UK field note · checked 7 September 2026
UK import costs: what to check before shipping
A four-part check for item price, parcel cost, VAT and possible Customs Duty—with the GB and Northern Ireland distinction kept visible.
Start with 4 separate numbers
Keep the item price separate from international delivery, VAT and any Customs Duty. A product price is not a landed-cost quote, and this site does not infer Hoobuy fees or VAT collection.
What the £135 threshold actually means
For Great Britain, GOV.UK says Customs Duty is normally charged on goods sent from outside the UK when they are worth more than £135, or are excise goods. VAT rules are separate. Check the current official page for your case.
Northern Ireland needs its own check
Northern Ireland treatment can depend on where goods arrive from and whether they are considered ‘at risk’ of entering the EU. Do not apply a Great Britain summary to a Northern Ireland parcel.
Keep the declaration accurate
GOV.UK says goods must be declared correctly. Keep the order record, item price, parcel invoice and delivery paperwork; do not ask a sender to under-declare or mark a purchase as a gift.