Short answer: Import duties and taxes are set by your destination country, based mainly on what you're shipping and its declared value. You can estimate them for free with our duty calculator. Our shipping calculator shows shipping costs only, so duties and taxes are always estimated separately.
Estimate your duties first
Use our duty calculator before you ship. Enter your destination country, the type of product and its value, and you'll get an estimate of the duties and taxes.
The final amount is decided by your destination country's customs authority when the package is imported, so it can differ from the estimate.
What affects the amount
Customs authorities look at the same main things:
- What the item is. Each type of product has its own duty rate.
- Declared value. The value you enter on your customs declaration, in USD.
- Destination country. Every country sets its own rates, taxes and thresholds.
- Country of origin. Where the item was made can affect the rate.
That's why an accurate customs declaration matters. See "Customs paperwork: declarations, invoices and high-value shipments" for how to fill it in.
How the calculation works
Most countries charge two things on imports: a customs duty and a consumption tax such as VAT or GST. They're usually worked out in this order:
- Customs duty = declared value × duty rate
- VAT or GST = (declared value + customs duty) × tax rate
- Total = customs duty + VAT or GST
Not every country charges both. Some charge only a duty, and some only a tax. In some countries, the shipping cost is also included in the value that duty is calculated on. The duty calculator takes your destination's rules into account.
De minimis: when you may pay nothing
Many countries set a de minimis threshold. This is a value below which no duty, and sometimes no tax, is charged. Thresholds differ by country, and countries change them from time to time, so check the duty calculator or your country's customs authority for the current figure.
Combining packages: when you consolidate several packages into one shipment, customs counts the total declared value of everything inside. A consolidated shipment can go over your country's threshold even if each item on its own would be below it.
Who pays, and when
You're responsible for any duties and taxes your country charges. How you pay depends on the option you choose when you create your shipment:
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): you pay duties and taxes up front, with your shipment.
- DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid): the carrier collects them from you or your recipient before releasing the package.
DDP isn't available for every destination and carrier. See "DDP vs DDU: who pays duties, where DDP is available, and what to do if you're asked to pay again" for how to check.
Common questions
Is the duty calculator's amount final? It's an estimate. Your destination country's customs authority sets the final amount at import.
Does the shipping calculator include duties and taxes? No. It shows shipping costs only. Use the duty calculator to estimate duties and taxes.
Does the shipping cost affect the duty? In some countries, yes. They calculate duty on the item value plus shipping. Others use the item value only.
Can I split an order into several shipments to stay under the de minimis threshold? Splitting a single order on purpose to avoid duties isn't allowed in most countries, and customs can combine shipments sent to the same address. Always declare the real value of your items.
I chose DDP but I'm being asked to pay duty again. What should I do? Contact our support team with your tracking number and the carrier's request. After our checks, we'll refund you.
Still need help?
Our support team is available on weekdays from 09:00 to 17:00 ET at [email protected].