United Kingdom
Work out what you'll actually pay to receive a US order in the UK: whether the £135 point-of-sale rule applies, and if not, the likely Customs Duty, 20% import VAT, and handling fee on delivery.
For repeat import estimates
BorderTally Pro is for small importers, ecommerce sellers, and sourcing teams who need a CSV landed-cost pass before quoting or ordering. Treat the result as a planning estimate and confirm exact tariff codes before making shipment decisions.
Rules as of 2026-06, last checked (version 2026.06.25-v1). Note: 2026 de-minimis rules are changing — always confirm the current rule with the official source before relying on this estimate.
Goods of US origin may qualify for preferential or zero tariffs under a trade agreement with the destination. This estimate does not model preference, so it can overstate duty for qualifying goods. Exact duty still depends on the commodity or tariff code for each item.
Rules in this estimate were checked on 2026-06-25 (rules as of 2026-06). The calculator reads the shared UK rule file so future rule changes land here automatically.
For non-gift, non-excise goods worth £135 or less, UK VAT is normally charged by the US seller at checkout and the delivery company charges no Customs Duty. Above £135, the parcel is assessed on arrival instead: Customs Duty by commodity code, then 20% import VAT on the duty-inclusive value including shipping, then the carrier's handling fee. HMRC also waives Customs Duty when the calculated duty comes to less than £9.
Clothing typically carries around 12% duty: £24 on a £200 order. Import VAT at 20% then applies to the goods plus duty plus shipping — about £45 or more. Add a carrier handling fee (Royal Mail charges a flat fee of about £8; express couriers typically £12 or a small percentage of the charges) and the total on-delivery bill is roughly £75-85, close to 40% of the item price. Electronics fare much better: most carry 0% duty, so you mainly pay the 20% VAT.
The UK and the US do not have a comprehensive free-trade agreement covering ordinary consumer goods, so parcels from the US pay the standard UK Global Tariff rates — unlike, say, EU-origin goods that can qualify for zero duty under the UK-EU agreement. Sector arrangements between the two governments do not change what you pay on a normal online order.
Official sources: www.gov.uk www.gov.uk www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk
Under £135, usually nothing on delivery — UK VAT should have been added at checkout by the seller. Over £135, expect Customs Duty at the commodity-code rate (roughly 0-12% for most consumer goods), 20% import VAT on the duty-inclusive value including shipping, and a handling fee of about £8-12 from the carrier.
You pay VAT, but normally at the point of sale: US sellers shipping to the UK are required to charge UK VAT at checkout on consignments of £135 or less. If the seller did that, the delivery company should not bill you again. Customs Duty is not charged on these low-value consignments.
The delivery company pays HMRC and invoices you before handing over the parcel. Royal Mail charges a flat handling fee of around £8; express couriers such as FedEx, UPS, and DHL typically charge about £12 or a small percentage of the duty and tax advanced. The parcel is held until you pay.
Not for ordinary consumer parcels. With no comprehensive FTA in force, US-origin goods pay the standard UK Global Tariff rate for their commodity code. This estimate therefore applies the normal category rate with no preferential discount.
Estimate only. This calculator does not provide customs, legal, or tax advice. Final charges are determined by HMRC, Border Force, and the parcel carrier. Low-value import rules continue to be reviewed; always confirm the current rule with the official source before relying on this estimate.