The following paragraphs are intended to give general guidance to buyers on the VAT / GST / US sales tax and other similar taxes of purchasing property at Sotheby’s. 

Local deliveries / local sales: Sotheby’s will charge local VAT on the List Price of the goods for Property dispatched from and shipped to a local address or sold at and collected from a local sales or retail site; e.g. Sotheby’s will charge Swiss VAT for Property dispatched from and shipped to a Swiss address or sold at and collected from a Swiss sales or retail site. Where applicable, VAT is charged by Sotheby’s at checkout, and is applied under normal VAT rules. In all cases, the relevant tax legislation takes precedence and the VAT rates in effect on the day of a purchase will be the rates charged.

Exports: For scenarios not covered with the above, prices shown are exclusive of any applicable import charges. Buyers should note that local taxes (import VAT, customs duty, GST, sales or use tax) may become payable upon import of items following purchase. Where applicable, local taxes will be collected by and payable to the shipping agent upon import.  

Sotheby’s is unable to provide any tax advice and recommends buyers obtain their own advice in this regard.