Customs and taxes on shipments from the USA
You pay us for shipping and your country for customs — this guide tells you how much before you buy. Duty thresholds, taxes, fees and ID requirements in 32 countries we ship to, from official sources and carrier sites as of September 2026.
How customs are calculated on your parcel
Four facts that apply everywhere, then a table per region.
The basis is the real value
Most countries assess duty on the goods value plus shipping and insurance (CIF); some on the goods value alone. Your purchase invoice is the reference, and we put it on the label as it is.
Tax is not duty
Customs duty is a percentage that depends on the type of goods and may be waived below a threshold, while VAT in many countries applies from the first riyal or euro even when the parcel is duty-free.
The carrier collects it
FedEx and DHL clear the parcel and send you a payment link or collect at the door, with a small handling fee in some countries. Our invoice covers shipping only and we take no percentage of your goods value.
An ID number speeds up clearance
Many countries require the recipient’s ID or tax number. Add it to your shipment notes and we put it on the paperwork from the start, so the parcel never waits at the border for a message.
Gulf and Arab world
| Country | Duty exemption | Tax | Customs duty | Who collects | ID required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | SAR 1,000 (incl. shipping) | 15% from the first riyal | 5% (clothing 10–15%) | Carrier via payment link; ZATCA fee SAR 15 per parcel up to 1,000 | National ID or Iqama number |
| UAE | AED 1,000 (incl. shipping) | 5% from the first dirham | 5% | Carrier via payment link or at the door | Emirates ID or passport |
| Kuwait | KWD 100 (goods value) | No VAT | 5% | Carrier at the door | Civil ID; parcel in an individual’s name |
| Qatar | QAR 1,000 (incl. shipping) | No VAT | 5% | Carrier on arrival | QID or passport number |
| Bahrain | BHD 100 (since May 2026) | 10% above the threshold | 5% | Carrier via the OFOQ platform | CPR number |
| Oman | OMR 100 (since August 2026) | 5%, also below the threshold | 5% | Carrier via Bayan | Civil ID number |
| Jordan | No duty up to JOD 200 (since February 2026) | 16% | Tariff above JOD 200 | Carrier via the customs e-platform | National number |
| Egypt | No exemption | 14% | 0–60% (phones: extra 38.5% tax) | Carrier’s broker | National ID number |
| Lebanon | None in practice | 11% | 0–30% | Carrier’s broker | ID copy for larger parcels |
| Morocco | No exemption for purchases (since July 2022) | 20% | 2.5–40% by product | Carrier’s broker with a power of attorney | CIN |
| Algeria | DZD 50,000 for personal use | 19% | Flat 30% between DZD 50k and 100k | Carrier with an electronic pre-declaration | ID card or passport |
| Tunisia | No exemption; flat ~10% up to TND 2,000 | 19% | Up to 30–50% on clothing and shoes | Customs via the carrier | ID card |
| Mauritania | Not published | 16% | 0–22% | Carrier’s broker | Per carrier |
| Djibouti | Not published | 10% | Consumption tax 8–33% | Carrier’s broker | Per carrier |
Thresholds in local currency as announced by the authorities; Saudi Arabia and the UAE assess on value including shipping, Kuwait on goods value alone.
