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Customs & Duties
It's an undeniable reality that national governments levy taxes on international transactions, claiming their share of any goods crossing their borders. There's no legal way to bypass these charges, meaning they're a constant regardless of the origin of your order—unless the goods are being smuggled into your country, which we do not advocate. All alcoholic products sold by Lochs of Whisky are sold subject to UK alcohol tax.
For all deliveries travelling to countries outwith the UK VAT will not be charged. However, the order will be subject to local sales taxes and duties upon arrival in your chosen country which are levied at the time the package clears customs. We are not responsible for additional charges. These are solely the responsibility of the recipient. As customs policies vary widely from country to country, Lochs of Whisky has no control over these charges so it is your responsibility to contact your local customs office for further information.
Typical Duty Fees
To give you a basic understanding, we've outlined the common types of fees you might encounter:
• The Parcel Carrier customs clearance administration fee. Currently, around £15 per order. It may seem excessive, however, it's important to note that this fee applies to each order. This means that as you distribute the cost across multiple bottles, the fee per bottle decreases significantly, potentially saving you money.
• Customs duty: A tax levied on goods as they cross international borders.
• Excise Duty: Typically, a set amount per litre of pure alcohol is for spirits.
• VAT / AVT / GST: Value-Added / Added Value Tax / Goods and Services Tax.
While we cannot guarantee that there won't be additional charges introduced in the future, we want to assure you that these are the primary ones currently known to us. We strive to provide the most transparent information to help you make confident decisions about your international orders.
Real World Examples
We've also provided some examples of typical import costs for a range of countries we deliver to, calculated for both a single bottle and 6 x 70cl bottles at 40% ABV, each priced at £45. Since some charges are applied on a per-order basis, the cost per bottle significantly decreases as the number of bottles in an order increases—a point worth considering.
Australia
| Fee |
Example 1 1 x £45 70cl bottle at 40% |
Example 2 6 x £45 70cl bottles at 40% |
| Carrier Fee | £15.00 | £15.00 |
| Customs Duty | £2.25 | £13.50 |
| Excise Duty | £14.33 | £86.02 |
| VAT/AVT/GST | £10.55 | £45.85 |
| Estimated Total Due | £42.13 | £160.37 |
| Total Cost Per Bottle | £42.13 | £26.73 |
Germany
| Fee |
Example 1 1 x £45 70cl bottle at 40% |
Example 2 6 x £45 70cl bottles at 40% |
| Carrier Fee | £15.00 | £15.00 |
| Customs Duty | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Excise Duty | £3.14 | £18.24 |
| VAT/AVT/GST | £16.55 | £66.27 |
| Estimated Total Due | £34.69 | £100.11 |
| Total Cost Per Bottle | £34.69 | £16.69 |
South Korea
| Fee |
Example 1 1 x £45 70cl bottle at 40% |
Example 2 6 x £45 70cl bottles at 40% |
| Carrier Fee | £15.00 | £15.00 |
| Customs Duty | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Excise Duty | £65.52 | £258.28 |
| VAT/AVT/GST | £15.65 | £60.02 |
| Estimated Total Due | £96.17 | £326.30 |
| Total Cost Per Bottle | £96.17 | £54.38 |
Singapore
| Fee |
Example 1 1 x £45 70cl bottle at 40% |
Example 2 6 x £45 70cl bottles at 40% |
| Carrier Fee | £15.00 | £15.00 |
| Customs Duty | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Excise Duty | £14.43 | £86.60 |
| VAT/AVT/GST | £7.38 | £30.49 |
| Estimated Total Due | £36.81 | £132.09 |
| Total Cost Per Bottle | £36.81 | £22.02 |
These examples are provided based on our current knowledge of customs charges in various countries. Please note that if your items are assessed additional fees at the border, such as an unexpected surcharge, our ability to influence this outcome is limited. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Should you have any questions or require further information regarding potential import charges, do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to assist you to the best of our ability!
Customs Refusal
Should you refuse to pay the local import duties and taxes, the goods will either be;
- Destroyed by Customs; or
- Returned to sender at the cost of the consignee (costs will be deducted from any refund owed).
- An administrative fee of £25 will be deducted from any refund owed.
If your order is being held by your local customs office you will be able to determine this from the information viewable through the tracking process.