Depending on the products you purchase, your country’s customs agency may determine you owe a duty or tax. Nearly every shipment that crosses an international border is subject to the assessment of duties and taxes. Each country determines the assessment of duties and taxes differently.
Your country's de minimis value
determines if local customs will assess a duty or tax on your shipment.
Duties and VAT are calculated as a percentage of the customs value of the goods (item + insurance + shipping).
MyUS offers the option to pay duties at the time of shipping for eligible international shipments, or you will be billed directly by your global carrier.
Declared Value of Merchandise
Customs officials use the declared value of an item to determine duties and taxes. Before MyUS can ship an item, you must provide an accurate value or merchant invoice.
Duty/Tax Free Amount (De Minimis Value)
The de minimis value is a country-specific value below which no duty or tax is charged, and clearance procedures are minimal. If you are importing a shipment with a total declared value LESS than this amount, duty and tax do not apply (certain products may be subject to other types of fees or taxes). The de minimis value is usually different for duties than it is for taxes.
Delivery Duty Paid Options
MyUS offers the option to streamline your shipping process and prepay duties on eligible shipments to 130+ countries. This means you can prepay applicable duties in one simple payment along with your shipping costs, rather than making a separate duties payment in your country after your shipment arrives.
This simplifies the delivery process, so you won’t need to make an additional payment before you can get your shipment or go somewhere to collect your shipment once it arrives in your country. Instead, you can cover all your costs in one simple payment along with your shipping costs, with no surprises upon delivery, since you have already seen and prepaid any applicable duties at the time of shipping.
When this service is selected in your online account or shipping request, MyUS guarantees your duties payment amount! If duties end up being less than what you prepaid at the time of shipping, MyUS will refund you the difference. If additional charges apply once your shipment arrives in your country, MyUS will refund you any additional costs over what you paid at the time of shipment.
Import Savings Tip:
Always select "US Dollar Pricing" when shopping.
Many US stores offer multiple currency options. However, if you select a non-US$ currency, the store may apply a less favorable exchange rate to protect itself against fluctuating exchange rates. The result is that you may pay more than you should for the product.
MyUS is here to help.
The more you know and can prepare for any duties or taxies before you ship, the more time and money you will save. MyUS makes the process easier by processing export paperwork on your behalf and providing any support you need to navigate your local customs requirements.