Europe
| Country | Duty exemption | Tax | Customs duty | Who collects | ID required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £135 of goods value | 20% | Tariff above £135 | Carrier via payment link; FedEx from £10.50 | None |
| Germany | €3 per item up to €150, then tariff | 19% | 12% clothing · 8–17% shoes · 0% electronics | Carrier; FedEx 2.5% (min €15) + €2.40 | None |
| France | €3 per item up to €150, then tariff | 20% | As in the EU | Carrier; FedEx 2.5% (min €15) | None |
| Italy | €3 per item up to €150, then tariff | 22% | As in the EU | Carrier; FedEx 2.5% (min €15) | Codice fiscale |
| Spain | €3 per item up to €150, then tariff | 21% | As in the EU | Carrier; FedEx 2.5% (min €15) | NIF or NIE usually |
| Netherlands | €3 per item up to €150, then tariff | 21% | As in the EU | Carrier; DHL 2% (min €16.50) | None |
| Belgium | €3 per item up to €150, then tariff | 21% | As in the EU | Carrier; FedEx 2.5% (min €15) | None |
| Switzerland | No duty on industrial goods (since 2024) | 8.1%; not collected if ≤ CHF 5 | 0% | Carrier; FedEx 2.5% (min CHF 25) | None |
| Sweden | €3 per item up to €150, then tariff | 25% | As in the EU | Carrier; FedEx 2.5% (min SEK 163.50) | None |
| Norway | No exemption (NOK 350 limit ended in 2024) | 25% from the first krone | Duty on clothing and food only | Carrier; FedEx 2.5% (min NOK 174.50) | None |
| Denmark | €3 per item up to €150, then tariff | 25% | As in the EU; perfume and tobacco always dutiable | Carrier; FedEx 2.5% (min DKK 111.90) | None |
| Austria | €3 per item up to €150, then tariff | 20% | As in the EU | Carrier; FedEx 2.5% (min €15) | None |
| Ireland | €3 per item up to €150, then tariff | 23% | As in the EU | Carrier; FedEx 2.5% (min €15) | None |
| Portugal | €3 per item up to €150, then tariff | 23% | As in the EU | Carrier; FedEx 2.5% (min €15) | NIF usually |
| Greece | €3 per item up to €150, then tariff | 24% | As in the EU | Carrier; FedEx 2.5% (min €15) | ID copy or AFM usually |
| Poland | €3 per item up to €150, then tariff | 23% | As in the EU | Carrier; FedEx 2.5% (min PLN 63.60) | ID document for authorization |
The EU abolished the €150 relief on 1 July 2026 and replaced it with a €3-per-item duty up to €150 (until July 2028); VAT applies from the first euro since 2021. The UK, Switzerland and Norway are outside the EU and have their own rules.
The Americas
| Country | Duty exemption | Tax | Customs duty | Who collects | ID required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | USD 50 from the US, no duty or tax | Inside the flat rate | 17% (USD 50–117) · 19% (USD 117–2,500) | Carrier before delivery | RFC and CURP |
| Brazil | No exemption for forwarded parcels | ICMS 17–20% | 60% import tax | Carrier via payment link | CPF number and full name |
Mexico applies USMCA rules to parcels from the US since January 2025; Brazil charges 60% on all forwarded parcels because the USD 50 exemption is reserved for registered marketplaces.
Tips that prevent surprises
Work out the total before you buy
Product price + shipping (from our calculator) + tax and duty in your country (from the table above) = what you really pay. Compare it with the product price at home and you will know when it is worth it.
Each parcel is assessed on its own
Every box is cleared at its own value. Consolidation saves on shipping, and duty-free thresholds apply to each shipment on arrival — the table tells you the threshold in your country.
Do not understate the declared value
The declared value is the basis for compensation in case of loss or damage, and customs compares it with the purchase invoice. We put the real invoice on the label, and that is what gets the parcel through without questions.
Supplements, wireless devices and drones
These have special requirements in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Brazil. Send us the link before you buy and we tell you whether it needs a permit or passes without question.
Common customs questions
On delivery, to the carrier: FedEx and DHL send a payment link before delivery or collect at the door. Our invoice covers shipping only, and we take no percentage of your goods value.
SAR 1,000 on the value including shipping; above it duty is 5% (clothing 10–15%). VAT of 15% applies to all parcels from the first riyal, plus a SAR 15 ZATCA fee on parcels up to SAR 1,000.
The €150 relief ended on 1 July 2026; parcels up to €150 now carry a simplified €3 duty per item until July 2028, and anything above pays the normal tariff. VAT has applied from the first euro all along.
Yes, free of charge: a commercial invoice with the real purchase value, an accurate description of the contents, and the ID or tax numbers your country requires on the label from the start.
They were read from official sources and carrier sites in September 2026 and change from time to time; check your country page with us and your customs authority before a large order, and tell us if you find a figure that changed so we can update it.
Know the whole number before you buy
Open your free account, calculate shipping in the calculator, and add the tax from your country's table — the total is in your hands before you order.
