Import Duties & Taxes — Clear Costs, No Surprises
Buying collectibles from Japan should be exciting — not stressful. Many customers worry about unexpected charges at delivery or not knowing the real total cost until it’s too late.
At LapinNoir.JP, our goal is simple: clear pricing and fewer surprises. For supported countries and shipping methods, we show import-related charges before checkout, and whenever available, we collect them in advance through systems such as DDP or IOSS.
Common Questions
- “Will I be charged again at delivery?” — For supported destinations and shipping methods, no. Duties, taxes, and applicable fees are prepaid at checkout. If pre-collection is not available for your destination, local charges may still apply upon delivery.
- “How much will I pay in total?” — For supported destinations, we calculate and show duties, VAT, taxes, or related fees before checkout.
- “Does the store profit from these taxes?” — Absolutely not. These are government taxes and import-related fees, handled through customs, carriers, or tax partners.
- “What if I get billed twice?” — Rare but possible. Please send us proof such as an invoice or receipt. We will verify the case with our partners and assist you as quickly as possible.
Country-Specific Information
Since Aug 29, 2025, the U.S. de minimis exemption (the USD 800 duty-free threshold) has ended, so import duties and taxes may apply to all shipments.
Japan Post DDP Support for U.S. Orders
LapinNoir.JP has now completed DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) support for Japan Post to the United States. This is an important service update for U.S. customers, especially as Japan Post shipping to the U.S. had been unavailable for a long period.
As a result, DDP is now available for all shipping methods currently offered for U.S. orders, including Japan Post, DHL, and FedEx. Import duties, taxes, and related fees are calculated in advance and shown at checkout as TAX, so no additional payment is required upon delivery for supported U.S. shipments.
Important notes for Japan Post:
- For the time being, delivery delays may still occur.
- If you prioritize faster delivery or more stable shipping performance, we recommend selecting DHL or FedEx instead.
- For the time being, delays and package loss within the United States are also possible for Japan Post shipments.
Shipping insurance recommendation:
If you choose Japan Post for a U.S. order, we strongly recommend adding shipping insurance. Insurance can be arranged after placing your order by contacting our customer support team, and the insurance fee will be billed separately.
- FedEx / DHL / Japan Post (DDP Supported): All shipping methods currently offered for U.S. orders now support DDP (Delivered Duty Paid).
- Import duties, taxes, and related import fees are calculated at checkout and shown as TAX.
- No additional payment is required upon delivery for DDP shipments.
- Japan Post: Shipping to the U.S. has resumed after a long suspension. However, delivery delays are still likely for the time being.
- Earlier orders: If your order was placed before DDP support was introduced for your selected shipping method, our customer support team will continue to provide individual guidance if any customs payment assistance is needed.
- VAT is always collected at checkout.
- ≤ €150: VAT is prepaid via IOSS → no additional VAT is charged at delivery.
- > €150: prepaid VAT is refunded and import VAT is collected by customs upon arrival.
- ≤ £135: VAT is collected at checkout → no additional VAT is charged at delivery.
- > £135: prepaid VAT is refunded and import VAT becomes payable upon arrival.
- GST/HST applies depending on the destination province.
- For some orders, taxes may be pre-collected at checkout.
- Higher-value orders or certain shipping conditions may still result in charges upon arrival.
- 10% GST is collected at checkout for applicable orders.
- For eligible shipments, no additional GST is charged at delivery.
For many destinations, duties or VAT are not pre-collected. In such cases, customers pay the required charges upon delivery or customs clearance.
- Rates and thresholds vary by country and may change over time.
- We provide accurate invoices and HS code information to support smoother customs clearance whenever possible.
At LapinNoir.JP, we don’t just explain the rules — we give you tools to manage import costs more efficiently and plan your payments with greater flexibility.
- Unlimited Storage — Buy now and ship later. Combine stored items into one parcel, choose the items yourself, and select your preferred carrier when ready.
- Flexible shipment planning — Because you choose which items to ship together, you can better manage parcel value and timing within legal limits.
- No storage deadline — Pay shipping only when you request dispatch, making it easier to separate product, shipping, and tax timing.
- Pay Later (Installments) — For pre-orders with long lead times, our system lets you decide when and how much to pay before release.
FAQ
For U.S. orders, import duties, taxes, and related import fees are now calculated in advance and displayed at checkout as “TAX” for supported shipping methods. This allows you to see the total cost more clearly before payment.
For U.S. orders shipped with the currently supported DDP methods, no additional payment is required upon delivery. Duties and taxes are prepaid at checkout.
The U.S. de minimis rule previously allowed many imports under USD 800 to enter without duties. This exemption ended on Aug 29, 2025.
No. Duties, VAT, and similar import charges are not LapinNoir.JP’s profit. These are government taxes or related clearance fees handled through customs and logistics partners.
Although uncommon, it can happen. Please contact us with proof such as an invoice or customs receipt. We will review the case with our partners and assist you with the next steps.
Rules vary by country, order value, and shipping method, so there is no single answer for every case. Please contact customer support, and we will guide you on the most appropriate lawful options available.