About Customs

How Customs Work on Items Sold by Amazon.co.uk

If you're ordering something for delivery to an address in a country covered by the Amazon Global programme an estimated Import Fees Deposit may be applied to the order. This deposit will be used to pay any Import Fees on your behalf (or on behalf of the recipient). For more information about the Amazon Global programme please see our About Import Fees Deposits page.

If the country your order is being delivered to isn't covered by the Amazon Global programme then any additional charges for customs clearance must be borne by you. We have no control over these charges and can't predict what they may be.

Customs policies vary widely from country to country, so you should contact your local customs office for further information. Additionally, please note that when ordering from Amazon.co.uk, you're considered the importer of record and must comply with all laws and regulations of the country in which you're receiving the goods.

Similarly, if new Region 1 DVDs are sold from the USA or Canada, you may be subject to import duties and taxes which are levied once the package reaches your country. Click here for more information on VAT and import duty chargeable on Region 1 DVDs. Again, please note that when ordering new Region 1 DVDs from Marketplace Sellers, you're considered the importer of record and must comply with all laws and regulations of the country in which you're receiving the goods.

Generally, customs forms for international parcels will list the value of the contents of your order by product type. For instance, orders containing CDs, videos, books and software will generally be listed like this:

• Books value £29.55
• CD value £9.95
• Video value: £39.95
• Software value: £37.95

Your Privacy

Your privacy is important to us and we know you care about how information about your order is used and shared. We'd like our international customers and customers dispatching products internationally to be aware that cross-border deliveries are subject to opening and inspection by customs authorities.

We may also provide certain order, delivery and product information, such as titles, to our international carriers and such information may be communicated by the carriers to customs authorities to facilitate customs clearance and comply with local laws.

Customs on Gift Orders

If the order is a gift, the package is marked "Gift" but the cost of the item is still stated on the customs form. Customs authorities require us to state the value of the gift item directly on the parcel.