Ordering from a US store while living abroad can come with an unpleasant surprise: extra charges collected at your door when the package arrives. Here's what duty and VAT actually are, and how XOXOMART handles them.
What duty and VAT actually are
Duty is a tax that a country's customs authority charges on goods coming in from abroad. VAT (value-added tax), or an equivalent sales tax, is charged the same way it would be on a purchase made locally. Together, these are usually what people mean when they talk about "customs charges."
Two ways international orders are usually handled
- DDU / DAP (Delivery Duty Unpaid) — the price at checkout doesn't include import charges. The courier or customs office collects them from you when the package arrives, sometimes with an extra handling fee added on top.
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) — import duty and tax are calculated and collected upfront, as part of your order. Nothing extra should be owed when the package is delivered.
How XOXOMART handles this
XOXOMART ships on a Duty & VAT Prepaid basis for international orders. What you see at checkout is designed to be the full cost, so you shouldn't be asked for an additional payment when your order is delivered.
Why we don't publish a single fixed number
Import rules, tax rates and exemption thresholds are set by each country's customs authority and can change over time. Because of that, we don't publish one flat figure here. If you ever have a question about a specific order, contact our support team and we'll look into it directly.