Estimate your UK import costs in seconds.
See duty and import VAT before you commit. Then connect your store to the free GoEcom dashboard and track it across your whole catalogue.
v1 takes the duty rate as user input, look up your HS commodity code on gov.uk/trade-tariff. Customs value should be CIF (goods + insurance + freight to UK port). VAT is charged on customs value + duty. Excludes excise duty (alcohol, tobacco, fuel). Origin-compliant goods under trade deals (e.g. UK-EU TCA) may be zero-duty, not applied automatically. For guidance only.
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Get startedThe GoEcom dashboard and Shopify app are free to start. Estimates from the calculator use HMRC and EU tariff data and are for guidance only.
How UK import duty actually works
Five steps decide what you pay when goods arrive in the UK. The calculator above runs the arithmetic once you know your duty rate.
- Find your commodity codeEvery product has an HS commodity code that sets its duty rate. Look yours up on the UK Trade Tariff at gov.uk/trade-tariff by describing the goods.
- Work out the customs value (CIF)Customs value is the cost of the goods plus insurance and freight to the UK port of entry. Duty is charged on this CIF figure, not the ex-works price.
- Apply the duty rateMultiply the customs value by the duty rate for your commodity code. Rates range from 0% to roughly 12%+ for most consumer goods, higher for some categories.
- Add import VATImport VAT (usually 20%) is charged on the customs value plus the duty, plus certain freight costs. So VAT is applied after duty, not before.
- Check reliefs and trade dealsOrigin-compliant goods under a free-trade agreement, such as the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, may be zero-duty. Reliefs like Inward Processing can also cut or suspend duty. These are not applied automatically.
Worked example
Illustrative only. VAT is charged on customs value plus duty. Excludes excise duty (alcohol, tobacco, fuel). Confirm your commodity-code duty rate on gov.uk/trade-tariff. For guidance only.
Free-trade agreements can take duty to zero
A trade deal does not make duty disappear by default.
If your goods meet the rules of origin under a free-trade agreement, such as the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, you may be able to claim a preferential duty rate, often 0%. You usually have to hold proof of origin and claim the preference at import, so it will not show up automatically in the calculator above. Import VAT is still due even when duty is zero. If you trade across a deal, check your origin position carefully before you commit to a shipment, the preferential rate is worth claiming.
See duty and import VAT across your whole catalogue in the free GoEcom dashboard.
Get startedImport duty questions
How do I find my commodity code?
Every product has an HS commodity code that sets its duty rate. Look yours up on the UK Trade Tariff at gov.uk/trade-tariff by describing the goods. If you are not sure which code applies, describe the goods precisely on gov.uk/trade-tariff or check with a customs broker. Getting the code wrong can mean over or underpaying duty.
Can I reclaim import duty if I re-export the goods?
Sometimes. Reliefs such as Inward Processing or Returned Goods Relief can suspend or refund duty when goods are re-exported or were exported and come back. The rules are specific and you usually have to claim the relief at the point of import, so check before the goods land to see which relief, if any, fits your flow.
How accurate is the estimate?
The calculator gives a realistic estimate from the duty rate you enter, customs value (CIF) and the VAT rate. It is for guidance only. The actual charge depends on your exact commodity code, origin, any trade-deal preference and reliefs, and excludes excise duty on goods like alcohol, tobacco and fuel. Confirm your commodity-code duty rate on gov.uk/trade-tariff.