Import tax from Shein

Shein Customs Duty

Shipped from China
Average duty rate ~10.1% (global avg.)
IOSS registered Reviewed 11 Aug 2026

Shein ships from outside the EU, UK, and US alike. It's IOSS-registered for the EU, so VAT is collected at checkout there; everywhere else, expect the destination's standard import charges since there's no domestic Shein operation to avoid them.

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Key Takeaways

  • Shein ships internationally from China to every destination on this page - there’s no domestic Shein storefront to avoid import charges anywhere.
  • In the EU, Shein’s IOSS registration means VAT is included at checkout, plus a flat €3 customs duty per item under €150 since 1 July 2026.
  • Clothing generally carries a higher duty rate than general merchandise once an order crosses a destination’s threshold - typically around 8-12% in both the EU and UK.
  • In the US, duty now applies to every Shein order - the historic de minimis exemption is gone.

What You’ll Actually Pay, by Destination

As a fast-fashion retailer, most Shein orders fall into the clothing/apparel duty category specifically, which tends to sit at the higher end of general-merchandise duty ranges once a destination’s threshold is crossed - roughly 8-12% in both the EU and UK, compared to 0-4% for many electronics categories.

Fast-fashion platforms like Shein are a significant share of the low-value parcels entering the EU: roughly 91% of sub-€150 EU parcels in 2024 originated from China, largely via Shein, Temu, and AliExpress combined (TechTimes, 2026).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Shein charge VAT or tax at checkout?

In the EU, yes - Shein is IOSS-registered, so VAT is included in the price you see. In other destinations, check the checkout screen directly, since registration status can differ by market.

Why is Shein’s duty rate higher than some other stores’ above the threshold?

Clothing and footwear generally carry higher EU and UK duty rates (roughly 8-12%) than many other general-merchandise categories, since Shein’s catalog is almost entirely apparel.

How does Shein compare to Temu and AliExpress?

All three ship from China to international markets in a similar way, and all three are IOSS-registered in the EU. See the Temu and AliExpress pages for their own destination breakdowns.

Where Shein Ships To

Destination Duty rate Notes
EU Shipping to the EU Flat €3/item (IOSS, under €150); ~12% (clothing) + handling above €150 Shein is IOSS-registered - VAT is included at checkout either way.
GB Shipping to the UK 0% duty under £135; ~8-12% (clothing, est.) + handling above, plus 20% VAT The UK has no flat low-value duty scheme yet, unlike the EU.
CN Shipping to China Full personal import - postal tax 20% (apparel band), or ~9.1% via CBEC Shein primarily ships out of China to other markets - it isn't a domestic option for shoppers inside mainland China.
US Shipping to the USA ~12.5% (est.) duty + Merchandise Processing Fee US de minimis is gone - duty now applies to every order, regardless of value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Shein charge VAT or tax at checkout?

In the EU, yes - Shein is IOSS-registered, so VAT is included in the price you see. In other destinations, check the checkout screen directly, since registration status can differ by market.

Why is Shein's duty rate higher than some other stores' above the threshold?

Clothing and footwear generally carry higher EU and UK duty rates (roughly 8-12%) than many other general-merchandise categories, since Shein's catalog is almost entirely apparel.

How does Shein compare to Temu and AliExpress?

All three ship from China to international markets in a similar way, and all three are IOSS-registered in the EU. See the Temu and AliExpress pages for their own destination breakdowns.

See also

  • AliExpress - AliExpress ships from outside the EU, UK, and US across both its main storefronts (aliexpress.com and aliexpress.us). It's IOSS-registered for the EU, so VAT is collected at checkout there; elsewhere, expect the destination's standard import charges.
  • Amazon - Amazon is not one store for import purposes - it's a different answer depending on which of its country-specific sites you order from. Buy from your own region's Amazon site (amazon.de, amazon.co.uk, amazon.com, and so on) and it's a domestic order with no import charges at all. Order across borders - say, buying from amazon.com while living in the EU - and the destination's full import rules apply.
  • Temu - Temu ships from outside the EU, UK, and US alike. It's IOSS-registered for the EU, so VAT is collected at checkout there; everywhere else, expect the destination's standard import charges since there's no domestic Temu operation to avoid them.

Related reading

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