Destination file · brazil

Buy from Switzerland,
delivered to Brazil.

The most expensive destination we serve, and we will say so before you order

Brazil applies 20% import duty, then a state ICMS of 17 to 20%, then IPI, PIS and COFINS — each assessed on a base that includes the taxes before it. There is no trade agreement to soften it and the de-minimis applies only between private individuals. For most orders the honest answer is that the import cost approaches the goods value.

Provisional · awaiting verification

This file was reconstructed from a rendered build after the original source was lost. Rates come from the quote engine and were cross-checked against the recovered page, but the editorial detail has not been verified against primary customs sources. Treat the quote as indicative until that review is recorded here.

20%Imposto de Importação on the CIF value
17–20%ICMS, varying by state
USD 50De-minimis — between individuals only
7–12Working days from Geneva

What duty actually costs

Taxes on taxes.

Each Brazilian import levy is assessed on a base that already contains the ones before it. Adding the percentages understates the total substantially, and that compounding is the single most important thing to understand before ordering here.

Duty on Swiss goodsReconstructed 17 August 2026 · rates from the quote engine · awaiting verification
0%10%20%58%201520%20182022202620%
Duty you actually payApproximate effective total tax burdenWhat the declaration is worth
  • OngoingNo CH–BR trade agreementSwitzerland trades with Brazil on ordinary terms. Mercosur negotiations with EFTA have not entered into force, so no origin relief is available.20%
  • OngoingICMS is a state taxRates run from 17% to 20% depending on the destination state, and it is assessed on a base including the federal levies.17–20%
  • OngoingIPI, PIS and COFINSFederal levies applied in sequence, each on a base including the previous ones. This is what makes the arithmetic compound rather than add.+
  • The levies cascade. Duty on CIF, IPI on duty-paid value, PIS and COFINS on that, ICMS on the whole. A CHF 1 000 order can attract close to CHF 600 in import cost, and no structuring of the shipment changes it. We quote the full figure up front because discovering it on arrival would be worse.

Sources: Receita Federal import tariff and tax guidance; state ICMS schedules; EFTA–Mercosur negotiation status as of 2026. Reconstructed 17 August 2026 and not yet verified line by line. Rates are re-checked on the morning of every purchase and confirmed before anything is charged.

Landed cost

What it actually costs to land in Brazil.

Every figure updates live. The duty basis, tax base and de-minimis rule change with the destination — that is the whole reason this page exists.

Goods, Swiss retail1 × CHF 1'649.00 incl. VAT1'649.00
Swiss VAT refunded8.1% reclaimed on export− 123.56
Net declared valuethe customs value1'525.44
Service fee8% of net · min. CHF 20122.04
Handlinginspection and extras25.00
Air freight14.8 kg chargeable · 7–12 days239.94
Import dutyImposto de Importação · no agreement in force · 20.0% on CIF · HS 8516.71353.08
ICMS17–20% by state · IPI, PIS and COFINS apply on top360.14
Total landed, DDP
Nothing owed on arrivalCHF 2'625.63≈ 16,804.01 BRL

Most requested

What people buy from Switzerland.

Only high-value, low-weight goods survive the tax arithmetic here. We would rather tell you that before you order than after.

  • ✓Mechanical watchesThe one category that reliably works. Brazilian retail carries the same tax stack plus dealer margin, so buying at the Swiss price with the VAT reclaimed can still land below local retail.
  • ✓Precision instrumentsWhere the Brazilian distributor lead time runs to months and the premium is large.
  • ✓Swiss pharmacy and dermatological linesNot distributed locally, in strictly personal quantities.
  • ✓Caran d'Ache and Swiss stationeryLight, high value against local retail.

Restricted or refused

What we will not ship there.

We screen every request against this list before quoting. A refusal costs you nothing; a seizure costs you the goods.

  • ✕Low-value ordersNot a prohibition, a recommendation. Below roughly CHF 300 the import cost approaches the goods value and the order rarely makes sense. We will say so rather than take it.
  • ✕Multiple identical unitsTreated as commercial import, requiring a registered importer and a formal declaration. We quote single units for personal import.
  • ✕Medicines, supplements and cosmetics without ANVISA registrationANVISA rules are strict and product-specific. Medicines and supplements are declined everywhere; cosmetics are checked per product.
  • ✕Meat, dairy and food of animal originProhibited for personal import.
  • ✕Used goodsRestricted for import with narrow exceptions. We ship new only.

Transit

Geneva to your door.

All routes are tracked and insured to full replacement value. Duty and tax are prepaid by us on every service, so nothing is collected from you on arrival.

ServiceDoor to door
DHL ExpressDefault, best clearance in a slow environment7–9 days
FedEx International PriorityAlternative express routing8–12 days
UPS Worldwide SaverBusiness accounts with a broker9–12 days
Swiss Post PriorityEconomy — clearance can run to weeks20–40 days

Questions

Shipping to Brazil, answered.

Why is the import cost so high?

Because the levies cascade. Import duty at 20% on the CIF value, then IPI, PIS and COFINS, then state ICMS at 17 to 20% — each assessed on a base containing the ones before it. The total is well above the sum of the rates.

Does the USD 50 threshold help?

Almost never. It applies to consignments between private individuals, not to purchases through an agent. Assume duty and tax from the first franc.

Will ICMS be the same wherever I am?

No, it varies by state, typically between 17% and 20%. We quote 17% and tell you if your address puts it higher.

Is anything worth importing to Brazil?

High-value, low-weight goods, mainly watches and precision instruments. Local retail carries the same tax burden plus margin, so the Swiss price with the VAT reclaimed can still win. For low-value goods we will tell you it is not worth it.

Get a landed cost for Brazil in under a minute.

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