Lower allowance for duty-free imports to combat shopping tourism
Published: Thursday, Nov 30th 2023, 15:50
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The federal government wants to curb shopping tourism. In future, anyone living in Switzerland and shopping across the border will only be able to import goods worth CHF 150 duty-free instead of CHF 300. The Federal Department of Finance (FDF) has opened a consultation on this.
The FDF is proposing to reduce the so-called value-free limit for travel to CHF 150 per person from January 1, 2025. An even lower amount would disproportionately increase the cost of customs clearance and checks at border crossings, the FDF wrote on Thursday. More smuggling would also have to be expected.
An ordinance must be amended to lower the value exemption limit. Due to the scope of such an adjustment, a consultation will be carried out, the FDF wrote. It is also planning steering measures to ensure that the majority of customs clearances are processed digitally in future.
In particular, the customs clearance application "QuickZoll" is to be adapted. An extension to enable customs clearance in the app at a reduced VAT rate is expected to be possible on January 1, 2027.
Parliament's demand
With this proposal, the FDF wants to implement a parliamentary demand. However, the motion approved by the Councillors calls for the value exemption limit to be adjusted to the export de minimis limit of the country of origin. This is the minimum purchase amount abroad that must be reached per sales transaction or per invoice for the VAT to be refunded.
According to the FDF report, however, this is not a suitable proposal. This would make the application of the regulations extremely complex for travelers and the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS), it points out.
The Federal Council had recommended that the initiatives adopted by parliament be rejected. At the time, it stated that they would not save the retail trade in border regions, but would rather lead to people circumventing the new rules and therefore smuggling goods.
The consultation will last until March 15, 2024.
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