goods from abroad?
Since 1 January 2024 Switzerland no longer charges customs duty on industrial goods. Other goods, such as food, may be subject to customs duty. Import VAT remains.
Which online shops does Vemente buy from?
Large online shops and marketplaces too, if the seller passes our check. We check the commercial register, sanctions lists, export control and adverse media.
General information, not legal advice.
Send us what you need. We send you a quote by email.