International Customs & Duties
We ship all orders from our studio in Porto, Portugal. Here's an at-a-glance explanation of VAT, customs, and duties processing.
Information about duties & taxes for the countries listed below:
- If you opt by FedEx Priority shipping
We are shipping with a DDP - Delivered Duty Paid Model, which means that you don't need to pay extra costs to receive your package, offering a straightforward and seamless shopping experience.
- If you opt by Standard Postal Shipping
This option is not available at the moment, as most Postal Service around the world are still implementing systems and processes to be able to ship to the US.
At this time, USPS postal carrier do not offer DDP shipping for international parcels. This means that you are responsible for paying tariffs and any associated handling fees, when the items will be delivered or before they can be released from customs.
No extra taxes are required for all orders under £135 GBP, as VAT is already included in the value paid at checkout.
- For orders under £135: UK VAT is collected and paid to HMRC by us.
- For orders over £135: you may be charged VAT and customs duties, depending on current UK import rules. These charges are set by HMRC and collected by FedEx or Royal Mail - they’re not included in your order total, and they’ll be your responsibility to pay.
We are collecting duties and taxes (GST/ HST/ PST) on your behalf, so no extra costs are required to receive your package.
Sales tax 10% GST is included in your order (no extra cost at delivery), and you'll be required to pay duties only if the order is above 1000 AUD.
The De minimis threshold for Australia imports is of 1000 AUD. More information here.
No extra taxes are required, as VAT is already included in the value paid at checkout.
We don’t collect VAT at checkout.
Nevertheless, we are looking into a solution to be able to offer you DDP prices very soon!
Do I need to pay customs, taxes, or duties on my order?
If you're ordering from outside the European Union, your local government may charge customs fees, import duties (tariffs), or VAT/GST. These charges are set by your country.
What are Tariffs and De Minimis?
A tariff is a tax on goods imported from one country into another; tariffs can be broad or may apply only to specific categories or types of items. Typically, tariffs are a set percentage of the total item value. In many cases, tariffs do not apply to items below an established value threshold; this is called a de minimis exemption.
De minimis exemptions allow shipments under a certain value to enter a country without incurring customs duties or tariffs. These exemptions are put in place to simplify the trade process and reduce administrative burden. De minimis thresholds vary from country to country.
For the USA, the De minimis exemption applies to all orders under $800, but from Aug 29th onwards, this exemption will be removed for all global imports into the US, which means that all orders will likely be subject to tariffs.
How are tariffs collected?
When shipping international orders, the method of tariff and duty collection varies depending on the market and the chosen shipping carrier.
When using a postal carrier (like USPS, Royal Mail, Canada Post, etc.) or some commercial carriers, the transaction is on a Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) basis. This means that the buyer is responsible for paying tariffs, import duties, taxes (like VAT/GST), and any associated handling fees to the final shipping carrier or customs authority when their items are delivered or before they can be released from customs.
Some commercial carriers (such as UPS, FedEx or DHL) offer more integrated solutions for managing these costs upfront: Tariff-Inclusive Pricing (DDP - Delivered Duty Paid Model). It is possible to calculate and include the full cost of tariffs, duties, taxes, and other import fees upfront, at the moment of the online purchase.
Who pays all these fees?
In short: you, but we'll cover them for you in some situations! See above what is the scenario for each country. Our goal is to offer you the best shopping experience, and whenever is possible, we are offering DDP prices for some of you.
Why do I have to pay these fees?
Tariffs are a common tool used to shape global trade, protect domestic industries or generate government revenue. There are many tariffs in place around the world and each country has has its own rules for importing goods.
What happens if I don’t pay them?
If you choose not to pay the customs fees, your order will likely be returned to us. In that case, you’ll be refunded for the item(s) minus the initial shipping cost, as well as the return and handling costs.
Please note: usually the handling costs are very high. If the cost of managing this process is higher than the cost of the order, the package will be considered lost and we won't be able to refund you any value.
Any tips before ordering internationally?
Absolutely:
- Estimate potential fees
Contact your local customs authority to get an idea of any import charges. - Split costs with friends :)
Combine orders to share shipping fees and customs duties. - Track your shipment closely
Monitor your tracking number for status updates or customs alerts. - Acknowledge import responsibilities
By purchasing from Unwind Studio, you accept liability for any duties and taxes that apply.
Still have questions?
We’re here to help! Reach out at hello@unwind.studio and we’ll guide you through it.