Money tool
GB Import Cost Estimator
Estimate the total cost of an eligible overseas purchase delivered to England, Scotland or Wales, using checked VAT and duty rates.
Processed privately in your browser — your entries are not uploaded.
How to use this estimate
What affects the final import bill?
Why do I have to check the duty rate?
Choose the product type and where it was made, then open the linked official tariff section. If you have a 10-digit product code, the link opens that product directly. Duty can depend on the exact product, materials, origin and import date. Some tariffs have extra charges or use weight rather than a percentage. A broad label such as “clothing” is not enough to choose a reliable rate. This tool does not classify goods or check eligibility for preferential tariffs.
What does the £135 threshold apply to?
It applies to the intrinsic value of the whole consignment, not each item. Separately identified transport, insurance and UK VAT are excluded from this threshold. Delivery included in the item price without a separate amount remains in that price.
Why is delivery included when calculating tax?
The threshold test and the taxable value are different. Once duty applies, its base includes relevant transport and insurance. Import VAT also includes duty and relevant costs to the destination. Enter a separately identified UK delivery portion in its own field to avoid adding it to the duty base.
Can I enter a price that includes VAT?
For the item price, choose whether UK VAT is included. If it is, the calculator removes it at your selected rate and shows the price before VAT. Delivery fields still need amounts before UK VAT. Use the seller’s breakdown first. Do not subtract foreign taxes unless their treatment has been confirmed, or enter an all-in delivered price containing unexplained taxes and fees.
Is an EU purchase automatically duty-free?
No. Preferential treatment depends on qualifying origin and any required evidence. Goods dispatched from the EU may have been made elsewhere. Check the tariff conditions or ask the courier before using a zero duty rate.
Why might the courier charge a different amount?
Customs valuation, currency conversion, product classification, rounding, additional duties and courier services can change the bill. Mixed-rate consignments and special schemes need a separate assessment. An import-fee deposit is not always the final tax charge.
Rules reviewed on . This calculator stops producing estimates after its next review date if the rules have not been rechecked. Announced future reforms are not applied before they take effect.
Good to know
How this tool works
Enter the values before UK VAT, confirm the shipment is eligible and check the applicable duty rate when the goods exceed £135. The estimate separates total purchase cost, import taxes and any confirmed prepaid tax. Unknown handling fees remain excluded and are labelled clearly.
Frequently asked questions
What is GB Import Cost Estimator useful for?
Estimate parcel VAT, duty and total costs for purchases sent to Great Britain. Try more than one realistic set of figures and verify important decisions with the relevant provider or adviser.
Is my information stored?
This tool works in your browser. The information you enter is not sent to us or saved in an account by this tool.
How accurate is the result?
The calculation follows the assumptions shown on the page. Rounding, provider methods and real-world charges can produce small differences.