RockAuto ships internationally, but understanding taxes and duties can be confusing. This guide clarifies how RockAuto handles international shipping charges, including taxes, duties, and brokerage fees, to help you estimate your total cost and Rockauto Shipping Time.
Navigating International Taxes and Duties with RockAuto
For orders shipped to countries where RockAuto is tax-registered (e.g., Canada with GST/HST, EU with VAT), we collect all applicable taxes, import duties, brokerage fees, and carrier shipping charges upfront. This ensures a smooth delivery without surprise fees. Your order confirmation will include our tax ID, allowing tax-exempt customers to reclaim paid taxes. While we refund taxes on returned products, import duties are non-refundable.
For countries where RockAuto isn’t tax-registered, you become the owner of the package upon leaving our warehouse. In some cases, we offer a “Pre-Pay Customs Charges” option. By selecting this, you pay us the estimated duties and taxes, we pay the carrier, and they handle customs clearance, delivering your package without extra charges. This can expedite the shipping process and reduce potential delays.
The “Pre-Pay” option, available in select countries outside North America, simplifies the process but doesn’t allow for input tax credit claims or refunds on returned items. Providing your tax ID number ensures accurate tax assessment by the carrier. Without pre-paying, you’ll pay the carrier directly, often incurring “advancement fees” for this service. Their invoice will include a local tax ID for filing purposes. This may impact your RockAuto shipping time.
If “Pre-Pay” isn’t available, contact the carrier or local customs office for potential charges before ordering. International mail shipments always require tax and duty payment upon delivery, precluding the “Pre-Pay” option. For these, be prepared for payment upon arrival, as you assume ownership when the package leaves our warehouse.
Each package is assessed for duties and taxes individually, even within the same order. The checkout page specifies which packages qualify for “Pre-Pay” and which require payment upon delivery, allowing you to clearly understand your costs and potential RockAuto shipping time.
