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Shipping help

Customs, VAT & Import Fees

A practical guide to when physical book orders may attract local import VAT, customs duty, postal clearance fees, or courier handling charges after dispatch.

Last updated: 27 May 2026

Short answer

For physical books shipped outside the United Kingdom, the checkout price covers the books and the shipping service shown at checkout. Irving Books does not currently prepay destination import VAT, customs duty, brokerage, or carrier handling fees unless checkout specifically says those charges are included.

Checkout shipping is not import tax

The shipping charge pays for the carrier service. It does not currently include destination import VAT, customs duty, brokerage, or carrier clearance fees unless checkout specifically says those charges are included.

Physical books can be stopped at customs

If a parcel crosses a border, the destination country or delivery company may ask the recipient to pay local charges before delivery.

Digital downloads do not cross a border

Ebooks, audiobook files, and other downloads do not create parcel customs charges because nothing is imported by post or courier.

How our physical books are dispatched

Printed-to-order books

Some titles are printed and dispatched through BookVault. For international BookVault orders, import taxes are not prepaid through IOSS and the shipment is handled on a DAP basis. That means local VAT, duty, or handling fees may be collected from the recipient before delivery.

Office-stock books

Some titles are dispatched from held stock, normally through Royal Mail or the local postal network. These orders also do not prepay destination taxes at checkout. If the parcel enters your country from abroad, your postal service or courier may collect local import charges.

Why EU orders can receive a bill

EU import VAT is different from the shipping charge at checkout. If a book enters the EU from outside the EU and VAT was not prepaid through IOSS, the local postal service or courier may collect VAT and a handling fee before delivery.

This is why a customer in Greece, Ireland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, or another EU country may see a charge even though the order was already paid for on our website.

Country guide

This is a customer guide, not tax advice. Local customs authorities and carriers make the final decision on charges.

United Kingdom

UK-address orders are normally dispatched within the UK. Printed books are zero-rated for UK VAT, so UK customers should not normally see a parcel import charge on standard Irving Books physical-book orders.

EU, including Greece

If a book is dispatched from outside the EU, import VAT can be charged regardless of order value unless VAT was already collected through IOSS. Irving Books does not currently collect IOSS VAT at checkout, so EU customers may be asked to pay local VAT and a postal or courier handling fee. Customs duty can also apply above EUR 150, although many printed-book orders are below that threshold.

Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and non-EU Europe

These countries are outside the EU VAT area for parcel imports. Local VAT, customs processing, and carrier fees can apply according to the destination country's rules.

United States

Import charges on printed books are often low, but zero charges cannot be guaranteed. Any applicable duties, taxes, postal charges, or carrier processing fees are decided at import by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the delivery carrier.

Canada

Canada may assess GST, HST, PST, duty, and courier or postal clearance fees on imported parcels. The exact amount depends on the declared value, province, carrier, and customs classification.

Australia

Imported goods may be liable for duties and taxes unless an exemption applies. GST on taxable importations is generally calculated from the customs value plus applicable duty, international transport, and insurance.

New Zealand

New Zealand Customs says duty or GST is generally not collected at the border unless the item or shipment is over NZD 1000, but GST can still apply to imported items and may be collected by overseas suppliers. Irving Books does not currently collect New Zealand GST at checkout.

Singapore

Singapore applies GST rules based on whether GST was collected at purchase, whether the seller is registered, and the shipment's CIF value. For non-registered overseas sellers, GST may be collected at import if the shipment exceeds the current relief threshold.

Rest of world

Assume local import VAT, duty, postal clearance, or courier handling fees may apply. Your local customs authority or delivery company is the best source for the current rule in your country.

If you receive a customs bill

A carrier payment request is usually time-sensitive. Use this checklist before paying or contacting us.

  1. 1Check that the message comes from the postal service, courier, or official customs authority handling your parcel.
  2. 2Check that the goods are described as books or printed matter. If the classification looks wrong, contact the carrier before paying where possible.
  3. 3Pay the postal service or courier if you want the parcel released quickly. Carriers usually hold parcels for a limited period before returning them.
  4. 4Email us with your order number if the carrier asks for an invoice, proof of purchase, or product description.

Common questions

Is this a second shipping charge?

No. Shipping is the carrier service you paid for at checkout. Import VAT, customs duty, brokerage, and handling fees are separate charges set by the destination country or the delivery company.

Can Irving Books mark my order as a gift or lower the value?

No. We must use accurate commercial paperwork. We cannot mark commercial orders as gifts or understate the value to avoid local tax.

Can I avoid charges by ordering digital editions?

Digital editions do not have parcel customs charges because no physical parcel is imported. Any sales tax or VAT that applies to a digital product would be handled at checkout where required.

Can you refund customs charges?

No. Charges collected by customs, postal services, or couriers are not paid to Irving Books, so we cannot refund them. If a charge looks wrong, the carrier or local customs office has to correct it.

Official references

Import rules change by country. These official pages were used to prepare this guide and are useful for checking the current local position.

Need an invoice?

Contact info@irvingbooks.com with your order number if customs or the carrier asks for proof of purchase. We can provide order documentation, but we cannot change commercial paperwork after dispatch to avoid local tax.