For regular packages, if the declared value is below the country’s duty threshold, the shipment is usually exempt from duties (though cases of false declaration are handled differently). If your package is selected for duties, you will need to pay the applicable taxes and assist with clearance. Please note, this is a rare occurrence, with only about 0.3% of packages currently being taxed.
Reference Table: Customs Duty Thresholds by Country
Here’s the table translated into simple English, using common terms that are easy to understand for an American audience.
| Country | Amount |
|---|
| United States | 0 US dollars |
| Canada | 20 Canadian dollars |
| United Kingdom | 135 British pounds |
| Australia | 1000 Australian dollars |
| European Union | 0 euros |
| Russia | 10,000 Russian rubles |
| Japan | 10,000 Japanese yen |
| Singapore | 400 Singapore dollars |
| New Zealand | 1000 New Zealand dollars |
| Switzerland | 100 Swiss francs |
| South Korea | 150,000 South Korean won |
1. Switzerland’s customs duty threshold is 100 Swiss Francs (CHF), and its value-added tax (VAT) threshold is 65 CHF.
2. Customs authorities in Canada and Europe perform stricter package inspections. Shipments via commercial carriers like DHL or UPS are more likely to incur duties.
Tax Rates for Each Canadian Province
| Province of Delivery | GST | PST | HST |
|---|
| Alberta | 5% | – | – |
| British Columbia | 5% | 7% | – |
| Manitoba | 5% | 8% | – |
| New Brunswick | – | – | 15% |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | – | – | 15% |
| Northwest Territories | 5% | – | – |
| Nova Scotia | – | – | 15% |
| Nunavut | 5% | – | – |
| Ontario | – | – | 13% |
| Prince Edward Island | – | – | 15% |
| Quebec | 5% | 9.98% | – |
| Saskatchewan | 5% | 6% | – |
| Yukon Territory | 5% | – | – |
How to Minimize Tax Payments?
You can consider the following three recommendations:
1. Parcel weight is a primary factor customs authorities in most countries use to determine if a shipment is a personal parcel or a Commercial Parcel. Parcels over 10kg are more likely to be viewed as Commercial Parcels. Please take this into account when submitting your Waybill. If you opt for DHL, also factor in the goods’ volume, as DHL calculates charges based on both volumetric size and weight.
2. The system has a maximum parcel weight limit of 30kg. For shipments over this weight, please submit separate Waybills. We recommend keeping each Waybill under 10kg.
3. Shipping a large quantity of the same item in one parcel can also lead to it being classified as a Commercial Parcel. Please avoid consolidating high quantities of identical goods into a single shipment.
4. Please be aware that, ultimately, we cannot provide a 100% guarantee on whether your parcel will be subject to customs duties.
Friendly Reminder:
Customs authorities often use a parcel’s weight and item quantity to distinguish between personal and commercial shipments. Parcels over 10KG are more likely to be classified as a Commercial Parcel. When completing the Waybill, please verify the weight.
Also, shipping a large quantity of identical items in one parcel is a common reason for a commercial designation. We recommend avoiding sending high quantities of a single product in one package.Additionally, due to varying customs regulations, please be cautious when shipping food items.
Please note: The information provided above is compiled from online sources for your reference. It is not intended as an official or definitive guide.
