Last reviewed: May 2026
This disclaimer explains the limits of the information, calculators, estimates and data shown on Import Cost Guide.
By using this website, you understand that the information provided is for general planning and educational purposes only. It should not be treated as customs, tax, legal, accounting or professional advice.
Estimates, not final import costs
Import Cost Guide provides estimates to help users understand possible import duty, import VAT, landed cost and related import cost components.
The results shown by our calculators are estimates only. They may differ from the final amount charged by customs authorities, couriers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, tax authorities or other parties involved in the import process.
Final import costs can depend on many factors, including but not limited to:
- Correct commodity code or HS code classification
- Country of origin and origin rules
- Customs valuation rules
- Shipping, insurance and handling costs
- Import duty rates
- Import VAT treatment
- Trade remedies, anti-dumping duties or safeguards
- Tariff quotas, suspensions or conditional measures
- Excise duties
- Licences, certificates or product-specific controls
- Courier, broker, storage, inspection or clearance fees
- Changes in official tariff data or customs rules
No customs, tax or legal advice
Import Cost Guide is not a customs broker, freight forwarder, tax adviser, accountant, law firm or government authority.
Nothing on this website should be interpreted as:
- Customs advice
- Tax advice
- Legal advice
- Accounting advice
- Commodity code classification advice
- Freight, brokerage or import compliance advice
You should not rely solely on this website to make a final commercial import decision, submit a customs declaration or determine your legal or tax obligations.
Commodity codes and classification
The commodity code or HS code entered by the user is one of the most important inputs in an import cost estimate.
Import Cost Guide does not guarantee that a commodity code entered by a user is correct for the goods being imported. A wrong commodity code can lead to incorrect duty, VAT, controls or other import requirements.
The product description field is for reference only. It does not automatically classify goods. Users are responsible for verifying that the commodity code used matches the exact product being imported.
Official tariff data
Where possible, Import Cost Guide may retrieve or display data from official sources such as the GOV.UK Trade Tariff.
Although we aim to use official sources where available, we do not guarantee that:
- Official data will always be available
- Official data will always be interpreted correctly by the calculator
- A simple duty or VAT rate can always be extracted
- All additional measures, conditions or controls will be fully reflected
- The data shown is complete, current or suitable for your specific import scenario
Users should always verify official tariff information directly with the relevant customs authority or a qualified professional before importing.
Recently retrieved data and caching
Some official tariff responses may be stored for up to 24 hours to improve performance and reduce unnecessary requests to official sources.
Cached or recently retrieved data may not reflect the latest official changes. If tariff accuracy is important for a commercial decision, users should verify the current information directly with the official source.
User-entered assumptions
Many calculator inputs are entered by the user, including product value, shipping cost, insurance cost, broker or handling fees, exchange rate, number of units and selling price.
The accuracy of the estimate depends on the accuracy of the information entered by the user. Import Cost Guide is not responsible for inaccurate, incomplete or outdated information entered by users.
Exchange rates
Where currency conversion is used, the calculator may rely on exchange rates entered by the user or on other available exchange-rate assumptions.
Exchange rates can change and may differ from the rate used by customs authorities, banks, couriers, payment providers or freight companies. Users should verify the appropriate exchange rate before relying on an estimate.
No guarantee of completeness or accuracy
We aim to make the website useful, transparent and easy to review, but we do not guarantee that the information, calculations, data, formulas or explanations on this website are accurate, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose.
Import rules, tariffs, VAT treatment, customs procedures and official data sources can change. Errors, delays, omissions or misinterpretations may occur.
No liability for decisions or losses
Use of Import Cost Guide is at your own risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Import Cost Guide is not responsible for any loss, cost, liability, penalty, delay, missed profit, incorrect import decision, customs issue or other consequence arising from the use of this website or reliance on its estimates.
This includes, but is not limited to, losses related to:
- Incorrect commodity code selection
- Incorrect duty or VAT estimates
- Unexpected customs charges
- Import delays or shipment holds
- Incorrect product margins
- Changes in tariff rates or customs treatment
- Use of outdated or cached data
- Commercial decisions based on calculator results
External links
This website may link to official government websites, tariff databases, third-party tools, service providers or other external resources.
External links are provided for convenience and reference only. We do not control external websites and are not responsible for their content, availability, accuracy, policies or updates.
Professional verification recommended
Before placing a significant order, importing commercially or submitting customs documentation, users should verify relevant information with official sources or qualified professionals.
This may include:
- Official customs authorities
- Licensed customs brokers
- Freight forwarders
- Trade compliance specialists
- Tax advisers or accountants where relevant
- Legal professionals where relevant
Changes to this disclaimer
We may update this disclaimer as the website evolves, new calculators are added, new data sources are used or legal and operational requirements change.
The “Last reviewed” date at the top of this page indicates when this disclaimer was last reviewed.
Contact
If you believe information on Import Cost Guide is incorrect, unclear or outdated, please contact us through the contact page.