Let’s talk about US tariffs, duties and taxes

If you’re based in the United States and thinking about buying antique or vintage jewellery from Australia, you may have questions about tariffs, duties and taxes - especially with recent changes to US import rules. We get it. It can sound confusing and intimidating, but it doesn’t have to stop you from buying a piece you love.

Let’s break it down in plain English:

What are tariffs?

Tariffs are government charges applied to goods imported into the United States from overseas.

For jewellery imported from Australia into the US, the tariff rate is currently 10%.

For US orders, we ship with DHL Express. As a courier company, DHL handles customs clearance on your behalf and will contact you directly if any tariffs, duties or taxes are payable. They’ll provide a secure payment link, and once payment is made, parcels usually clear US Customs quickly.

Most US orders arrive within 3–5 business days from Australia to your door.

What are taxes?

Taxes are separate from tariffs.

When you buy goods online and import them into your local jurisdiction, state or local taxes may apply, depending on where you live. For example, some US states apply Use Tax on imported personal goods.

This isn’t new or unique to overseas purchases - it’s simply how taxes work when goods enter your local economy.

What are duties?

Duties are a specific type of tax applied to certain categories of imported goods.

Following recent changes to the US de minimis exemption (previously allowing goods under $800 USD to enter duty-free), many imported items may now be subject to duty.

The good news: Antique items (over 100 years old) are often exempt from duty.

Where applicable, we accurately declare eligible pieces as antique, which may remove the need to pay duty on the item.

Can you under-declare the value of the package?

No - and we wouldn’t want to.

We always declare the full and accurate value of every parcel. This protects both you and us.

Accurate declarations:

  • Reduce the risk of customs delays
  • Ensure your parcel is fully insured
  • Allow us to refund you properly if something goes wrong

Under-declaring value is illegal, unethical, and can cause serious issues during customs clearance. It’s not worth the risk - for anyone.

Why don’t you cover the tariffs?

As a small, independent business, we’re not able to absorb government-imposed tariffs.

To make shipping as smooth and secure as possible, we use DHL Express (fully insured and trackable, signature on delivery). This already costs us significantly more than standard postal services, but it’s the safest option for antique and vintage jewellery.

If we were to cover tariffs ourselves, we’d need to increase prices across the board - which ultimately wouldn’t benefit our customers.

Isn’t it easier to buy antique jewellery locally?

Not always.

Antique and vintage jewellery is all about uniqueness. Many pieces - particularly antique English or Australian - are difficult or impossible to find in the US.

Even when you factor in tariffs, taxes and duties, prices from US-based jewellery businesses are often higher than ours. Local sellers may also be passing on their own import costs and overheads.

Buying from Australia can also mean benefiting from a favourable exchange rate. We have beautiful beaches, kangaroos and opals - but a strong currency isn’t one of our advantages!

Still on the fence?

Here are a few questions worth asking yourself:

  • Can you find a truly comparable piece locally?
  • Is the total cost (including tariffs, duties and taxes) more or less than a similar piece in the US?
  • Is a 10% tariff genuinely a dealbreaker for a one-of-a-kind piece?

Tariffs can sound scary, but at the end of the day, they’re simply another form of tax. DHL handles most of the customs process for you - in most cases, all that’s required is payment of any applicable charges, or identity documentation for higher-value shipments.

We’re always happy to help

If you’d like to talk through your specific situation, we’re more than happy to help. We’ve shipped antique and vintage jewellery to customers across the United States and around the world, and we’re always here to make the process as clear and stress-free as possible.

When you’re ready, you can browse our available antique, vintage and handmade pieces here.