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What is de minimis value?

The term 'de minimis value' is often heard in international trade.

In the context of shipping and logistics, it refers to the value threshold at which a shipment is exempt from duties and taxes/VAT upon import into a particular country.

Different countries have various de minimis thresholds. Once a shipment's value surpasses this predetermined threshold, duties and taxes/VAT apply.

For example, members of the European Union 🇪🇺 who use the Euro as their currency all have the same de minimis thresholds. If the shipment's value is up to 150 EUR, it is exempt from duties. However, VAT is always charged regardless of the value. If the shipment's value is over 150 EUR, both duties and VAT apply.

The de minimis value is significant because it can substantially influence the total cost of an international transaction. Therefore, understanding the de minimis value of the destination country can help you estimate the overall cost of shipping, including potential import duties and taxes.

Forwardme offers a reference sheet with each country's de minimis values, which can help you plan your international shipping more effectively. Remember, these thresholds are subject to change as countries adjust their import policies, so always ensure to check the current de minimis value before proceeding with your shipment.

 

Country ISO Duty de minimis (in local currency) Tax de minimis (in local currency)
United States US $800 $800
Canada CA CAD 20 CAD 20
Germany DE €150 €22
Australia AU AUD 1000 AUD 1000
Japan JP JPY 10,000 JPY 10,000
United Kingdom UK £135 £15
France FR €150 €22
China CN CNY 50 CNY 50
Brazil BR BRL 50 BRL 50
South Africa ZA ZAR 500 ZAR 500
India IN INR 5,000 INR 5,000
Mexico MX MXN 50 MXN 50
Italy IT €150 €22
Spain ES €150 €22
Netherlands NL €150 €22
Switzerland CH CHF 300 CHF 5
Turkey TR TRY 150 TRY 30
Saudi Arabia SA SAR 1,000 SAR 1,000
Singapore SG SGD 400 SGD 400
South Korea KR KRW 150,000 KRW 150,000
New Zealand NZ NZD 400 NZD 60
Sweden SE SEK 1,600 SEK 300
Belgium BE €150 €22
United Arab Emirates AE AED 1,000 AED 1,000
Argentina AR ARS 3,000 ARS 500
Norway NO NOK 3,000 NOK 350
Malaysia MY MYR 500 MYR 500
Thailand TH THB 1,500 THB 1,500
Poland PL PLN 150 PLN 45