Taxes, Customs Duties & Tariffs

Kiwi Kandy ships from New Zealand. When your order crosses an international border, it may be subject to customs duties, import taxes, and tariffs imposed by your country’s government. These charges are not set by Kiwi Kandy and are not included in our product prices or shipping costs.

As the customer, you are the importer of record and are solely responsible for all duties, taxes, and customs fees associated with your order. By placing an order, you accept this responsibility.

Tariffs & Duties by Region

United States

A 15% import tariff applies to all goods imported from New Zealand into the United States, regardless of order value. Additional customs processing and brokerage fees may also apply. These charges are typically collected by the carrier (DHL Express) upon or prior to delivery. You must pay these charges to receive your parcel.

United Kingdom & Europe

VAT and import duty are likely on most orders. In the UK, VAT is charged at 20% on the value of goods plus shipping costs. EU countries have varying rates. These charges are collected by the carrier on delivery.

Canada

Canadian orders may be subject to GST/HST and customs duties depending on the value and type of goods. Brokerage fees from the carrier may also apply.

Australia

Generally duty-free for most food products under the NZ-Australia Closer Economic Relations (CER) trade agreement. GST may apply on orders over AUD $1,000.

All Other Countries

Import regulations vary by country. Please check with your local customs authority before placing an order if you are unsure about potential charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why aren’t duties and taxes included in your prices?

Import duties and taxes are set by your country’s government, not by Kiwi Kandy. The exact charges depend on the declared value, the type of goods, and your country’s import regulations. Because these vary by destination and can change without notice, we cannot include them in our pricing.

Who pays these fees?

The customer is solely responsible for all customs duties, import taxes, tariffs, and any brokerage or processing fees charged by the carrier or customs authority. Kiwi Kandy does not cover, reimburse, or offset any of these costs.

I already paid for shipping — why am I being charged again?

The shipping fee you pay at checkout covers the cost of transporting your parcel from New Zealand to your country. Import duties and taxes are separate government charges for bringing foreign goods into your country. They are not a shipping cost and are not set or controlled by Kiwi Kandy.

Does marking a parcel as a “gift” avoid duties?

No. All commercial orders are declared at their actual retail value on the customs declaration. Gift designation does not exempt items from duties or taxes, and falsely declaring items as gifts is a customs violation. We will not under-declare the value of any shipment.

How are duties calculated?

Customs authorities assess charges based on the declared value of the goods, the type of product, the country of origin (New Zealand), and your country’s applicable tariff rates. We declare the full retail value of your order on all customs documentation as required by law.

Can I ask you to declare a lower value to reduce duties?

No. We are legally required to declare the true value of all shipments on customs documentation. We will not under-declare, mis-describe, or falsely label any order. Requests to do so will be declined.

What happens if I refuse to pay the duties?

If you refuse to pay the customs charges, your parcel will not be released by the carrier. Unclaimed parcels may be returned to sender or destroyed by customs. Kiwi Kandy will not issue a refund for orders that are refused, unclaimed, or destroyed due to unpaid duties. This includes the product cost and the shipping cost.

Can I get a refund if customs seizes my order?

No. If your order is seized, held, or destroyed by customs authorities for any reason — including unpaid duties, restricted items, or incomplete documentation — we are unable to issue any refund. International return shipping costs make returns uneconomical, and perishable goods cannot be resold.

What if the duties are more than I expected?

Kiwi Kandy has no control over the duties and fees charged by your country’s customs authority or the carrier. We cannot refund or compensate for duties that are higher than expected. We strongly recommend researching your country’s import charges before ordering.

Your Responsibility

By placing an order with Kiwi Kandy, you acknowledge and agree that:

• You are solely responsible for all import duties, taxes, tariffs, and fees in your country.
• You have checked your country’s import regulations for food products before ordering.
• Kiwi Kandy is not liable for any additional charges imposed by customs authorities or carriers.
• No refunds will be issued for orders refused, unclaimed, seized, or destroyed due to customs issues.
• You will not request Kiwi Kandy to under-declare values or falsely label shipments.
• You accept that duties and taxes are in addition to the product price and shipping cost shown at checkout.

If you have questions about potential import charges for your country, please contact us at [email protected] before placing your order.