Ad valorem based on CIF (cost, insurance, and freight)
Method for calculating import duties where the tax is calculated on the cost of the order plus the cost of freight, insurance, and seller's commission
Ad valorem based on FOB (free on board)
Method for calculating import duties where the fees are calculated only on the cost of the goods sold. FOB is not calculated on the shipping, duty, insurance, etc.
Weight
Method for calculating import duties based on how much the goods weigh
No Duties Assessed (free port)
Not necessarily a method per se, but rather when countries do not assess duties at all, i.e. imports are duty-free
Here is an example of the 4 methods
Note: This simplified example only covers duty rates. There are usually other fees that go into a landed cost calculation, including tax, carrier fees, and other governmental fees.
Assumptions:
- Item Cost: 100 USD
- Weight: 5 KG
- Shipping: 25 USD
| Calculation Method | Duty Formula | Equation and result |
|---|---|---|
| Ad valorem 10% CIF | duty rate * (item cost + shipping cost) | 10% * (100 USD + 25 USD)= 12.50 USD |
| Ad valorem 10% FOB | duty rate * item cost | 10% * 100 USD = 10 USD |
| Weight-based 5 USD per kg | duty rate * weight | 5 USD * 5 KG = 25 USD |
| Free 0 | no duties calculated or applied | 0 |
Calculation method by country
Now that you have a basic understanding of the duty calculation methods and what they entail, let’s break down the methods by country.
The information in this guide is based on data analysis conducted in 2022. However, it is quite rare for countries to change their duty calculation method.
Duties calculated based on FOB
| Country Code | Name |
|---|---|
| AS | American Samoa |
| AU | Australia |
| BW | Botswana |
| CA | Canada |
| GU | Guam |
| HT | Haiti |
| LS | Lesotho |
| NA | Namibia |
| NZ | New Zealand |
| SZ | Swaziland |
| US | United States |
| VI | Virgin Islands |
| ZA | South Africa |
Duties based on weight
| Country Code | Name |
|---|---|
| CH | Switzerland |
| LI | Liechtenstein |
No duties
| Country Code | Name |
|---|---|
| HK | Hong Kong |
| KI | Kiribati |
| MO | Macao |
| SG | Singapore |
Duties based on CIF
All other countries (any country not in one of the lists above) use the CIF calculation method. It is the most widely used duty calculation method.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I learn more about the duty calculations of individual countries?
Duty can be a complex topic. Zonos technology handles calculations involved with importing goods and we always take into account the variation by country. Our global trade content analyst team specializes in country-specific data which we use to produce country guides that go into detail about not only duty, but tax rates, landed cost examples, and specific info about restrictions, trade agreements, paperwork, and more.
Don’t see a country guide you’re looking for? Send your requested country to docs@zonos.com and we will put that country at the top of our country guide priority list!
Customs duty calculation methods
Explore the different ways duty is calculated.If you have ever sent or received goods to or from another country, you’re likely familiar with paying import duty. But have you noticed that the duties that you pay are different depending on what and where you’re importing/exporting? That’s because different countries have different duty rates based on the type of products being imported, the Harmonized System (HS) code, and other factors. The ways different countries assess duty are called calculation methods.
Ad valorem: Duty charged as a percentage of the value of the goods.
There are four ways in which countries calculate duties: