Customs & Import Tax Policy

Thank you for shopping with Innoveda Tea! We take pride in shipping our premium Indian teas and tisanes directly from our facilities in India to tea lovers worldwide.

Because your order crosses international borders, it must pass through your local customs authority. Please read the following policy carefully before placing your order to understand how import taxes and fees are handled for your specific region.

🇺🇸 Special Notice for United States Customers

All orders shipped to the United States are delivered Duty Paid (DDP). If you are ordering from the US, the price you pay at checkout is final. Innoveda Tea covers all customs duties and import processing fees. You will receive your package directly at your doorstep with no additional hidden fees or taxes.

🌍 Global Shipping Rule: Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU)

For all countries outside of the United States, orders are shipped DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) or DAP (Delivered at Place) via India Post.

  • This means the product prices and shipping costs at checkout do not include your local country's VAT, GST, customs duties, or postal handling fees.

  • As the buyer, you act as the Importer of Record. You are fully responsible for paying any local taxes or administrative fees required by your government to release the package.

Below is a breakdown of what to expect based on your region for a standard tea order (under $75 USD):

🟢 Zone 1: "Smooth Delivery" (Generally No Doorstep Fees)

In these countries, a standard $75 USD order falls below the national tax/duty thresholds, or tea is strictly exempt. Customers here generally receive their parcel straight to their door without extra fees.

  • United Kingdom: The threshold is £135. Furthermore, regular tea and most tisanes are 0% VAT (Zero-Rated) in the UK.

  • Australia & New Zealand: Generous thresholds of $1,000 AUD / $1,000 NZD apply.

  • Asia Exceptions: Hong Kong SAR & Macao SAR (Free ports), South Korea ($150 USD threshold), and the Philippines (10,000 PHP threshold).

  • Singapore, Malaysia & UAE: Generally clear customs smoothly, as our standard $75 orders fall just under local postal tax thresholds.

🔴 Zone 2: Europe (Guaranteed Doorstep Fees)

European customs laws are strictly enforced. You will be required to pay local taxes and a postal handling fee before delivery.

  • All EU Nations (France, Germany, Spain, Italy, etc.) & Cyprus: The EU has a €0 VAT threshold. Every parcel is taxed from the first cent. While your order is exempt from import duty (under €150), you must pay your local VAT (5% to 10% for tea) plus a postal handling fee (usually €5 to €15 charged by your local post office like Correos, La Poste, Deutsche Post, etc.).

  • Non-EU Europe (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, etc.): Norway taxes from the first Krone, and Switzerland taxes if the VAT exceeds 5 CHF. Expect local VAT plus high postal administration fees (e.g., Swiss Post charges ~11.50 CHF + 3% of goods' value).

  • Russia: Due to ongoing geopolitical sanctions, international postal routes are heavily restricted. Expect intense scrutiny and extreme delays if delivery is possible.

🔴 Zone 3: The Americas & Caribbean (Strict Fees & Taxes)

  • Canada: The tax-free threshold is only $20 CAD. You will be charged 5% to 15% GST/HST plus a $9.95 CAD Canada Post handling fee.

  • South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, etc.): Import laws are extremely strict. Brazil applies a massive 60% Import Duty + 17% ICMS (State Tax) + 15 BRL Correios fee. Argentina charges a 50% duty on values over $50. Colombia and others apply standard VAT (12%-19%). Please expect high taxes and postal fees.

  • Mexico & Central America: Mexico's tax-free threshold is $50 USD. Orders over this face a flat 19% tax plus handling fees. Central American nations similarly lack generous tax-free thresholds.

  • Caribbean & EU Overseas Territories: Island nations rely heavily on import duties. Expect local consumption taxes, import tariffs, and clearance fees. French territories also apply Octroi de mer (Dock Dues).

🟡 Zone 4: Asia, Middle East & Africa (Borderline & Strict Inspections)

In these regions, fees are highly likely due to strict taxation or mandatory agricultural inspections.

  • The GCC & Middle East: Saudi Arabia applies a strict 15% VAT on all imports. Bahrain (10%), Oman (5%), and others enforce VAT and handling fees. Parcels are frequently held for health ministry inspections.

  • High-Tax Nations (Türkiye, Taiwan, Japan): Türkiye has a €30 e-commerce limit, leading to 30%-60% taxes. Taiwan taxes orders over 2,000 TWD. Japan taxes orders over 10,000 JPY (approx. 8% consumption tax + Japan Post fees).

  • Protective Tea Markets (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Kenya, etc.): Countries that grow their own tea heavily protect their local agriculture. Expect protective tariffs, local VAT, and strict Phytosanitary (plant health) inspections causing delays.

  • Africa Zone (ECOWAS, East/South Africa, North Africa): E-commerce exemptions are rare. Expect local VAT (often 15%-20%), duties, and physical sanitary inspections. You will likely need to visit your local post office to pay these fees in person.

⚠️ Important Terms & Conditions

1. Food, Health & Sanitary Inspections Because tea and tisanes are agricultural food products, your local customs agency may randomly select your package for a physical Sanitary/Phytosanitary inspection. Innoveda Tea provides all standard export documentation, but we cannot control or be held liable for delays caused by local border health inspections.

2. Refused or Abandoned Packages If your national postal service contacts you to pay VAT, customs duties, or handling fees and you refuse to pay them, or if you ignore the customs notification:

  • The parcel may be held, abandoned, destroyed by local customs, or returned to India at our expense.

  • Innoveda Tea will not issue refunds for packages that are destroyed or abandoned due to unpaid customs fees. * If the package is successfully returned to us in its original, unopened condition, we will issue a refund for the products minus the original shipping cost and any return shipping/penalty fees imposed by the courier.

3. Consent to Policy By placing an order on innovedatea.com, you acknowledge and agree that you may be subject to local import taxes and postal handling fees upon delivery (excluding US orders), and you accept full financial responsibility for these charges.