For the first time in my life, I am planning on sending a gift to friends in Switzerland. However, I have a concerns about Swiss customs. When I took the package to the US post office the pricing was $33 for mailing to Switzerland. The items in the package are tee shirts with a combined value under $100. The US post office employee stated that the person receiving the package will have to pay an import tax of approximately $50 on the items. This seems to be an excessive amount for a small package with minimal value. I appreciate any replies from people who have sent items to relatives or friends in Switzerland. Any experiences on either receiving or sending gifts to Switzerland from the USA?
Posted by
Sweden
6848 posts
You usually don't have to pay duties for personal gifts, but you have to fill out a customs declaration for the package. I would not expect someone working at a US post office to be an expert is Swiss customs law.
Posted by
Switzerland
109 posts
We have received gifts sent by post from friends overseas without paying any import tax.
From the Swiss Post office:
Gifts from private individuals abroad are duty-free up to CHF 100 (except alcohol and tobacco).
Here is the link:
https://www.post.ch/en/receiving-mail/import-customs-clearance
Posted by
Bern, Switzerland
1025 posts
Well depending on the exchange rate at the time, it may be OK for customs, as 100CHF should be customs free. However regardless of whether customs is due, if the package is selected for inspection the Swiss Post will charge an admin fee of between 25 - 30 CHF.
Posted by
OP
100 posts
If you have had experience receiving or sending packages here are additional questions. The package is a gift and from one individual to another (no commercial or business involved, only two private individuals). How should the outside of the package be labeled: "GIFT" etc.? What needs to be written on the outside of the package for clearance. By the, way the gifts are two University football Tee shirts and a small child's hand size university nerf football.
Posted by
Switzerland
109 posts
I haven't mailed anything from the US before, but the standard procedure typically involves filling out a customs form. On this form, you list the contents of the parcel, the value of each item, and the total value of what you're sending. There's also an option to indicate that the package is a gift. I've never actually written 'gift' on the package itself; the customs form provides sufficient information.
Plus, fun fact—'Gift' in German actually means 'poison,' so marking your package that way might cause a bit of confusion! :-)
Posted by
Switzerland
408 posts
My mom sends me packages in Switzerland for Christmas/birthdays and every time, the post office tells her I will have to pay import tax and every time I tell her not to worry about it. As long as it’s under 100chf value and clearly marked as a gift, it will not be taxed. The rule the USPS always quotes is based on the EU rules, but these don’t apply to Switzerland. The gifts are always delivered to me without extra charges.
I have had the situation during the height of the pandemic where a large box with many items was sent to me and ended up being searched. I was charged a ridiculous rate but that was because the total value was (incorrectly) deemed to be over 100. As long as you don’t try to claim that expensive items are under the limit, keep it to a few items and everything is marked as a gift on the form, it should be ok.