The most common surprise in international shipping is a bill at the door. It is not a hidden charge from the courier — it is your own country's customs, and it is worth knowing about before you order.
How it works everywhere
When a parcel arrives, customs assesses it on the declared value of the goods and applies duty and local sales tax according to the category of the item. The courier usually pays it on your behalf to release the parcel, then collects it from you, sometimes with a small handling fee.
Roughly what to expect
These are general shapes, not quotes. Rates change and depend heavily on the specific item.
- United States. A relatively generous de minimis has historically meant many personal parcels arrive without duty, but the rules have been changing — check the current threshold before assuming.
- United Kingdom. VAT applies on goods above a low threshold, with duty on top for higher-value consignments.
- European Union. VAT applies from the first euro; duty applies above a higher threshold.
- UAE and the Gulf. Low duty rates with a modest allowance; usually the gentlest of the major destinations.
- Canada. A low allowance, plus provincial sales tax, plus a courier handling fee.
- Australia. GST applies on most imported goods regardless of value.
Check your own customs authority for the current figures.
What we do and do not do
We prepare an accurate commercial invoice and the export paperwork from the values you declare, and we make sure the categories are right. We do not pay your duty, and we cannot pre-pay it on a standard shipment.
Reducing what you pay, legitimately
- Ship gifts as gifts, when they genuinely are — several countries have a separate gift allowance.
- Split high-value orders across shipments where a per-consignment threshold applies.
If you are unsure how a specific item will be treated, ask us before you order.