Import Duties & Taxes — Clear Costs, No Surprises
Buying collectibles from Japan should be exciting — not stressful. Many customers worry about unexpected bills at delivery or not knowing the real total cost until it’s too late.
At LapinNoir.JP, our goal is simple: no hidden surprises. For supported countries, we show estimated import costs before checkout, and whenever possible we pre-pay them (DDP, IOSS).
Common Questions
- “Will I be charged again at delivery?” — For supported destinations, no. Duties, taxes, and carrier fees are prepaid. (If pre-collection is not available in your country, local charges may apply at delivery. With DDP shipping, never.)
- “How much will I pay in total?” — For supported destinations, we calculate and show duties, VAT, and basic carrier fees before checkout.
- “Does the store profit from these taxes?” — Absolutely not. These are government taxes, remitted to customs via our carrier/tax partners.
- “What if I get billed twice?” — Rare but possible. Send proof (invoice/receipt). We verify with our partners and refund any prepaid tax promptly.
Country-Specific Information
Until Aug 28, 2025, imports under USD 800 were duty-free (the “de minimis” rule).
From Aug 29, 2025, this exemption was abolished by executive order. Now all U.S. imports are subject to duties, with a total cost of about 15–20% of the item value (tariffs + MPF + carrier fees).
- FedEx / DHL (DDP Supported): All import costs (tariffs, U.S. Customs fees, and courier disbursement fees) are prepaid at checkout and shown as Import Duty. No additional charges are required at delivery, and clearance is faster with no risk of being held at Customs.
- Japan Post: DDP is not available. U.S.-bound shipments using Japan Post are on hold and kept in storage.
- Orders placed before September 14, 2025: Duties and fees were not prepaid. Our customer support team will continue to provide individual guidance on how to pay U.S. Customs charges if necessary.
- VAT is always collected at checkout.
- ≤ €150: prepaid via IOSS → no delivery charges.
- > €150: prepaid VAT refunded; import VAT collected by customs at arrival.
- ≤ £135: VAT collected at checkout → no delivery charges.
- > £135: prepaid VAT refunded; import VAT due at arrival.
- GST/HST applies (5–15% by province).
- Smaller orders: tax is pre-collected and remitted.
- Higher-value orders may be assessed at arrival.
- 10% GST is always collected at checkout → no delivery charges.
- 19% VAT is officially collected by LapinNoir.JP at checkout under the Simplified VAT Regime for non-resident sellers registered with the Chilean Internal Revenue Service (Servicio de Impuestos Internos – SII).
- Since the VAT is prepaid and remitted to SII, no additional import taxes will be charged upon arrival in Chile.
- Packages are processed faster by customs with prepaid VAT, avoiding delays and double taxation.
- If customs mistakenly charges VAT again, please contact our support team with your customs receipt for verification and assistance.
LapinNoir.JP is an officially SII-registered international seller.
We do not pre-collect duties/VAT in these regions. Customers pay at delivery.
- Indicative VAT/GST (Aug 2025): Switzerland 8.1%, Norway 25%, Mexico 16% + ~20% duty, South Africa 15% + ~20% duty, Singapore 9%, Taiwan 5%, South Korea 10%, Qatar 5%, UAE 5%, Saudi Arabia 15%.
- We provide accurate invoices and HS codes for smooth clearance.
At LapinNoir.JP, we don’t just explain the rules — we give you tools to minimize import costs and manage payments on your terms.
- Unlimited Storage — Buy now, ship later. Combine stored items anytime into one parcel, choose the items yourself, and select your preferred carrier.
- Adjustable declarations — Because you choose which items to ship together, you can plan the shipment’s declared value within legal limits.
- No storage deadline — Pay shipping only when you request dispatch; separate product, shipping, and tax timing to suit your cash flow.
- Pay Later (Installments) — Pre-orders often have long lead times. Our system lets you decide when and how much to pay until release, unlike fixed short plans or lump-sum requests elsewhere.
FAQ
Since September 14, 2025, FedEx and DHL shipments to the U.S. have supported DDP. All taxes and fees (tariffs, MPF, and courier disbursement fees) are prepaid at checkout and displayed as “Import Duty.” This means the total cost is shown upfront, and there are no additional charges upon delivery.
Expect about 15–20% of the item value in total import costs (tariffs + MPF + carrier fees).
The “de minimis” rule allowed imports under USD 800 to be tax-free. This was abolished on Aug 29, 2025.
The change was enacted by the Trump administration (executive order), effective Aug 29, 2025.
No. Duties and VAT are government taxes, not LapinNoir.JP’s profit.
Rules differ by country and item, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Please contact customer support; we’ll advise the best lawful options for your case (shipment timing, carrier, parcel combination, etc.).