Switzerland: Customs tariff number changes as of January 1, 2024 – also relevant for exporting Swiss companies

The adjustment of the structure of the Swiss customs tariff numbers on January 1, 2024 (Changes on Jan 1, 2024 – Abolition of industrial tariffs (admin.ch)) does not only bring work to importing companies in Switzerland, even if the background – the abolition of industrial tariffs in Switzerland – would suggest this. Exporting Swiss companies are also affected. Read here how you can prepare for the change now.

What happens to the Swiss customs tariff numbers?

The tariff structure is simplified. In practice, this means: Many Swiss sub-numbers – the last two digits of the customs tariff number – are replaced by zeros. As a result, some 1,600 customs tariff numbers will become obsolete.

Attention! Statistical keys are also affected by changes without the need for classification in a new customs tariff number. This means: The previous customs tariff number remains in place, only the statistical keys change.

What companies (already) need to pay attention to.

Maintenance of customs tariff numbers in the master data

If you are using Product Classification from AEB with Swiss content, then the conversion will be easy for you. AEB will provide the new tariff data in due course. All commodity codes stored for the material master that are affected by a change automatically receive a subsequent value as of January 1, 2024. If – as in virtually all cases – a commodity code is clearly replaced by another commodity code, this then only has to be confirmed by an approval. This approval can also be automated. In both variants, you can then see what changes were made.

If you organize your customs tariff numbers without Product Classification from AEB, you will find good tools for updating the commodity codes yourself on the website of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG). With the “Konkordanzliste 2024 Tarifnummer/Schlüssel alt-neu” (Concordance list 2024 customs tariff number/key old-new) in Excel format under Changes on Jan 1, 2024 – Abolition of industrial tariffs (admin.ch) and a little Excel skill, you can check your existing classifications and, if necessary, convert them directly to the new customs tariff numbers.

Attention in Customs Management (e-dec Export and e-dec Import)

The master data with the customs tariff numbers and keys will be automatically provided by Customs Management on January 1, 2024. As of Janaury 1, 2024, the integrated assistant will detect that you are using an obsolete customs tariff number and alert you to this in your customs declarations. Only after the necessary update you can then send the customs declarations.

No automatic update will happen, on the other hand, with templates and template selectors. As a result, you have to check your templates/template selectors and update them if necessary. The template selectors can be given a validity date. This means you can prepare the adjustments even before January 1, 2024.