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Tariffs & import duty

Understand the tariff and duty on your imported product

Import duty is not determined by product price alone. It depends on classification, origin, destination, customs value and any additional tariff measures. UtilityPilot connects those inputs and shows their effect on landed cost.

Calculate my import tariff I need to find my HS code first

Who this is for

  • Importers and exporters pricing a new product or route
  • Ecommerce sellers sourcing goods across borders
  • Procurement and sourcing teams comparing suppliers
  • Finance and compliance teams checking duty exposure

What you need

  • The HS/HTS classification (or a product description to find one)
  • Country of origin — where the goods were made, not just shipped from
  • Destination country and its national tariff schedule
  • The customs value and valuation basis (FOB or CIF)
  • The base duty rate, and any additional tariff measures that apply
  • The import VAT/GST rate and whether it is recoverable

How it works

  1. 1

    Classify the product

    The six-digit HS code is shared worldwide; the destination adds national digits (US HTS, UK commodity code, EU CN code) that set the exact duty line.

  2. 2

    Establish origin and destination

    Duty depends on where goods were made and where they enter. Origin can unlock a preferential rate or trigger an additional trade measure.

  3. 3

    Set the customs value

    Duty is charged on a defined value basis. Some countries use FOB (goods only); others use CIF (goods plus freight and insurance).

  4. 4

    Apply base duty and any additional tariff

    You enter the base rate and any extra measure (for example a safeguard or Section 301 style surcharge). UtilityPilot does the arithmetic — it never invents the rate.

  5. 5

    Add import tax and fees

    Import VAT/GST and any processing or entry fees are added. Recoverable tax is separated so it does not distort your margin.

Worked example

Hypothetical: 1,000 units, CIF destination

Every rate below is entered by the user for illustration — none is a live or official figure.

Goods value (1,000 × 10.00)
USD 10,000.00
Freight
USD 1,200.00
Insurance
USD 80.00
Customs value (CIF)
USD 11,280.00
Base duty (user-entered 6.5%)
USD 733.20
Additional tariff (user-entered 7.5%)
USD 846.00
Import tax (user-entered 0%)
USD 0.00
Total landed cost
USD 12,859.20

Illustrative only. Confirm the current duty, additional-tariff and tax rates for your HS code, origin and destination with the official customs authority before relying on any figure.

Common mistakes

  • Using the country of shipment instead of the country of origin
  • Assuming the six-digit HS code determines every national tariff line
  • Forgetting additional tariff measures such as safeguards or surcharges
  • Applying duty to the wrong customs-value basis (FOB vs CIF)
  • Treating recoverable import VAT as a permanent cost
  • Omitting processing, entry and handling fees
  • Relying on an outdated tariff schedule

What UtilityPilot calculates

  • Duty on your chosen customs-value basis
  • Any additional tariff you enter
  • Import tax and whether it is recoverable
  • Total duty, import cost and landed cost

What you must verify

  • The correct national tariff line for your product
  • Current base and additional-tariff rates
  • Whether a trade-agreement preference applies
  • The import tax rate and recoverability in your situation

Official sources to verify

UtilityPilot links to these authorities so you can confirm a figure at its source. It does not publish live tariff rates or reproduce these databases. Source list last updated 4 September 2026.

Continue your workflow

Import Tariff CalculatorEnter your values and see duty, landed cost and margin.Find your HS / HTS codeDescribe the product to narrow the classification.Calculate full landed costAdd freight, insurance and fees for the total per-unit cost.Freight inputsWork out CBM, chargeable weight and freight cost per unit.