Retailers in Switzerland, Germany, and Italy may see a new duties and taxes experience when placing orders with select US brands.
We’re testing out a pilot that adds prepaid duties, taxes, and fees to the checkout experience for some cross-border orders. You’ll see and pay the full landed cost when you check out, meaning no surprise bills from carriers when your order is delivered (see exclusions below).
Import duties are calculated based on the type of goods being imported and the origin of the goods, as determined by the tariff codes provided by the brand. This pilot includes duties, taxes, and fees at checkout; however, additional charges may be associated with your right to import restricted or controlled goods, which are not included in the prepaid duties, taxes and fees.
In cases where goods are misclassified or there are penalties associated with your right to import specific goods, those charges may still be billed to you by the carrier.
What’s included in the duties, taxes and fees you see at checkout?
The fees being charged include:
- Import duties
- Import taxes (e.g., VAT)
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Carrier fees, including customs brokerage, disbursement fees, merchandise processing fee (MPF), PSS (Peak Season Surcharge) and storage fees.
These are the same charges that are usually billed by the carrier when your order arrives, but now they’re included at checkout.
Why am I being charged fees at checkout?
You’re being charged upfront to avoid surprise fees later and help you calculate your costs before you purchase.
Which orders include prepaid charges for duties, taxes and fees?
Duties, taxes, and fees may be included upfront on your bill if:
- You’re ordering from a US brand that uses Ship with Faire
- You’re shipping to Switzerland, Germany, or Italy
- You’re not an Insider member
If your order doesn’t meet these conditions, you’ll still see estimated duties, taxes, and fees at checkout but the final charge will come from the carrier when the order is delivered.
How can I tell if an order includes duties, taxes and fees at checkout?
If your order qualifies for upfront duties, taxes, and fees, you'll see a line item in your cart and at checkout that says All VAT & import fees included or All import fees included. This means all import costs are included in your total.
If the order doesn’t qualify, you’ll see Est VAT & import fees or Est import fees instead. These are estimated charges, and the carrier will still bill you when the order arrives.
Will I be charged again when the package arrives?
Duties, taxes, and fees are prepaid through Faire to help avoid additional charges on delivery. In most situations, this means you won’t need to pay again when your package arrives.
The duties, taxes, and fees collected at checkout are based on estimated import costs. Final charges assessed by carriers or customs authorities may differ from the estimate. If final charges exceed the amount collected at checkout, Faire covers the difference. If final charges are lower, Faire retains the difference (subject to the exclusions explained in this article). This pricing model allows us to offer predictable, upfront costs and minimize unexpected charges at delivery.
However, you may be responsible for additional charges related to misclassified goods, or importing restricted or controlled goods. These charges aren’t included in the prepaid duties and fees.
Please note, brands are responsible for providing the correct tariff codes for their products. The import duties generated by Faire rely on these tariff codes being accurate. Inaccurate codes or product misclassification could result in charges directly from the carrier.
If you receive a bill you weren’t expecting, contact Faire support, and we’ll help resolve the issue.