How do people in Liechtenstein pay online?
Banking in Liechtenstein is concentrated. Liechtensteinische Landesbank (LLB) says in its 2023 annual report that almost every resident keeps an account with it and that it is the acknowledged leader in payment transfers and account management. The country uses the Swiss franc.
Cards and phone wallets carry online payments. LLB added Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay in 2023, so customers can add their credit card to a phone wallet and pay in shops, online and in apps. Apple lists Liechtensteinische Landesbank, LGT and VP Bank among its Liechtenstein issuers, and Google lists Liechtenstein as a supported country for Google Wallet.
Invoices are paid from online banking. LLB offers QR billing, where the customer scans a QR-bill and pays it, and eBill, where invoices appear directly in LLB Online Banking for approval. The QR-bill is the Swiss payment slip standard that fully replaced the old Swiss payment slips on 1 October 2022. LLB also runs its own payment app, LiPay.
TWINT is not part of the local picture. In February 2024 Liechtenstein Marketing reported that a Liechtenstein payment firm was working to bring the Swiss payment app to the country, but that this was not yet possible because of regulatory hurdles linked in part to Liechtenstein’s membership of the European Economic Area. LLB’s 2023 report does not list TWINT among its payment services.
What rules shape online payments in Liechtenstein?
Shoppers have 14 days to withdraw. Under the Distance and Off-Premises Contracts Act (FAGG, LGBl. 2015 No. 276), a consumer can withdraw from a distance contract within 14 days without giving reasons, counted for goods from the day they receive them. If the trader does not inform them of this right, the period is extended by twelve months. The trader must refund all payments, including standard delivery costs, within 14 days of receiving the withdrawal, using the same means of payment unless the consumer expressly agrees otherwise at no cost. The trader may hold back the refund until the goods come back or proof of return is shown.
VAT follows Swiss law. Liechtenstein has adopted the Swiss VAT law but keeps its own VAT administration, and the two countries share a customs union under a 1923 treaty. The general rate is 8.1% since 1 January 2024, with 2.6% for food, medicines, newspapers and books and 3.8% for accommodation. Reverse charge applies to services and certain deliveries from businesses domiciled abroad, and VAT returns are filed electronically through the tax authority’s portal.
How would Omno route payments in Liechtenstein?
A merchant would connect once and set routing rules per method, amount and customer group. In Liechtenstein:
- Card pay-ins would follow rules by BIN, currency and amount, with cascading: if a provider is unavailable or rejects the request, the payment moves to the next provider in the rule until one accepts.
- Apple Pay and Google Pay would be shown in the hosted checkout through providers that support them, next to the card form.
- Saved cards would let returning shoppers pay without typing card details again.
- Currency rules could send CHF payments to a provider with Swiss franc acquiring and EUR payments to another.
Webhooks would confirm each final status.
What should merchants plan for?
Plan for cards and phone wallets first. The main banks support Apple Pay and Google Pay, and most residents bank with LLB.
Plan for Swiss francs. Prices and settlement in CHF match how residents are paid and how they hold their money.
Plan for refunds by the same means. The FAGG requires refunds within 14 days through the payment method the shopper used.
Plan for VAT under Swiss rules. Check the 8.1% general rate and the reduced rates for your products, and how reverse charge applies to your services.