Free tool
Import Duty Calculator
Estimate customs duty, VAT, and total landed cost instantly. Results are indicative — verify with your customs broker or the destination's customs authority before shipping.
Shipment details
💡 What is CIF?
Duty is calculated on the CIF value: Cost + Insurance + Freight. Your shipping cost directly affects how much duty you pay.
Learn more →⚡ De minimis tip
USA: $800 duty-free. Australia: AU$1,000. EU: €150. Shipping below the threshold saves duty.
All thresholds →How import duty is actually calculated
A working understanding of the formula matters. The calculator above will give you a number, but knowing where each line comes from is what saves you when a customs broker quote arrives that's twice what you expected.
The textbook formula
Most countries use a CIF-based valuation. Six lines, in order:
- CIF value = Product cost + Shipping + Insurance. This is your dutiable base.
- Import duty = CIF × duty rate (from the destination's tariff schedule for your HS code).
- VAT/GST base = CIF + Import duty (yes, VAT is charged on duty too — it's a tax on a tax).
- VAT/GST = VAT/GST base × the destination's standard import VAT rate.
- Other charges = customs broker fee + port handling + last-mile delivery + (if applicable) anti-dumping or excise duties.
- Landed cost = sum of everything above, including the original CIF.
A typical surprise: a $1,000 product to Portugal isn't a $1,000 cost — by the time it lands you're somewhere around $1,300–$1,400 because IVA at 23% applies on top of CIF and any duty.
Worked example: laptop from China to Germany
Imagine you're importing a laptop (HS 8471.30) for €1,000 with €80 shipping and €10 insurance:
If the same laptop went to Brazil instead, you'd be looking at multi-layered taxes (II + IPI + ICMS + PIS/COFINS) that could push the landed cost above €1,800. Destination matters more than people expect.
What this calculator does not capture
Honest disclosure — the standard CIF/MFN calculation handles 80% of cases cleanly, but there are five common situations where the real cost diverges meaningfully from the estimate. Knowing them up front prevents nasty surprises.
1. Anti-dumping and Section 301 duties
Chinese-origin goods entering the US carry Section 301 surcharges of 7.5–100% on top of MFN rates. Chinese EVs entering the EU face 17–38% anti-dumping duties on top of the standard 6.5%. Our calculator uses MFN rates and doesn't add these — for sensitive China-origin goods, treat the result as a floor, not a ceiling.
2. Free trade agreement preferential rates
USMCA, EU-UK TCA, EU-Canada CETA, ASEAN AFTA and many others can reduce the duty rate to 0% — but only if you have valid proof of origin. We assume MFN rates by default. If your goods qualify for an FTA and you have the paperwork, your real duty is often nil. FTA guide →
3. Excise duties on alcohol, tobacco, fuel
Excise can dwarf regular duty on these categories. UK alcohol duty alone can exceed the product's cost. If you're importing wine, spirits, beer, cigarettes, or fuel, the calculator's number is materially incomplete — consult HMRC's alcohol-specific tariff or its equivalent in your destination.
4. Broker fees, port handling, last-mile delivery
Add roughly $75–250 for customs broker, $80–400 for port/airport handling, and $100–500 for delivery to your door. The calculator estimates duty and VAT — not the logistics overlay. For a small e-commerce parcel via DHL/FedEx these can be bundled into a single courier "duty and tax" line. For sea freight they are separate invoices.
5. Country-specific compound taxes
Brazil layers II + IPI + ICMS + PIS/COFINS for an effective rate often above 50%. India adds Basic Customs Duty + Social Welfare Surcharge + IGST. China and Russia have similar multi-tax structures. The simple "duty + VAT" model in the calculator is a poor fit for these markets — treat country results for BR / IN / CN / RU as rough floor estimates and verify locally.
De minimis: when duty is zero
Most countries set a "de minimis" value below which a parcel enters duty-free, on the basis that the duty owed wouldn't justify the cost of collecting it. The calculator does not auto-apply de minimis — partly because thresholds change frequently, and partly because some thresholds (US $800) cover duty but not Section 301 surcharges, while others (EU €150) cover duty but not VAT.
Quick reference: USA $800 (highest in the world), Australia AU$1,000, UK £135 (VAT still due), EU €150 (VAT still due via IOSS), Canada CA$20 (very low). India has no de minimis — every parcel pays duty. Full list with notes →
A note on HS code accuracy
The duty rate hinges entirely on which HS code applies to your product. Misclassification by one heading can change the rate from 0% to 20% — or vice versa. For commercial shipments above a few thousand dollars in value, getting a binding ruling from your destination's customs authority (e.g. CBP CROSS in the US, BTI in the EU) is the safe move. Our HS lookup is a starting point, not a substitute. Search HS codes →
When you should engage a customs broker
A licensed broker is worth their fee when:
- The shipment value exceeds a few thousand dollars (US shipments above $2,500 require a broker by law).
- The product is regulated — food, pharma, electronics, chemicals, medical devices, agricultural goods.
- You're claiming a preferential FTA rate and need help with origin documentation.
- You're shipping to a high-friction market: Brazil, India, Russia, Argentina.
- You've never imported before and want someone accountable for the paperwork.
Standard clearance fees run $75–$250 per shipment. Complex regulated cargo runs higher. Customs broker FAQ →