On a ¥20,000 item, four of the nine countries charge no customs duty: United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
The United States and the EU now charge something on almost every parcel. The details are below.
Where duty starts
Each country's limit converted to yen at the reference rates of 2026-10-01, and what it means for items at four prices. The limits are tested against the item price alone; some countries count postage too, which brings the limit closer.
| Ship to | No duty up to | ¥5,000 item | ¥20,000 item | ¥50,000 item | ¥150,000 item |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | no limit | ¥625 on a figure | ¥2,500 on a figure | ¥6,250 on a figure | ¥18,750 on a figure |
| Canada | C$20 (about ¥2,218) | duty by tariff | duty by tariff | duty by tariff | duty by tariff |
| United Kingdom | £135 (about ¥28,225) | none | none | 0–4% on figures | 0–4% on figures |
| Australia | A$1,000 (about ¥109,806) | none | none | none | duty by tariff |
| Germany | no limit | €3 per item line (¥535) | €3 per item line (¥535) | EU tariff rates | EU tariff rates |
| France | no limit | €3 per item line (¥535) | €3 per item line (¥535) | EU tariff rates | EU tariff rates |
| Singapore | no duty on these goods | none | none | none | none |
| Taiwan | NT$2,000 (about ¥9,879) | none | duty by tariff | duty by tariff | duty by tariff |
| Hong Kong | no duty on these goods | none | none | none | none |
At ¥50,000, only Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong still charge no duty. Where the table says "duty by tariff", the rate depends on the tariff heading of the item, and we have not checked it for that country.
Country by country
United States
No duty-free limit. Goods made in Japan pay 12.5% where the normal duty is lower; books, CDs and other informational materials are exempt. Details for the United States.
Rate on hobby goods: 12.5% on figures, model kits, cards and consoles made in Japan. Source: US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (USITC). Checked 2026-10-05.
Canada
Mail worth CAN$20 or less is free of duty and taxes. Above that, duty and sales tax are charged on delivery, and Canada Post adds a CAN$9.95 handling fee.
“To process goods imported as mail that are subject to duty and/or tax, the CPC charges the recipient a $9.95 handling fee.”
That handling fee is about ¥1,103 on top of whatever duty and tax is due.
Rates on hobby goods above the limit: not checked here. Source: CBSA Memorandum D5-1-1, International mail processing (21 October 2024). Checked 2026-10-06.
United Kingdom
No customs duty on consignments of £135 or less (VAT still applies). Above that, the UK Global Tariff applies. The government has said the £135 relief will end by October 2028 at the latest.
| Item (UK commodity code) | Standard rate | Made in Japan, preference claimed |
|---|---|---|
| Dolls representing human beings, other than folk costume dolls (9503 00 21 90) | 4.00% | 0.00% |
| Plastic scale model kits (9503 00 35 00) | 4.00% | 0.00% |
| Other toys of plastics (9503 00 95 90) | 4.00% | 0.00% |
| Playing and trading cards (9504 40 00 00) | 2.00% | 0.00% |
| Video game consoles (9504 50 00 00) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Books (4901 99 00 00) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Plastic statuettes and ornaments (3926 40 00 00) | 6.00% | 0.00% |
The Japan rate is a preference: it applies only to goods made in Japan, and only when origin is claimed on the import. A figure made in China pays the standard rate.
Rate on hobby goods: Toys and figures 0% to 4%, 0% for goods made in Japan when the UK–Japan preference is claimed; books and game consoles 0%; plastic ornaments such as acrylic stands 6%. Sources: UK Trade Tariff (GOV.UK), commodity codes as listed; HM Treasury and HMRC, low value imports consultation response (13 July 2026). Checked 2026-10-06.
Australia
Goods of A$1,000 or less clear without an import declaration and generally without duty; since July 2018 GST on them is collected at the point of sale instead. Above A$1,000, an import declaration is assessed for duty and GST.
“Payment of duty and GST is applicable for imported goods with a value exceeding A$1000 unless a concession or exemption applies.”
Rates on hobby goods above the limit: not checked here. Sources: Australian Customs fact sheet, Buying on the internet (December 2011); Department of Home Affairs Notice 2018/14, GST on low value imported goods. Checked 2026-10-06.
Germany and France (EU)
The €150 duty-free limit ended on 1 July 2026. Distance sales of €150 or less now pay a flat €3 per declared item line until 1 July 2028; above €150, normal EU tariff rates.
“The 3 € fee is applied per declared item, where 'item' means each unit of a product that is declared on a separate line.”
The European Commission describes it as applying to distance sales to consumers. Whether a parcel sent on by a proxy counts as one is not something the notice addresses.
Rates on hobby goods above the limit: not checked here. Source: European Commission, Access2Markets: EU applies €3 customs duty per item on low-value e-commerce consignments. Checked 2026-10-06.
Singapore
No customs duty on hobby goods at all. Singapore only charges duty on intoxicating liquors, tobacco, motor vehicles, and petroleum products and biodiesel blends; everything else pays GST only.
“Goods not subject to customs or excise duty are non-dutiable, although GST may still apply unless exempted.”
Rate on hobby goods: None on figures, books, cards or consoles. Source: Singapore Customs, Duties and dutiable goods. Checked 2026-10-06.
Taiwan
Parcels with a customs value of NT$2,000 or less pay no duty or business tax. Above that, duty by tariff heading plus 5% business tax.
“According to Article 7 of the Regulations Governing Customs Clearance Procedures for Importing and Exporting Postal Parcels, the tax-exemption value of imported postal parcel is currently set at NTD 2,000.”
Rates on hobby goods above the limit: not checked here. Source: Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance (Taiwan). Checked 2026-10-06.
Hong Kong
No duty on anything but liquor, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol.
“Only liquor, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol are subject to the charging of duties in Hong Kong.”
Rate on hobby goods: None on figures, books, cards or consoles. Source: GovHK, Dutiable commodities. Checked 2026-10-06.
What this means in practice
- Splitting an order to stay under a limit does not always work: Australia, for example, says the value of several packages from one sender to one address may be combined.
- "Made in Japan" matters. The United States and the United Kingdom both treat Japanese-made goods differently from the same goods made elsewhere, and goods sold in Japan are not always made there: check the box or listing for the country of manufacture.
- Duty is paid to your customs authority, not to the proxy, so it is the same whichever service you use. The difference between services is whether they collect VAT or GST at checkout, which is covered in paying tax up front.