When you ship to Africa, the destination country charges import duty and VAT (and sometimes extra levies) on arrival, assessed on the value of the goods. Rolats' shipping price is all-in GBP with no charges at the African end — but local government duty is separate and payable to customs in-country. We prepare the paperwork and advise on likely duty before you ship.
What is import duty?
Import duty is a tax the destination country charges on goods entering it, usually a percentage of the customs value (the value of the goods, sometimes plus freight and insurance). Rates vary by country and by what you're sending — personal effects and used household goods are often treated more leniently than new commercial stock.
Duty, VAT and levies — the three layers
Most African countries apply more than one charge:
- Import duty — a percentage based on the goods' classification (HS code)
- VAT / sales tax — charged on the duty-inclusive value
- Levies — country-specific extras (e.g. Kenya's Railway Development Levy, ECOWAS levies in West Africa)
We explain which apply to your shipment and destination.
Who pays the duty?
Local import duty and VAT are paid to the destination customs authority, normally by the receiver, on arrival. This is separate from Rolats' shipping charge. Our pricing is all-in GBP for the transport and clearance work we do — we never bill hidden charges at the African end, but government duty is set by the destination country, not by us.
How to reduce surprises
The best way to avoid a shock is an accurate declaration and a realistic duty estimate before you ship.
- Tell us exactly what's in the shipment and its value
- We classify it and indicate the likely duty band
- We prepare the documentation so customs assesses it correctly
- Personal effects and gifts are declared as such, not as commercial cargo