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The four charges people mix up
| Charge | What it is | Who usually collects it |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty | A tariff on the goods, set by the type of product. | Customs, through the seller, carrier or you. |
| VAT, GST or sales tax | A tax on the sale or import. | Sometimes the marketplace at checkout, sometimes the carrier or customs. |
| Handling or brokerage fee | A carrier’s charge for handling the customs paperwork or collecting a tax. | The carrier or post office, often when you receive the parcel. |
| Shipping fee | The cost of moving the parcel. Not a tax. | The seller, shown at checkout. |
A “de minimis” or low-value threshold is a value below which duty, tax or both were once waived. Many countries are changing or removing them. See AliExpress shipping methods explained for what shipping itself costs.
What you’ll pay, by country
These are the rules as we last checked them from official sources. They change, so read the total at checkout, which AliExpress shows for your address.
| Country | What to expect | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| United States | The $800 duty-free exemption has been suspended. CBP says duty applies by tariff classification at the rates in force when the parcel enters, and postal parcels have a new informal entry process from 24 July 2026. Shipments arriving without the required data or bond can be held. | AliExpress USA: do you pay tariffs? |
| United Kingdom | Marketplaces charge UK VAT at the point of sale on consignments of £135 or less in Great Britain. Duty relief on goods of £135 or less is due to end in October 2028, per GOV.UK. Royal Mail and Parcelforce can charge a fee to release a parcel. | AliExpress UK: VAT and customs |
| European Union | A temporary €3 customs duty per item type applies to goods up to €150 imported from outside the EU, from 1 July 2026 until 1 July 2028. The Commission says the seller or importer declares and pays it, not the consumer. | See the section below |
| Canada | A CAD$20 exemption for mail and most courier shipments. Above it, duty and tax apply on the full value. Canada Post charges a CAD$9.95 handling fee per dutiable or taxable mail item. | AliExpress Canada: duty and tax |
| Australia | GST is collected at the point of sale on goods of A$1,000 or less. The Australian Border Force says there are generally no duties or taxes at the border on those. Above A$1,000, GST and an import declaration apply. | AliExpress Australia: GST and duty |
The EU’s new €3 duty, in plain terms
- What it is. A flat customs duty of €3 per item, applied by tariff classification and not by quantity, on consignments up to €150 imported from outside the EU. The Commission’s example: 5 T-shirts is €3, and 3 T-shirts plus a watch is €6.
- Who pays it. The Commission says the duty is imposed on the business, not the consumer, and that the seller or importer declares and pays it. Only in rare cases, for Member States with a free web-based declaration system, could the consumer be the declarant.
- What it may mean for you. Our reading, not the Commission’s: a seller may pass this cost on in the price. Check the total at checkout.
- How long. Until 1 July 2028, when normal customs duties apply according to the type of good. A separate handling fee is proposed, with its amount and date still to be set.
- Product identifiers. These become mandatory from 1 November 2026, which the Commission says will help customs detect unsafe or non-compliant goods.
Where the charge actually shows up
| When you’re charged | What it looks like | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| At checkout | VAT, GST or a tax line added to your AliExpress total. | Nothing more to pay on delivery, in most cases. Keep the receipt. |
| At delivery | The post office or courier asks for duty, tax or a fee before handing over the parcel. | Pay through the carrier’s official site or counter. Check the parcel is really yours. |
| Held at customs | Tracking stops at customs, or the parcel isn’t released for missing data. | Follow the carrier’s instructions, and message the seller if data is missing. Keep tracking screenshots. |
| Text or email asking for a fee | A message with a link to pay a customs fee. | Be careful. Royal Mail’s scam examples include fake fee texts. Go to the carrier’s official site, not the link. |
How to see the real cost before you pay
- Select your exact variant and your delivery country.
- Add the item to your cart and read the total, including any tax lines.
- Check your country’s threshold and whether the total is close to it.
- Ask whether a carrier fee may apply on delivery. Some countries charge one even when tax was paid at checkout.
- Compare the full cost with another listing before you buy. Search for a second store.
Common mistakes
- Assuming free shipping means no extra cost. Duty, tax and carrier fees are separate from shipping.
- Paying twice. In Australia, the ATO says not to pay GST twice, and gives a way to check. If tax was collected at checkout, don’t pay it again without checking.
- Splitting an order to dodge a threshold. Rules vary and customs can treat parcels differently. Don’t plan around it, and the thresholds are changing anyway.
- Trusting an unexpected payment link. Only pay through the carrier’s official page.
Before you pay: customs checklist
- ☐ I’ve selected my delivery country and read the total, including tax lines.
- ☐ I know if my order is near my country’s threshold.
- ☐ I know which charges may still arrive at delivery.
- ☐ I’ve checked my country’s guide above.
- ☐ I won’t pay a customs fee through a link in an unexpected message.
- ☐ I’ve compared the full cost with another listing. Shipping methods.
Ready to shop?
Once you know what your country charges, open the listing on AliExpress, select your exact variant and add it to your cart to see the total shown for your address. Search AliExpress for a second listing to compare the full cost, and check the current price before you pay.
Where to go next
- AliExpress shipping methods explained
- AliExpress Buyer Protection: what’s covered before you pay
- AliExpress USA: do you pay tariffs on your order?
- AliExpress UK: will you pay VAT or customs on your order?
- AliExpress Canada: will you pay duty and tax on your order?
- AliExpress Australia: do you pay GST or duty on orders?
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay customs on AliExpress orders?
It depends on your country and the value. Often VAT or GST is collected at checkout, and duty may apply above a threshold or, in the EU and US, on low-value goods too. Check the total at checkout and your country’s guide.
Why did I get a fee at delivery when I paid tax at checkout?
A carrier may charge a handling fee, or duty may apply separately from tax. Canada Post, for example, charges a handling fee per dutiable or taxable mail item, and Royal Mail can charge a fee to release a parcel.
Who pays the EU’s new €3 customs duty?
The European Commission says the seller or importer declares and pays it, not the consumer. A seller could reflect the cost in its prices, so compare the checkout total.
Is the US $800 duty-free rule still in place?
It has been suspended, per CBP, and duty now applies by tariff classification. Our USA guide has the timeline.
Can I avoid customs charges by splitting my order?
Don’t plan around it. Rules differ by country, thresholds are changing, and customs can treat parcels differently. Read the total at checkout instead.
The bottom line
Customs charges depend on where you live, what you order and who collects them. Read the full total at checkout, check your country’s rules, and expect thresholds to keep changing. Pay only through the carrier’s official page, and keep your receipts and tracking screenshots.
Check current prices on AliExpress →
Sources
- European Commission: €3 customs duty for low-value parcels (29 June 2026)
- European Commission Taxation and Customs Union: Temporary flat fee on low-value imports, FAQ
- US CBP: E-commerce FAQ
- GOV.UK: VAT and overseas goods sold to customers in the UK using online marketplaces
- GOV.UK (HMRC): Acceleration of cheap import reforms (23 June 2026)
- Royal Mail: Pay a fee
- Royal Mail: Typical online scams to look out for
- CBSA: Importing goods by mail or courier
- Canada Post: Customs duty, taxes and exemptions
- ATO: GST and consumers, low value imported goods
- Australian Border Force: Buying online
- AliExpress: Buyer Protection
Customs rules, thresholds and fees change often. Check the total at checkout and the official pages before you pay.
