Beer Excise Tax

Alcoholic beer and beer-based drinks are subject to beer tax. For beer produced domestically, the producer is liable to pay the beer tax. Tax liability arises when the beer leaves the production plant or is used for consumption in the production plant.

For imported beer, the person subject to customs duty is liable to pay the beer tax. Tax liability arises when the beer is released into free circulation under customs law. Beer tax is assessed according to the strength of the beer in degrees Plato, based on the original gravity.

The tax rate is divided into 3 categories:

	Tax rate per hl
Light beer (up to 10.0° Plato)	Fr. 16.88
Regular and special beer (10.1 to 14.0° Plato)	Fr. 25.32
Strong beer (from 14.1° Plato)	Fr. 33.76

The beer tax quantity scale with reduced tax rates (up to 40%) applies to small, economically independent breweries with an annual output of less than 55,000 hectolitres.

In the section Services/Information, you will find further information for breweries in Switzerland (customs territory), the commercial importation of beer and beer-based mixed drinks, as well as statistical data.

Services

Fact sheet

Biera

Legal framework

Beer tax