{
  "slug": "customs-duty-hts",
  "title": "Customs Duty Calculator",
  "heading": "Import Duty & Tax Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/customs-duty-hts",
  "summary": "Duty, VAT/GST, and total tax owed on an international shipment.",
  "description": "Different countries assess import tax on different bases. Some charge VAT on the goods value alone, others on goods plus freight plus duty. Choose the basis to match the destination and see the total owed.",
  "formula": "Duty = customs value × duty rate; VAT = (basis) × VAT rate; total = duty + VAT + fees.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=customs-duty-hts",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "value",
      "label": "Goods value",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 5000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "freight",
      "label": "Freight + insurance",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 600,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "dutyPct",
      "label": "Duty rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 6.5,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 100
    },
    {
      "id": "vatPct",
      "label": "VAT / GST rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 20,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 30
    },
    {
      "id": "basis",
      "label": "Tax basis",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "cifDuty",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "goods",
          "label": "Goods value only (FOB)"
        },
        {
          "value": "cif",
          "label": "Goods + freight (CIF)"
        },
        {
          "value": "cifDuty",
          "label": "CIF + duty (EU/UK style)"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "deMinimis",
      "label": "De minimis threshold",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "brokerFee",
      "label": "Broker / disbursement fee",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 45,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "total",
      "label": "Total import charges",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "duty",
      "label": "Duty",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "vat",
      "label": "VAT / GST",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "landed",
      "label": "Total landed cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "effective",
      "label": "Charges as % of goods value",
      "format": "percent",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Goods value: 5000 $",
      "Freight + insurance: 600 $",
      "Duty rate: 6.5 %",
      "VAT / GST rate: 20 %",
      "Tax basis: CIF + duty (EU/UK style)",
      "De minimis threshold: 0 $",
      "Broker / disbursement fee: 45 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Total import charges: $1,555.00",
      "Duty: $325.00",
      "VAT / GST: $1,185.00",
      "Total landed cost: $7,155.00",
      "Charges as % of goods value: 31.1%"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter goods value ($).",
      "Enter freight + insurance ($).",
      "Enter duty rate (%).",
      "Enter vat / gst rate (%).",
      "Enter tax basis.",
      "Enter de minimis threshold ($).",
      "Enter broker / disbursement fee ($).",
      "Read your total import charges on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "value": 3000,
        "freight": 350,
        "dutyPct": 3.9,
        "vatPct": 12,
        "basis": "cifDuty",
        "deMinimis": 0,
        "brokerFee": 25
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "value": 5000,
        "freight": 600,
        "dutyPct": 6.5,
        "vatPct": 20,
        "basis": "cifDuty",
        "deMinimis": 0,
        "brokerFee": 45
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "value": 8000,
        "freight": 950,
        "dutyPct": 10.4,
        "vatPct": 30,
        "basis": "cifDuty",
        "deMinimis": 0,
        "brokerFee": 70
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Why is VAT sometimes charged on the duty?",
      "a": "The EU and UK compute import VAT on the value including freight, insurance, and duty, so duty is effectively taxed. Many other regimes use the goods value alone."
    },
    {
      "q": "What is de minimis?",
      "a": "A value threshold below which a country waives duty and sometimes tax on low-value shipments. Thresholds vary widely and several major markets have narrowed or removed theirs."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Customs Duty Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/customs-duty-hts)"
}