The ZAZ account for Switzerland: What you need to know

Who needs a ZAZ account?

If your company regularly imports goods across the Swiss border, it is advisable to open a ZAZ account. The ZAZ account greatly simplifies regular imports into Switzerland. Cashless customs clearance results in shorter waiting times at customs. In addition, the payment period of 60 days for VAT and 5 days for customs duties offers greater flexibility!

How do you open a ZAZ account?

exporto will take care of the application to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) if your company also wishes to use exporto for fiscal representation. We will discuss this with you during the onboarding process. In addition, a security deposit of at least CHF 2,000 must be paid (depending on the volume of imports). We will also be happy to discuss this with you during the onboarding process.

How does the ZAZ account work?

The ZAZ account works similarly to a credit card. If import duties are incurred, the ZAZ account will be debited with the amount of the import duties incurred. You will then receive an invoice directly from Swiss customs at regular intervals. As a rule, you must transfer this amount manually.

What is the billing cycle at ZAZ?

The billing cycle is at regular intervals, provided that duties have been incurred.

You can set up your account to receive invoices by email. If you have a Swiss bank account, you can set up a direct debit. If you have a German bank account, you can only make manual transfers.

What does the invoicing look like?

All fees are summarized. There are always two invoices—one for the EUST and one for customs duties. The invoice for the EUST has the heading “VAT—Invoice No. XYZ.”

Where can I find detailed information about the ZAZ account?

You can download a leaflet with all the detailed information about the ZAZ account from the website of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS).