U.S. Import Duties, Fees & Taxes

Orders to the United States are shipped from Germany. For U.S. orders, German VAT (19%) is removed. Once you have created a customer account, our shop will show you the net prices.

Why do I have to pay import duties and fees?

drum-tec is based in Germany, and all U.S. orders are shipped from Germany. When your order enters the United States, U.S. import charges may apply. The exact amount depends mainly on the product category, the customs tariff code, and the country of origin of the goods.

How do I pay these charges?

We usually ship via UPS Express. In most cases, UPS will contact you once the shipment is being cleared for import. Payment is typically made online before delivery. In some cases, payment may also be requested at delivery.

Can drum-tec tell me the exact amount in advance?

Unfortunately, no! We cannot provide a binding estimate for U.S. import duties, fees, or taxes. These charges are determined by U.S. rules and authorities and can change at short notice. If you would like to make your own estimate before ordering, you can use the customs code and country of origin shown on our order confirmation. These are the key details used to determine the applicable U.S. duty rate.

Can additional taxes apply depending on my U.S. state?

Yes. Depending on the destination state, state or local sales/use tax may also apply. For example, official tax guidance in states such as California and New York explains that purchases from out-of-state sellers can be subject to use tax, and in California the applicable rate can also include local and district taxes.

Are there any other fees?

Yes. There may also be brokerage, clearance, or handling fees connected with customs processing.

What happens if I do not pay the charges?

If the required import charges are not paid, the shipment may be returned to us. In that case, the customer is responsible for all shipping costs.

Summary

As a rough, non-binding guideline, it is sensible to expect additional import-related costs of around 10% to 30%.