Shipment Inputs
Example Data Table
| Shipment | Invoice Value | Freight | Insurance | Duty % | VAT % | Estimated Landed Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronics Batch A | 12,000 | 850 | 120 | 10 | 18 | 4,397,680.00 |
| Medical Supplies | 8,500 | 500 | 85 | 5 | 12 | 2,815,360.00 |
| Industrial Spare Parts | 16,250 | 1,180 | 150 | 8 | 17 | 5,725,342.50 |
Formula Used
1. Goods Value in Local Currency
Goods Value = Invoice Value × Exchange Rate
2. CIF Value
CIF Value = Goods Value + Freight + Insurance
3. Assessable Customs Value
Assessable Value = CIF Value + Other Customs-Adjustable Costs
or manual override, when provided
4. Customs Duty
Customs Duty = Assessable Value × Customs Duty Rate
5. Excise
Excise Base = Assessable Value + Customs Duty
Excise = Excise Base × Excise Rate
6. Surcharge
Surcharge = Assessable Value × Surcharge Rate
7. VAT Base
VAT Base = Assessable Value + selected taxable additions
Taxable additions may include duty, excise, surcharge, customs fee, and broker fee.
8. Import VAT
VAT = VAT Base × VAT Rate
9. Total Taxes and Landed Cost
Total Taxes = Duty + Excise + Surcharge + VAT + Fees
Landed Cost = Assessable Value + Total Taxes
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the shipment label for easy result tracking.
- Type the invoice currency and exchange rate to your local currency.
- Add invoice value, freight, insurance, and any other customs-adjustable costs.
- Use the manual customs value override when customs applies a different base.
- Enter customs duty, excise, surcharge, VAT, and clearance-related fees.
- Select which items should be included in the VAT base.
- Choose the rounding mode and decimal precision.
- Press the calculate button to see the results above the form.
- Review the table and graph, then export the results as CSV or PDF.
FAQs
1. What does import VAT mean?
Import VAT is the value-added tax charged when goods enter a country. It is often based on customs value plus selected charges like duty, fees, or excise.
2. Why is freight included in many import calculations?
Many customs systems use a CIF-style base. That means freight and insurance are added to product value before duty or VAT is calculated.
3. What is the difference between customs value and landed cost?
Customs value is the taxable base used by customs. Landed cost is broader. It includes customs value plus duties, VAT, surcharges, and clearance fees.
4. When should I use the customs value override?
Use it when customs applies a valuation different from your invoice-based estimate. This helps model real assessed taxes more accurately.
5. Does every country include broker fees in the VAT base?
No. VAT rules differ across jurisdictions. This calculator lets you decide whether broker fees belong inside the VAT base for your scenario.
6. Why does the calculator include excise and surcharge options?
Some products face extra taxes beyond customs duty. Excise and import surcharge options help model regulated goods and special import programs.
7. What does the effective import multiplier show?
It shows how much the shipment grows after taxes and fees. A multiplier of 1.25x means the final landed cost is 25% above assessable value.
8. Can I use this for budgeting before shipment dispatch?
Yes. It is useful for pre-shipment budgeting, quote comparison, sourcing analysis, and checking whether a route remains commercially viable.