Import Duty & Tax Calculator

What are import duties and taxes?

Import duties and taxes are fees charged by the customs authority of the destination country when goods cross an international border. When you shop from UK or German online stores and forward your parcels abroad, your shipment may be subject to import duty, VAT (value added tax) and, in some countries, additional customs handling fees. Together with the product price and delivery, these charges make up the total landed cost of your order.

How is import duty calculated?

Most customs authorities calculate the charges in three steps:

1. Customs value — the declared value of the goods plus the shipping cost (and insurance, if any).
2. Import duty — a percentage of the customs value that depends on the product category (HS code). Clothing is typically around 12%, footwear around 8%, while most consumer electronics, books and cosmetics are duty-free.
3. VAT / import tax — the destination country’s VAT rate applied to the customs value plus the duty.

Our import duty calculator above applies exactly this logic, using current VAT rates and duty-free thresholds for each destination country.

Duty-free (de minimis) thresholds by destination

Many countries let low-value parcels enter without duty. Below these thresholds you usually pay no import duty — although VAT may still apply:

• European Union — no duty under €150; VAT is due on all imports from outside the EU.
• United Kingdom — no duty under £135; 20% VAT applies to imports.
• United States — the de minimis exemption is currently suspended, so duty applies regardless of value; there is no federal VAT.
• Canada — duty and tax free under CAD 20.
• Australia — most goods under AUD 1,000 are duty-free; 10% GST applies.
• Japan — duty and consumption tax free under ¥10,000.
• Norway — 25% VAT applies from the first krone; duty on higher values.

Shipping from Germany to another EU country? No customs charges at all — goods move freely inside the EU customs union. That makes our German warehouse the smartest route for EU shoppers.

How to pay less in duties and taxes

• Combine your parcels. Customs value includes shipping, so cheaper delivery means lower taxes. Atvido consolidates several purchases into one optimised parcel and saves you up to 80% on shipping.
• Choose the right origin. EU customers shipping from our German address pay no import fees at all.
• Stay under the threshold. Where possible, keep the parcel value below your country’s duty-free limit.
• Declare accurately. Under-declaring can lead to fines, delays or confiscation — correct declarations keep your parcel moving.

Frequently asked questions

Who collects import duties and taxes?

The customs authority of your country assesses the charges, and in most cases the courier (DHL, UPS, FedEx or your postal service) collects the payment from you before or upon delivery.

Do I pay customs fees when shipping from Germany to an EU country?

No. Goods shipped from our German warehouse to any EU member state travel under free movement of goods — no import duty, no extra VAT, no customs paperwork.

What is a landed cost?

Landed cost is the true total price of an international order: product price + shipping + import duty + VAT + any handling fees. Our calculator estimates it before you buy, so there are no surprises at the door.

How accurate is this duty calculator?

It provides a close estimate based on typical duty rates per product category and current VAT rates. The exact rate is set by the HS code of your specific product, and carriers may add a small brokerage fee, so treat the result as guidance rather than a customs invoice.

What happens if I refuse to pay the customs charges?

The parcel is usually returned to the sender or destroyed by customs, and shipping fees are not refunded. If duties apply, paying them is always the cheaper option.