Last reviewed: May 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how Import Cost Guide may collect, use and protect information when you use this website and its import cost calculators.
Import Cost Guide is designed to help users estimate import duty, import VAT, landed cost, cost per unit and margin. The calculators are intended for planning and educational use only.
Who we are
This website is Import Cost Guide.
Website:
Contact email:
Information we may collect
Import Cost Guide may collect limited information in the following ways.
Calculator inputs
When you use a calculator, we may store anonymous or non-identifying calculation data to improve the tool, detect errors and understand common use cases.
This may include:
- Origin country
- Destination country
- Commodity code entered, if provided
- Product description, if provided
- Currency selected
- Exchange rate entered
- Product value
- Shipping cost
- Insurance cost
- Other import costs
- Broker or handling fee
- Number of units
- Selling price per unit
- Duty and VAT rates used
- Estimated calculation results
- Whether official tariff data, cached tariff data or entered rates were used
Please do not enter personal information into calculator fields. The calculator fields are intended for product, cost, route and import estimate information only.
Technical data
When you visit the website, standard technical information may be processed automatically by the website, WordPress, security tools or the hosting provider.
This may include:
- IP address
- Browser type and version
- Device information
- Operating system
- Pages visited
- Date and time of access
- Referring page or website
- Server logs and error logs
Contact by email
If you contact us by email, we may process the information you choose to send, such as your email address, name, message content and any related correspondence.
How we use information
We may use information for the following purposes:
- To operate the website and calculators
- To calculate import duty, VAT, landed cost, cost per unit and margin estimates
- To show calculation assumptions and data source information
- To improve calculator accuracy, usability and content
- To detect technical errors or abuse
- To respond to messages, corrections or enquiries
- To maintain website security and performance
- To comply with legal or administrative obligations where required
Calculator logs
Import Cost Guide may store calculation logs to help improve the calculators and understand how the tools are used.
These logs are not intended to identify individual users. They are intended to help with debugging, quality control, feature planning and understanding common import cost scenarios.
Calculator logs should not contain unnecessary personal data. Please avoid entering names, addresses, phone numbers, personal notes or confidential business information into calculator fields.
Official tariff data and cached data
When a supported commodity code is entered, the UK Import Duty & Landed Cost Calculator may attempt to retrieve official tariff data from official sources.
Official tariff responses may be cached for up to 24 hours to improve performance and reduce unnecessary requests. Cached tariff data is used to support calculations and show when data was last retrieved.
Cookies
Import Cost Guide may use essential cookies or similar technologies required for the website to function properly.
WordPress may use cookies for logged-in administrators and basic site functionality. Public calculator users should not need to create an account or log in to use the calculators.
If we later add analytics, advertising, embedded third-party services or additional tracking tools, this Privacy Policy and any cookie notice will be updated before those tools are used.
Analytics and advertising
At this stage, this Privacy Policy is prepared as a base version.
If Import Cost Guide later uses analytics tools, advertising networks, affiliate tracking or similar services, this page will be updated to explain:
- Which services are used
- What data may be collected
- Why the data is used
- Whether cookies or similar technologies are involved
- How users can manage consent or preferences where required
Legal basis for processing
Depending on the context and applicable law, we may process information on one or more of the following bases:
- Legitimate interests: to operate, secure and improve the website and calculators.
- Consent: where consent is required for optional cookies, analytics, marketing or similar tools.
- Contract or pre-contractual steps: where you contact us with a specific request.
- Legal obligation: where we are required to keep or disclose information by law.
How long we keep information
We keep information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.
Because this website is still developing, exact retention periods may vary depending on the type of data, technical configuration and hosting setup.
Retention is generally based on the following criteria:
- How long the information is needed to operate the website
- How long calculation logs are useful for debugging and improving the tools
- How long server logs are retained by the hosting provider or security tools
- Whether information is needed to respond to a contact request
- Whether legal, security or administrative reasons require longer retention
Who we may share information with
We do not sell personal information.
Information may be processed by service providers that help operate the website, such as:
- Web hosting providers
- Email providers
- Security or anti-spam tools
- Analytics or advertising services, if added in the future
- Technical support providers, where needed
We may also disclose information if required by law, legal process, security obligations or to protect the website from misuse.
International transfers
Some service providers may process data in countries outside your own country.
If we use services that involve international data transfers, we aim to use providers that offer appropriate safeguards where required by applicable data protection laws.
Your rights
Depending on where you live and which laws apply, you may have rights over your personal data.
These rights may include:
- The right to be informed about how your data is used
- The right to access personal data held about you
- The right to request correction of inaccurate data
- The right to request deletion of personal data
- The right to restrict or object to certain processing
- The right to data portability where applicable
- The right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
- The right to complain to a data protection authority
To exercise privacy rights, contact us at:
Children
Import Cost Guide is not intended for children. The website is designed for import cost planning, e-commerce, business and educational use.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
Data security
We aim to use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect information processed through the website.
No website or online service can guarantee complete security. Users should avoid entering personal, confidential or sensitive information into calculator fields.
Third-party links
Import Cost Guide may link to official government websites, tariff sources, data sources or other external websites.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content or security of external websites. You should review their privacy policies before providing information to them.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as the website develops, new calculators are added, or new tools such as analytics, advertising, forms or email services are introduced.
The “Last reviewed” date at the top of this page shows when this Privacy Policy was last reviewed.
Contact
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how Import Cost Guide handles information, contact us at: