--- title: "Ordering from abroad for your company" url: "https://vemente.com/en/guides/ordering-from-abroad/" description: "Goods from abroad for a company in Switzerland. What the federal authorities say about import VAT, customs duty and customs clearance, the routes you have and how it works with Vemente." language: "en" publisher: "Vemente" area: "Abroad and customs" stand: "November 2026" published: "2026-10-11" modified: "2026-11-03" --- # Ordering from abroad for your company The right supplier is in Germany, the USA or Japan. Who pays the VAT on import, who clears the parcel through customs, and which invoice then goes to accounting? As of November 2026 ## In short Since 1 January 2024 Switzerland no longer charges customs duty on industrial goods. Import VAT and the customs declaration remain. The goods can be cleared by Swiss Post or the courier, by a freight forwarder, or by the supplier itself if delivered duty paid (DDP) has been agreed. Through Vemente too, Swiss Post or the courier usually bills you for the charges directly. ## What applies when importing into Switzerland Since 1 January 2024 Switzerland no longer charges customs duty on industrial goods. Import VAT remains, and so does the customs declaration. That is what the responsible federal offices tell companies. > ‘Mit Inkrafttreten der Massnahme wurden alle Einfuhrzölle für Industrieprodukte (HS-Kapitel 25-97) unabhängig von deren Warenursprung und Warenlieferweg auf null gesetzt. […] Auch sind sonstige Abgaben und Steuern (z.B. Mehrwertsteuer, Mineralölsteuer) weiterhin fällig.’ > > Translation ‘When the measure entered into force, all import duties on industrial products (HS chapters 25-97) were set to zero, regardless of where the goods originate and the route by which they are delivered. […] Other levies and taxes (e.g. value added tax, mineral oil tax) also remain due.’ > > Source [SECO, abolition of industrial tariffs, German original](https://www.seco.admin.ch/de/aufhebung-industriezoelle), read on 4 Nov 2026 > ‘Jede Sendung aus dem Ausland wird beim Bundesamt für Zoll und Grenzsicherheit (BAZG) zur Veranlagung angemeldet (verzollen und versteuern). Bei Paketen und Briefen wird dies durch die Post und durch die Kurierunternehmen übernommen.’ > > Translation ‘Every consignment from abroad is declared to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) for assessment (customs duty and tax). For parcels and letters, Swiss Post and the courier companies do this.’ > > Source [FOCBS (Federal Office for Customs and Border Security), postal consignments, online purchases and courier traffic (imports by companies), German original](https://www.bazg.admin.ch/de/postversand-interneteinkauf-kurierverkehr-einfuhr-firmen), read on 4 Nov 2026 *Whether buying through Vemente fits your rules is your company's decision.* ## Your routes for an order from abroad A good purchase starts with knowing, before you order, who clears customs and who pays the charges. - **Order yourself, Swiss Post or the courier clears the goods.** Your company sets up the supplier and receives their invoice. Swiss Post or the courier declares the consignment to the FOCBS, advances the VAT and any customs duty and bills them to you with its own fee. - **Hire a freight forwarder.** They prepare the customs declaration and charge the duties and taxes and their service at their own rates. - **Have the goods delivered duty paid (DDP).** The supplier takes care of customs clearance and the charges and includes them in their price. This must be agreed and noted on the accompanying documents. Whether a supplier offers this for Switzerland is in their delivery terms or their quote. - **Order through Vemente.** Your company sets up Vemente once as a supplier. Vemente checks and pays the supplier abroad. It's quick. ## What Vemente takes on for an order from abroad Vemente buys from the supplier in its own name and resells the goods to your company. The goods go straight from the supplier to you. We check the supplier in the commercial register, against sanctions lists, for export control and for adverse media. Then we pay them in their currency. 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 importing ### Is there still customs duty on goods from abroad? Since 1 January 2024 Switzerland no longer charges customs duty on industrial products in chapters 25 to 97 of the customs tariff, whatever the country of origin. Agricultural products are excluded, including some in chapters 35 and 38. That is what SECO states. How a product is classified is shown in the customs tariff Tares. ### What is the VAT on import calculated on? According to the FOCBS, usually on the price of the goods. Added to this are all costs up to the destination in Switzerland, such as freight, insurance and clearance charges, plus any import duties. The standard rate is 8.1%, and 2.6% applies to certain goods. Foreign VAT on the supplier's invoice is not included. ### What does clearance by Swiss Post or a courier cost? Swiss Post charges a base price of CHF 13.00 for consignments from the EU and CHF 16.00 from other countries. On top come 3% of the value of the goods, including shipping costs and charges. Swiss Post's clearance price is at most CHF 70.00. All prices excluding VAT, read on 3 Nov 2026. Courier companies have their own rates. The FOCBS has no influence on them. ## Related - [Circuit boards and prototypes from Asia](https://vemente.com/en/guides/circuit-boards-from-asia/) - [The supplier is not in the system](https://vemente.com/en/guides/supplier-not-in-the-system/) - [The supplier wants payment in advance](https://vemente.com/en/guides/supplier-wants-payment-in-advance/) As a web page https://vemente.com/en/guides/ordering-from-abroad/