Do You Pay Tariffs on AliExpress?

Whether you pay tariffs on AliExpress depends entirely on where you live. For most buyers in the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Norway, and New Zealand, AliExpress collects the applicable local tax at checkout, so you pay before the package ships and nothing additional arrives with your parcel. For US buyers, the situation changed significantly in 2025 when the de minimis exemption for Chinese goods was eliminated, meaning tariffs now apply to packages that previously entered duty-free. This page gives you the current answer for your country and explains what to do if something goes wrong.

AliExpress Tariffs and Import Taxes: Quick Answer by Country

AliExpress: Tariff and Tax Situation by Market (2025)

USA: The 2025 Tariff Situation on AliExpress

This is the most time-sensitive section of this article and the one most likely to change again after publication. Verify all figures at cbp.gov before going live.

The $800 de minimis threshold under Section 321 of US trade law previously let most AliExpress packages enter the US without any import duty. In early 2025, that exemption was eliminated for goods originating in China and Hong Kong. Packages from AliExpress China-based sellers now face tariffs on arrival regardless of value.

The tariff rate on Chinese consumer goods rose sharply in 2025 before a temporary trade truce in May 2025 reduced rates to approximately 30% for a 90-day period. Whether that rate held or shifted further depends on negotiations that were ongoing when this was written. A $40 order of phone accessories from a China-based seller could attract $12 or more in tariffs at the current rate.

AliExpress does not collect US tariffs at checkout. The charge hits when your package enters the country, collected by CBP or passed through to you via your carrier.

The practical workaround for US buyers: filter for the “Ship from: United States” option in the AliExpress app. Products shipped from a US warehouse face no import tariff because they are already inside the country. Selection is more limited, but delivery is also faster, typically 3 to 7 business days.

Canada: AliExpress Collects Most Duties at Checkout

Canadian buyers are in a relatively straightforward position. AliExpress is registered to collect Canadian GST and HST at checkout, so the applicable tax rate for your province appears as a line item before you confirm your order. For most everyday AliExpress purchases, that is the only charge you will see.

Canada’s de minimis threshold for customs duty is CAD $20, one of the lowest in the world. Below that value, no duty applies. Above it, the CBSA may assess customs duty depending on what you ordered and the product category. In practice, AliExpress’s checkout tax collection covers most consumer orders, but higher-value shipments or certain product categories may still attract a separate duty notice from your carrier after the package arrives.

Verify the current Canadian import rules at cbsa-asfc.gc.ca before placing any order above CAD $150.

UK, EU, and Australia: Tax at Checkout, Tariffs Rare

These three markets operate on broadly similar principles. AliExpress collects the applicable local tax at checkout and packages clear customs without a separate charge for most orders.

United Kingdom: AliExpress collects 20% VAT at checkout for orders under £135. Import duty is rarely assessed on consumer goods below that threshold. Above £135, HMRC and the carrier assess both VAT and any applicable duty from the UK Global Tariff. The carrier adds a handling fee of approximately £8 to £25. Import duty rates on Chinese goods vary by category: 0% on most electronics, up to 12% on clothing.

European Union: AliExpress collects the destination country’s local VAT rate at checkout via the EU IOSS system for orders under €150. Germany pays 19%, France and Italy pay 20%, the Netherlands pays 21%. No customs duty applies below €150. Above that threshold, the national customs authority assesses duty under the EU Common External Tariff, and the carrier collects before delivery.

Australia: AliExpress collects 10% GST on all orders to Australian addresses at checkout. Customs duty is not assessed for most goods under AUD 1,000. Above that threshold, the Australian Border Force may apply duty in addition to the GST already collected.

What to Do If You Are Charged Twice

Occasionally a buyer pays VAT or GST at checkout through AliExpress and then receives a second tax notice from their carrier. This happens when the IOSS number (for EU/UK orders) or the equivalent tax reference was not correctly attached to the shipment by AliExpress’s logistics partner.

Step 1. Do not ignore the carrier notice. Unresolved customs holds return the parcel to the sender.

Step 2. Go to your AliExpress order, access the invoice or receipt, and download proof that tax was already collected. The receipt shows the tax amount paid and AliExpress’s registration number with the relevant tax authority.

Step 3. Contact the carrier directly and submit the AliExpress tax receipt as evidence. In most cases, the carrier can waive the second charge once they confirm the tax was already collected at source.

Step 4. If the carrier insists on payment to release the parcel, pay under protest, then contact AliExpress customer service with both receipts. AliExpress can escalate to the logistics partner and arrange a reimbursement for the duplicate charge, though this process takes time.

Takeaway

For most buyers outside the US, tariffs on AliExpress are handled at checkout by AliExpress itself, with no surprise on arrival for orders under the applicable threshold. The US situation is the exception: de minimis no longer applies for Chinese goods, and tariffs now apply on most packages. For UK and EU buyers, the only charge below the threshold is VAT collected at checkout. And if you are ever charged twice, your AliExpress tax receipt is the document that resolves it.