Desworthy Editorial Team
Desworthy editorial reviewer focused on ergonomic chair research, desk tech, affiliate disclosure, and practical UK home office buying decisions.
Last reviewed on by Desworthy Editorial Team.
Last Verified Date: 6 October 2026. Sources and model-specific claims checked; individual fit and final basket totals depend on your circumstances.
AI Summary
- First establish whether an authorised Sihoo seller ships to the destination and who pays import charges.
- Landed cost starts with the paid product price, cross-border freight, insurance, import tax and carrier clearance charges; keep potential return freight separate. Source 2
- Never apply a UK tax rate to another country. The destination’s customs rules and declared transaction determine the result.
Decision table
| Situation | Practical choice |
|---|---|
| Seller quotes delivered-duty-paid terms | Confirm exactly what taxes and fees the invoice includes. |
| Buyer is the importer | Use the destination customs authority and the carrier’s fee schedule. |
What to do
For example, Singapore Customs discusses cost, insurance and freight when assessing imports. Australian Border Force states that goods worth more than AUD 1,000 require an import declaration and can attract border charges; low-value purchases may instead have tax collected by the overseas vendor. Those two systems cannot be combined into a global flat rate. Without a named country, model, shipment and seller quote, this guide cannot output a genuine final price. Source 2 Source 3
A landed-cost worksheet for a named destination
| Cost line | Evidence required | Include once |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Exact model/variant invoice | Paid transaction price |
| Freight and insurance | Carrier or seller quotation | Cross-border transport charges |
| Import tax/duty | Destination authority and classification | Amount actually due under those rules |
| Clearance | Carrier fee schedule | Handling or disbursement fees |
| Currency conversion | Payment-provider rate and fees | Conversion charges |
Illustrative figures in one currency: product 300 + freight 80 + insurance 5 + assessed tax/duty 40 + clearance 15 = 440. This is a sum of example inputs, not a tax calculation or delivered Sihoo quote. Keep possible return freight in a separate risk column so it is not mistaken for a charge on every purchase.
For a UK buyer ordering from an overseas seller, consult GOV.UK import tax and duty guidance. For another destination, use that country's authority; Singapore Customs and Australian Border Force illustrate different assessment rules. Confirm who is the importer, whether taxes are collected at checkout and which costs a delivered-duty-paid quote includes. Do not add an import tax line a second time if the written delivered total already includes it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add one fixed percentage?
No. Tax bases and thresholds differ by destination.
Does free shipping mean no import tax?
No.
Is import tax refunded if I change my mind?
Check the destination rules; Australian guidance restricts simple change-of-mind duty refunds. Source 3
How can I avoid a delivery-time surprise?
Confirm delivery terms, declared value and the carrier’s clearance charge before paying.
Sources and citation notes
Specifications and policies are attributed to their original publishers. Named hands-on reviews are attributed to the reviewer and the version reviewed. The decision advice is editorial synthesis, not a clinical, laboratory or transaction result. Check the exact version and current terms before buying.
- [1] SIHOO official regional stores
- [2] Singapore Customs postal and courier imports
- [3] Australian Border Force buying online
- [4] GOV.UK: tax and duty on goods sent from abroad
Related UK buying guides
Note: This article is for reference only.