Shein, Temu & AliExpress Customs Tax Calculator
Quick answer: A R1,000 Shein clothing order carries approximately R682 in import duty (45%) + VAT (15% on ATV). Shein and Temu now show these charges at checkout for South African orders — use the calculator below to check the amount is right. For stores that do not collect upfront, you pay the courier on delivery. Every parcel pays duty and VAT in South Africa — there is no duty-free threshold for online shopping orders.
Ordering from multiple platforms at once? A parcel forwarding service can receive your Shein, Temu, and other overseas orders at our Cape Town hub and clear them together — sometimes saving on per-entry customs costs.
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Know your HS code? Get an instant estimate below
Enter your tariff code and FOB value (goods cost only) for an instant duty, VAT, and total landed-cost estimate — with a downloadable PDF.
Based on SARS ATV formula. Enter the FOB value (goods cost only, excluding freight and insurance).
VAT 15% per SARS (effective 1 April 2018). SACU imports (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Eswatini) exempt from 10% uplift.
Estimate only — final duties determined by SARS at time of clearance.
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Importing to resell rather than for personal use? JLog can store your stock and dispatch orders through our e-commerce fulfilment service in Cape Town.
Why Does Every Parcel Pay Duty and VAT?
South Africa removed its effective duty-free threshold for low-value courier parcels. Every parcel — regardless of value — is in principle subject to SARS customs assessment when it enters South Africa. Temu has included VAT and import duty in the checkout total for South African orders since 20 March 2025, and Shein has shown import charges at checkout since August 2025. For orders from other overseas stores that do not collect duty and VAT upfront, your courier collects them on arrival. When a parcel arrives in the country without pre-paid duties:
- SARS assesses import duty on the declared value of the contents
- 15% import VAT is added on top of the Added Tax Value (ATV)
- Your courier company (DHL, PostNet, Aramex, the Post Office) advances the duty and VAT to SARS and then charges you before releasing the parcel
- The courier also adds its own handling fee for processing the customs paperwork
This combined amount — duty + VAT + courier handling — is what you are asked to pay before the box reaches your door.
Duty Rates for Common Shein and Temu Categories
| Category | HS Chapter | Duty Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing (knit — T-shirts, hoodies, leggings) | 61 | 45% |
| Clothing (woven — jeans, dresses, shirts) | 62 | 45% |
| Shoes | 64 | 30% |
| Bags and handbags | 4202 | 30% |
| Jewellery (costume) | 7117 | 20% |
| Phone cases and accessories | 3926 / 4205 | 10%–20% |
| Home décor / kitchenware | Various | 0%–30% |
| Electronics (earbuds, cables, chargers) | 84 / 85 | 0% |
What Will My R1,000 Shein Order Actually Cost?
Let’s work through a realistic example using a R1,000 clothing order (45% duty band):
Import Duty: R1,000 × 45% = R450
ATV: (R1,000 × 1.10) + R450 = R1,100 + R450 = R1,550
Import VAT: R1,550 × 15% = R232.50
Courier handling fee: approx. R150 (varies by courier)
Total extra cost at the door: R832.50
All-in cost for your R1,000 order: R1,832.50
Why Does the Courier Charge Me — Not SARS Directly?
When your parcel arrives at a South African port or airport, your courier company acts as a de facto customs agent for the consignment. The courier:
- Files the import declaration with SARS on your behalf
- Advances the duty and VAT to SARS from its own account
- Recovers that advance plus its own handling fee from you before delivering the parcel
This is entirely normal. It is not a scam — it is the standard operating procedure for small parcel clearance. The amounts should match: duty + VAT + a handling fee in the range of R100–R300.
When Is Clearance Included in the Courier Price?
Temu and Shein now include South African duty and VAT in the checkout price by default. Some AliExpress listings also quote a DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) price that includes clearance. If the checkout page states DDP or duties included, you should not owe anything extra on delivery. If it says DAP (Delivered At Place) or says nothing about duties, expect to pay customs charges when the parcel arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much tax on a Shein order in South Africa?
It depends on what you ordered. Clothing attracts 45% import duty plus 15% VAT on the Added Tax Value. On a R1,000 clothing order, that is roughly R450 duty + R232.50 VAT = R682.50 in SARS charges, plus the courier’s handling fee. Use the calculator at the top of this page for a precise figure based on your actual items and value.
Why did Temu charge me customs on delivery?
Since 20 March 2025, Temu has included import duty and VAT in the checkout total for South African orders, so on most Temu purchases you will not owe anything extra on delivery. If you were charged customs separately, compare the courier’s customs invoice with the charges shown at your Temu checkout, and use the calculator above to check whether the amount looks reasonable.
Do AliExpress orders get taxed in South Africa?
Yes. All goods arriving in South Africa — including AliExpress orders — are subject to SARS import duty and 15% VAT. The applicable duty rate depends on the product type. Electronics from AliExpress typically attract 0% duty but still face VAT. Clothing, accessories, and shoes attract higher rates (30–45% duty) plus VAT.
Buying stock from Shein or Temu to resell in South Africa? At commercial volumes, JLog can handle formal customs clearance — correct HS classification, accurate VAT calculation, and compliant import documentation for your business.
Does Temu Include Customs at Checkout?
Yes — since 20 March 2025, Temu has included South African import duty and VAT in the checkout total. Shein followed in August 2025. The calculator on this page is still useful to check that the import charge shown at checkout is reasonable, and for orders from other overseas stores that do not collect duty and VAT upfront.