Import Tax Calculator
Estimate total import taxes and landed cost. Add goods value, shipping, duty rate, import VAT or GST and broker fees to see duty, tax and the full delivered cost.
Updated 2026-06-14 · Free · No sign-up · Runs privately in your browser
Show the formula & steps
How the Import Tax Calculator Works
Importing goods means paying more than the sticker price: you owe customs duty, import VAT or GST, and often a broker or handling fee. This calculator estimates each charge and adds them to the goods and shipping to give your total landed cost.
Enter the goods value, shipping and insurance, the duty rate, the import VAT/GST rate, and any handling fee, then choose a CIF or FOB base depending on your country.
The Formula
Customs value = goods + shipping (CIF) or goods only (FOB) Duty = customs value × duty rate Import VAT/GST = (customs value + duty + fee) × VAT rate Landed cost = goods + shipping + duty + VAT + fee
Note that import VAT is charged on the duty too — tax on tax — which is standard practice in the EU, UK and many other countries.
Worked Example
For $800 of goods, $100 shipping, a 5% duty rate, 20% import VAT, a $15 fee, on a CIF basis:
- Customs value = 800 + 100 = $900
- Duty = 900 × 5% = $45
- VAT base = 900 + 45 + 15 = $960; VAT = 960 × 20% = $192
- Landed cost = 800 + 100 + 45 + 192 + 15 = $1,152
Components of Landed Cost
| Component | Based on |
|---|---|
| Goods value | Supplier invoice |
| Shipping & insurance | Freight quote |
| Customs duty | Customs value × duty rate |
| Import VAT/GST | Customs value + duty + fee |
| Handling / broker fee | Carrier or customs broker |
Because VAT compounds on the duty, lowering the duty rate (for example with a trade-agreement preference) reduces both the duty and the tax charged on it.
Frequently asked questions
How are import taxes calculated?+
First, duty is the customs value times the duty rate. Then import VAT or GST is charged on the customs value plus the duty, and sometimes plus handling fees. Adding the goods, shipping, duty, tax and fees together gives your total landed cost, which this calculator works out step by step.
Is import VAT charged on top of the duty?+
Yes, in most countries import VAT or GST is charged on the customs value plus the duty already added, so you effectively pay tax on the duty. This compounding is why the import VAT figure is often larger than people expect, and why it is calculated after the duty in this tool.
What is landed cost?+
Landed cost is the full delivered price of imported goods including the product cost, international shipping and insurance, customs duty, import VAT or GST and any broker or handling fees. Knowing landed cost is essential for pricing products and comparing suppliers in different countries.
Are there thresholds where no import tax is due?+
Many countries have a de minimis value below which small shipments are exempt from duty, VAT, or both. The thresholds vary widely and some have been reduced or removed in recent years, so check the current de minimis rule for your destination country before assuming a small parcel is tax-free.
Does this calculator use my actual country's rules?+
It uses the common method of charging VAT on the customs value plus duty and fees, with a CIF or FOB choice for the base. Exact rules, de minimis thresholds and whether fees are taxed differ by country, so treat the result as an estimate and confirm with official customs guidance.