Important information about import taxes and customs fees for international orders
Important: the checkout is the authority for destination availability and the final EUR total. Great Britain and United States orders are accepted only when our complete DDP route is active. For those accepted orders, mandatory VAT, import duty, brokerage and clearance charges are included in the confirmed total; the recipient does not receive a mandatory customs bill at delivery.
Whether you need to pay customs duties depends on where you live. Here is a clear overview by region:
The EU is a single customs union. Orders to EU countries are delivered without any customs duties or additional import taxes. VAT is included in the product price, with EU cross-border VAT handled through the proper EU VAT/OSS workflow where applicable.
| Customs duties | None |
| Import VAT | Included in price; EU VAT/OSS workflow where applicable |
| Additional fees | None |
For goods outside the UK at the point of sale, direct B2C consignments with an intrinsic value of GBP 135 or less have UK VAT charged at checkout. Above GBP 135, the normal import route applies. Thomas Super Store accepts the order only through its confirmed DDP route and bears the mandatory import charges included in the checkout total.
| Low-value VAT threshold | GBP 135 |
| Customer customs bill | None for an accepted DDP order |
| Initial territory | England, Scotland and Wales only |
Duty-free de minimis treatment is suspended, so duties, import processing and carrier fees can apply regardless of order value. Thomas Super Store accepts a US order only through its confirmed importer, broker and DDP route and bears the mandatory import charges included in the checkout total.
| Duty-free de minimis | Suspended; do not assume USD 800 duty-free entry |
| Customer customs bill | None for an accepted DDP order |
| Initial territory | 50 states and District of Columbia |
Canada has a low de minimis threshold. Most orders will be subject to customs duty and GST/HST. Brokerage fees charged by the carrier may also apply.
| De minimis threshold | CAD 20 |
| GST/HST | 5 – 15% |
| Toy import duty | 0 – 8% |
Australia has a high de minimis threshold for goods. Goods valued under AUD 1,000 are generally exempt from customs duty and GST at the border, although GST may be collected by the seller.
| De minimis threshold | AUD 1,000 |
| GST rate | 10% |
| Toy import duty | 0 – 5% |
Japan has a de minimis value of JPY 10,000 (approximately EUR 60). Above this, consumption tax and possible customs duty apply. Toys generally have low or zero duty rates.
| De minimis threshold | JPY 10,000 |
| Consumption tax | 10% |
| Toy import duty | 0 – 3.9% |
We ship to mainland Norway with PostNL and export your order without Dutch VAT. On delivery the carrier (usually Posten) collects Norway's 25% import VAT on the goods and shipping, plus its clearance fee. We send everything in one parcel, so you pay these charges once. Svalbard and Jan Mayen are not supported.
| Norwegian import VAT | 25% of goods + shipping |
| Posten clearance fee | NOK 46 (goods up to NOK 500) / NOK 78 (up to NOK 3,000) |
| Payment | EUR; NOK amounts are indicative |
Switzerland is not in the EU and applies its own customs duties and VAT on most imports. The threshold is low, so most orders will incur charges. Swiss Post typically collects these fees on delivery.
| De minimis threshold | CHF 65 (VAT portion) |
| Swiss VAT | 8.1% |
| Handling fee | CHF 11.50 (typical) |
For all other countries, customs duties, import taxes, and handling fees are determined by your local customs authority. We recommend checking with your national customs office before ordering.
| Duties | Varies by country |
| Import tax | Varies by country |
| Handling fees | May apply |
We handle VAT differently depending on where you are located:
| Region | VAT Treatment | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 21% BTW included | Dutch VAT is always included in the displayed price. |
| EU Countries | Local VAT / EU VAT workflow | Prices shown include VAT. EU cross-border B2C VAT is handled through the proper EU VAT/OSS workflow where applicable. |
| Great Britain | UK low-value VAT or 0% NL export + DDP import | Up to and including GBP 135 intrinsic value, 20% UK VAT is included at checkout. Above that threshold, the sale uses the normal export/import route and Thomas Super Store handles mandatory DDP import charges. |
| United States | 0% NL export + DDP import | No Dutch VAT is charged. Thomas Super Store handles mandatory import duty and clearance under DDP. US checkout remains closed if a state sales-tax collection obligation exists without a working tax flow. |
| Norway | 0% NL export, import VAT on delivery (DAP) | No Dutch VAT is charged. Norway's 25% import VAT and the carrier's clearance fee are paid by the customer on delivery. Prices are shown in NOK as an indication; payment is in EUR. |
| All other countries | VAT-free export | No European VAT charged. Local import VAT/GST determined by your country's customs authority. |
OSS (One Stop Shop): Since July 2021, EU cross-border B2C sellers may need to charge the destination country's VAT rate and report it through the EU VAT/OSS workflow. Thomas Super Store keeps EU VAT included in customer-facing prices and configures the applicable VAT handling per destination.
International shipping uses specific trade terms (Incoterms) that determine who pays for customs duties:
| Term | Full Name | Who Pays Duties? | Our Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAP / DDU | Delivered at Place (Duty Unpaid) | The buyer (you) | Not used for accepted GB/US orders |
| DDP | Delivered Duty Paid | The seller (us) | Required for accepted GB/US orders |
Checkout-enabled Great Britain and United States orders are shipped DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). This means:
DDP support: if a carrier unexpectedly asks for import duty, tax or a mandatory clearance fee on an accepted Great Britain or United States order, contact us immediately with the order number and carrier notice. Do not pay until we have checked it.
There is no single reliable “toy duty rate”. The correct rate depends on the exact product, materials, use, ten-digit destination code, country of origin and current tariff measures. We therefore do not publish approximate duty percentages. Before a Great Britain or United States product can be ordered, its exact customs and product-safety file must be complete; our DDP carrier/broker quote then determines the landed cost handled by Thomas Super Store.
When your package arrives at your country's border, the following process typically occurs:
Accurate declarations: We always declare the true value of goods on customs forms. Under-declaring the value is illegal and can result in fines, seizure of goods, or delays. We follow all international trade regulations.
For detailed information about import duties in your country, we recommend these official resources:
Not sure what fees might apply to your order? Our team can help you estimate potential customs charges before you buy.
