Customs / Douane / Aduana / Zoll

We sometimes get messages from customers asking us to change the details on the customs form or invoice so they won’t have to pay import taxes. We totally understand why people ask — nobody likes surprise fees! — but we have to follow both halachic guidelines and legal requirements, so we aren’t able to make any such changes.

Depending on where you live, your local customs office might charge import duty, VAT, or a small handling/broker fee when your package arrives. This applies in many countries.

If you’re in Europe:
Import duty rates in the EU vary by product. Many items have duty rates anywhere from 0% to around 12–17%, depending on the exact category. However, a lot of EU countries do charge 21% VAT.

If you’re in the USA:
As of February 24, 2026, the U.S. has introduced a temporary 10% import duty on most goods (Judaica is not exempt) for a 150‑day period (unless extended). Since every country has its own rules — and they change from time to time — we always recommend checking your local regulations so you know what to expect. Unfortunately, we can’t take responsibility for any customs charges, and we’re not able to advise on the rules in every place we ship to.

Further reading:
Blog post on halachic aspects of paying customs
Info page on USA tariff changes