Import charges by destination: USA, UK, EU, Canada and Australia

Start with the exact destination

Use the full delivery country, region and postcode when requesting a quote. The notes below summarize the official guidance checked on 9 October 2026 for ordinary consumer purchases. They do not calculate the charge on a particular parcel, cover every exemption or establish that a route accepts your goods.

Keep one record containing item descriptions, quantities, prices paid and receipts. Ask the route operator which import arrangement it uses and which customs, tax or handling charges the quote includes. Keep an unknown charge marked as unconfirmed in your budget.

United States

CBP states that low-value duty-free treatment for shipments valued at or under $800 from all countries was suspended effective 29 August 2025, with exceptions described in its guidance. Older advice that an ordinary purchase below $800 automatically incurs no duty is therefore not a reliable budget assumption.

Question to resolve: under this route’s current entry arrangement, who pays the applicable import charges, when are they collected, and what purchase records are required? This summary does not prescribe a universal U.S. tariff rate.

United Kingdom

For Great Britain, GOV.UK lists no Customs Duty on non-excise goods worth £135 or less. VAT is a separate charge: a customs-duty threshold does not remove VAT. For goods above £135, duty rates depend on the goods and origin, and the guidance describes delivery-company collection of VAT.

Northern Ireland has separate rules in the same GOV.UK guide. Use the section matching the actual address rather than applying Great Britain advice to every UK parcel.

Question to resolve: how is VAT collected under the selected route, and could the recipient receive a separate carrier bill? Keep the invoice and any tax assessment if you need to query a charge.

European Union

EU Regulation 2026/382 introduces an interim €3 duty per item for consignments with intrinsic value not exceeding €150 from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2028. Article 2 limits that simplified treatment to the specified IOSS arrangements or postal consignments; it is not a universal €3 price for every commercial shipping route. Other arrangements can use the normal customs tariff.

The Council explains that the €3 is charged for each distinct item category identified by its tariff sub-heading in the parcel. Multiple items in the same tariff category count as one category for this calculation. A website’s categories such as Shoes or Bags are not a customs classification. The duty is also distinct from VAT and the separately discussed handling fee.

Question to resolve: does this shipment qualify for the simplified treatment, and which duty, VAT and clearance charges are included? Use a quote for the actual destination—Germany, France and Spain are not interchangeable freight estimates.

Canada

CBSA’s postal-import guidance describes duty and tax relief for qualifying mailed goods valued at CAN$20 or less, with exclusions. Above that threshold, applicable charges can apply to the full value, rather than only the excess. GST, provincial taxes or HST depend on the applicable rules; one national delivered-tax estimate is insufficient.

Qualifying gifts from friends or family have separate conditions. An ordinary seller purchase should not be declared as that kind of gift. Courier and commercial arrangements also need their own rule check.

Question to resolve: which postal or courier clearance rules apply to this route, and are any tax or handling charges collected from the recipient? Keep values and receipts in Canadian-dollar terms where required.

Australia

ABF generally describes no duties, taxes or charges at the border on goods valued at AUD1,000 or less, while explaining that GST may be collected at the point of sale. Tobacco and alcohol have separate treatment. Low value therefore does not by itself mean no GST.

Low-value air or sea cargo requires a Self-Assessed Clearance declaration, normally handled by the engaged cargo company or forwarder; post does not require that declaration. Goods above AUD1,000 require an Import Declaration and applicable charges. Restrictions or permit requirements must be checked separately.

Question to resolve: how does this route handle GST and clearance, and which additional charges are excluded from the quoted freight?

Keep one final record

Save the quote date, included and excluded charges, accepted goods, packing details and any documents requested. Use accurate descriptions and actual purchase values. Do not copy a declaration amount per kilogram from another buyer.

If you receive a payment or document request, verify it through the carrier’s official channel or your Sugargoo account and retain the reply. For a status problem, use the tracking enquiry checklist; for freight calculations, use the weight and rehearsal guide.