For non-EU customers · § 6 UStG

Zero-rated export delivery to non-EU countries.

Customers outside the EU – Switzerland, United Kingdom, Norway, USA, Canada, Australia and every other third country – buy from us without German VAT (0 %). Legal basis: § 6 UStG. In return, import duties, customs and local VAT are charged on arrival in the destination country.

0 %

German VAT on the invoice

Worldwide

DHL, UPS, GLS, FedEx

Tracking no.

Export proof automatically filed

Commercial invoice

3× in the shipment for customs

How it works

Four steps from order to delivery. Export clearance and customs documents are prepared on our side – you only pay import duties on arrival.

Create account

Order at net prices

As soon as a non-EU billing address is detected, all prices are shown without German VAT – both B2B and B2C.

We handle customs

Export declaration, commercial invoice (3×) and customs tariff numbers are prepared on our side – the shipment leaves Germany in minutes.

Import on your side

The carrier (DHL/UPS/GLS/FedEx) clears customs in your country. Import VAT and any duties are collected from you – businesses recover import VAT via their national VAT return.

Important – import duties are on the recipient: import VAT and customs duties are set by your country and not included in our invoice. The carrier typically collects them on handover of the parcel. Please check in advance the applicable rates for the HS code and value of goods.

Who qualifies

Export delivery under § 6 UStG does not require a VAT ID – it also covers B2C private customers in non-EU countries. The decisive factor is simply where the goods leave the EU for.

Business or private

Both work: companies, sole traders, associations, foundations – and private consumers. The invoice always leaves at 0 %.

Billing address outside EU

Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, United Kingdom, Iceland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, UAE, Türkiye and every other country not listed as an EU member state.

Carrier-trackable export

The carrier provides a tracking number as proof of export. We keep the record for 10 years as required by § 6 UStG – no action needed on your side.

What appears on your invoice

The invoice doubles as a commercial invoice for customs. We also enclose three paper copies in the shipment, so that export clearance in Germany and import clearance in your country run smoothly.

Invoice content (export delivery)

Legal notice

„Steuerfreie Ausfuhrlieferung · § 6 UStG“
Import duties borne by the recipient.

Customs tariff numbers

Each line item carries an HS code (6+ digits) and country-of-origin indicator for customs classification.

Total

Net = gross · VAT 0 € · shipping also net.

Export proof

Tracking number is noted on the invoice. We archive the carrier's proof-of-delivery for 10 years.

EORI number for businesses: if you are importing frequently, provide your EORI number (or local equivalent) in the order notes. The carrier passes it to the import customs, which can speed up clearance and allow deferred payment of duties.

Import duties on your side

Every third country charges import VAT and – depending on HS code and value – customs duties. These are collected locally and not included in our invoice. For businesses they are generally fully recoverable via the local VAT return.

Switzerland (CHF)

Import VAT 8.1 % (standard rate). Textiles typically carry no customs duty (free trade agreement DE-CH). Carrier collects the import VAT on handover.

United Kingdom (GBP)

Import VAT 20 % + customs duty based on HS code (textiles typically 8-12 %). Orders below £ 135 are often processed VAT-only without customs.

USA (USD)

De minimis currently US-$ 800 (CBP) – below this threshold no import duties for private consumption. Above: federal + state sales tax according to destination.

Norway (NOK)

Import VAT 25 % (standard rate), often collected by the carrier via a VOEC-registered scheme. Customs duty on textiles is largely waived under the EFTA agreement.

Rates subject to change. The percentages above are indicative values for 2026 for textile goods. Please verify the current situation via your national customs authority. The carrier can provide you with an upfront duty estimate on request before clearance.

In the EU? Then see zero-rated intra-Community supply (§ 6a UStG) for the alternative tax treatment under VAT ID.

FAQ

Do I need a VAT ID for an export delivery?

No. § 6 UStG does not require a VAT ID – the carrier's tracking number acts as proof of export. Both private consumers and businesses in non-EU countries receive the invoice at 0 % automatically.

How much will I pay in customs and import VAT?

Section 04 above lists reference values for Switzerland, UK, USA and Norway. The exact amount depends on HS code (6+ digit tariff) and the invoice amount including shipping. In the EU most textile categories hover around 8-12 % customs duty + the destination country's import VAT. The carrier can provide an estimate on request.

Which carrier handles my parcel?

By default we ship through DHL Express, UPS or GLS depending on destination. For high-value orders or urgent delivery we also offer FedEx. The specific carrier is shown in the checkout; the shipment includes customs clearance in the delivery price.

Can I return goods from a non-EU country?

Yes – the right of withdrawal for consumers applies worldwide. For non-EU returns please contact our customer service first so we can send you a customs declaration template – otherwise your return may be assessed with import VAT in Germany.

What proof of export do you keep on file?

For each export delivery we store: tracking number, destination address, net invoice amount, HS codes per line, carrier's proof-of-delivery and the electronic export declaration (ATLAS/MRN) where applicable. All documents are retained for 10 years as required by § 6 UStG. The German tax audit has full read access on request.