If you ship products to US customers from another country, plan for customs clearance and any import charges before you accept the order. This guide helps you check your shipping service, prepare customs information, and explain the costs to your customers.
This documentation covers how to set up tax rates in WooCommerce, as well as how the platform handles taxes/VAT/GST based on these settings — not when or what to charge.
We are not tax professionals; our advice only applies to how to use our software. For advice on what — or when — to charge tax/VAT/GST etc., we recommend consulting a tax professional or accountant.
Every business is unique, and we are unable to cover all possibilities here.
What the de minimis suspension means
↑ Back to topThe US suspended the duty-free de minimis exemption for low-value imports on August 29, 2025. Don’t assume that a commercial shipment qualifies for duty-free entry because its value is $800 USD or less. Other exemptions or preferential treatment may apply, depending on the goods and the applicable rules.
The amount due depends on the goods, their country of origin, and the rules that apply when they enter the US. Ask your carrier or customs broker to confirm the classification, charges, and entry requirements. See US Customs and Border Protection’s e-commerce guidance for the current rules.
Before you offer US shipping
↑ Back to topConfirm these details with your carrier or shipping provider:
- The service accepts your products from their shipping origin to the customer’s US address.
- You know who pays import duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any carrier handling fees.
- You can provide the required customs information and any product-specific documents.
- Your delivery estimate allows for customs clearance.
Check the carrier’s current service notices rather than relying on the shipment pauses announced during the 2025 transition. For example, Australia Post has resumed US postal services, with registration and duty-payment requirements for business senders. Availability and requirements depend on the service you use.
Choose how import charges will be paid
↑ Back to topWith Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), the seller is responsible for import duties and taxes. With Delivered At Place (DAP), the recipient is responsible for import clearance and applicable import charges. Some providers use labels such as Duties and Taxes Paid or Duties and Taxes Unpaid. Confirm the service and billing arrangement with your provider; not every service offers both options.
Collecting an amount from your customer at checkout and paying import charges through your carrier or broker are separate steps. Before promising that all import charges are prepaid, confirm how your chosen service calculates those charges, bills you, and pays the authorities. DHL’s international shipping reference explains its shipping terms and customs documents.
Postal operators may require a separate account or an approved duty-payment partner. Don’t assume duties are included in the postage price. Follow your operator’s current instructions for the service and country you ship from.
Prepare your store and fulfillment process
↑ Back to topIf you ship to the US
↑ Back to top- Prepare accurate product information. Record a clear description, quantity, declared value, country of manufacture, and the tariff classification your provider requires. Confirm whether it needs a Harmonized System (HS) code or a more detailed US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code. The country goods ship from isn’t necessarily their country of origin.
- Check your shipping integration. Confirm which customs fields and duty-payment options it supports for your chosen service. Check where those details must be entered or passed to the provider. A shipping integration’s availability alone doesn’t establish that it calculates or pays import duties.
- Review the shipping options customers see. Use your shipping zones and methods to offer services you can fulfill. Check a representative US address before accepting orders.
- Explain the charges before payment. State whether the customer pays import charges at checkout or may need to pay the carrier separately. Include any known handling fees and explain how customs clearance can affect delivery estimates.
- Check the complete order flow. Compare the checkout total with your carrier’s quote, then confirm that the shipping documents contain the correct product data and duty-payment arrangement. If the amounts or terms differ, resolve that with the provider before offering the service to customers.
If you can’t offer a suitable service, update the relevant shipping options and tell customers which destinations are affected. If a parcel is held or returned, ask the carrier for the specific reason, then check its customs data, required documents, and duty-payment setup.
If you import inventory into a US-based store
↑ Back to topConfirm your import arrangements with your supplier, carrier, or customs broker. Include applicable import and clearance costs when reviewing your inventory costs and pricing. Update customer delivery estimates if customs clearance affects stock availability.
Questions and support
↑ Back to topDo you still have questions and need assistance?
This documentation is about the free, core WooCommerce plugin, for which support is provided in our community forums on WordPress.org. By searching this forum, you’ll often find that your question has been asked and answered before.
If you haven’t created a WordPress.org account to use the forums, here’s how.
- If you’re looking to extend the core functionality shown here, we recommend reviewing available extensions in the WooCommerce Marketplace.
- Need ongoing advanced support or a customization built for WooCommerce? Hire a Woo Agency Partner.
- Are you a developer building your own WooCommerce integration or extension? Check our Developer Resources.
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