I placed an order from abroad: How is customs duty calculated and when will it be issued?

1) "When is the customs duty introduced?"

The tax on your order from abroad usually when the shipment enters Turkey and is presented to customs (when the declaration process begins by the postal/courier company); in other words, customs procedures begin not as soon as you place the order, but when the package arrives in Turkey .

In practice, the process works like this:

The product is shipped from abroad, and the carrier (postal/PTT or express courier) brings it to Türkiye.
The shipment is presented to customs and processed according to the type of declaration.
If your shipment is between €0 and €30, in most cases the carrier/postal service will inform you; if you agree, the tax will be collected at the time of delivery and the package will be delivered to your door
If your shipment €30 and €1500 (for personal use, not commercial), the express courier operator can provide a "detailed declaration" on your behalf; this will clarify tax/fee items and the shipment will be delivered after payment.
the value exceeds 1500 Euros , the simplified logic ends; the general import regime and normal rates/continuing obligations come into effect.

2) Legal framework: What does the “postal/express cargo” regime refer to?

In Turkey, the most common regulation encountered by individual consumers arriving via postal or express cargo services that are not of commercial quantity or nature (i.e., considered not to be for commercial purposes). According to the latest information from the Ministry of Trade:

items valued at no more than 30 Euros (and also medicines up to 1500 Euros) , a "single and fixed tax" is levied upon delivery of the goods to the buyer.
This single, fixed tax rate 30% if it comes directly from the EU, and 60% if it comes from other countries .
For books/printed publications , the rate is 0% .
An additional 20% is applied to these rates for goods listed in Special Consumption Tax List IV .
The shipment not exceed 30 kg gross weight .
It is clearly stated that this exemption/leniency is limited to 5 shipments per month .

This information represents the most practical and directly applicable framework when it comes to "customs duties on international orders" in daily life.

3) Critical concepts: Value, freight (cargo), and “single and fixed tax”

3.1. What does "value" mean?

Customs duties are often the customs value . In simple terms, customs value is:

Product price + transportation (cargo/freight) costs to the point of origin in Türkiye (+ insurance, etc., if applicable)

The Ministry of Trade states that for postal/express cargo shipments, transportation costs up to the port/destination of entry in Turkey are added to the value; and that if the freight cost is not shown separately on your document, a €3 "comparable freight" fee may be added .

Practical conclusion: If the product costs €29 but shipping is €8, the customs value may exceed the €30 limit. This is the most common mistake users make.

3.2. What does "single and fixed tax" mean?

“Single and flat tax” (simplified tax) means that, for shipments meeting certain conditions, the customs administration collects a tax at a single rate instead of calculating the full amount of normal import taxes individually for each product

According to the Ministry of Trade, this rate applies to goods priced between 0 and 30 euros:

Directly from the EU: %30
Other countries: %60
Book/printed publication: %0
Special Consumption Tax (SCT) on listed items: according to the rates above +%20

Note: The information circulating that "no tax up to €30" is incorrect. Many shipments up to €30 may also be subject to tax; the difference is that the tax a single, fixed amount .

4) Step-by-step calculation: "How much will the tax on my shipment be in TL?"

Below, I explain the three most common scenarios in practice using clear formulas.

Scenario A — Between 0 and 30 Euros (single and fixed tax)

Terms and conditions (summary):

The buyer is a natural person
No commercial quantity/nature,
The value does not exceed 30 Euros
Gross weight does not exceed 30 kg.

Bill:

Customs value = Product price + freight (cargo)
Tax = Customs value × (30% if EU / 60% if other country)
If the item is on the Special Consumption Tax IV list, an +20% is applied.

Example 1:

Product: 20 Euros
Shipping: 5 Euros
Origin/exit: EU country (direct)
Value: 25 Euros
Tax: 25 × 30% = 7.5 Euros (to be converted to Turkish Lira and collected)

Example 2:

Product: 29 Euros
The document does not list the cargo separately
The administration may add €3 for comparable freight → €32 could be counted.
In this case, it moves away from Scenario A and closer to Scenario B (and the process/cost may change).

Scenario B — Between 30–1500 Euros (detailed declaration / standard import duties)

The Ministry of Trade 30–1500 Euro range (for personal use, not commercial, with a 30 kg limit), express cargo operators can process the transaction on your behalf a detailed declaration .

In this range, instead of a "single and fixed rate," the import duties in effect may apply. The Customs Guide also states that the current import duty rates will be applied in the 30–1500 Euro range.

What changes in practice?

Depending on the product, there may be additional charges such as VAT/excise tax/additional customs duties.
You are more likely to be asked for documents: invoice, payment receipt, product link, content description, etc.
The carrier may charge storage/warehousing fees after the notification date (especially in the 30–1500 range).

Scenario C — Over 1500 Euros

For shipments exceeding €1500, the Ministry of Trade states that "the applicable import duty rates apply."
Such shipments may fall outside the scope of "simple individual shopping" and in some cases, customs brokerage/import procedures may become necessary.

5) “Is the shipping fee included in the tax?” – the point that causes the most arguments

Yes. In postal/express cargo taxation, transportation costs up to the point of entry in Turkey are added to the value.

Additionally, if the freight cost is not shown separately on your document, it is explicitly stated that in some cases an additional €3 equivalent freight charge may be added.

Application tip:
Take a screenshot of the order screen; if the product price and shipping cost are listed separately, save it. The payment document (credit card statement/payment confirmation) will also be useful in the price dispute.

6) “Will every product arrive?” – bans and restrictions

Not everything can be delivered via postal/express courier. The following points are particularly highlighted in the Ministry of Trade's FAQs:

Tobacco and alcoholic products: Cannot be delivered by post/express courier.
Mobile phones: It is not possible to import them via postal/express courier with or without taxes; even if they arrive this way, they will not be delivered . (The exceptional case of a phone with a registered IMEI being "returned" within a specific timeframe is a separate scenario.)
Cosmetics: Not possible to import via postal/express shipping as an exemption.
Dietary supplements / sports nutrition products: As a general rule, exemptions are not possible; some exceptions (reports/prescriptions, etc.) are explained.

Why is this important?
Even if you calculate the tax correctly, if the item is classified as "restricted/prohibited," the problem might not be the tax, but the inability to deliver it at all .

7) “Are there any fees outside of the Ministry?” – PTT/courier costs and limits

The Ministry of Trade that no fees other than taxes are charged by the Ministry; for services such as transportation/storage, the carrier will be contacted.

Furthermore, there is another important protection for express shipping companies: Under the provisions of indirect representation and simplified declaration, no fees can be charged for consultancy, order processing, terminal services, etc., and no warehousing fees can be collected for the first three days .

Practical advice: If items like "Order," "Consultancy," or "Terminal" appear in your express shipping package, question this with written documentation; most disputes arise from these items.

8) What does "My package is stuck in customs" mean?

When people say "it's stuck in customs," they generally mean one of the following situations:

Value/price uncertainty: No invoice, no proof of payment, no product link → valuation process will be prolonged.
Exceeding the value limit: The value has exceeded 30 Euros, or has been exceeded upon addition of freight charges.
Restricted/prohibited items: Phones, tobacco, alcohol, cosmetics, etc.
Commercial suspicion: Numerous shipments of the same product, frequent deliveries, too many packages in the same month (forgetting the limit of 5 shipments per month).

9) What can you do if your tax has been calculated incorrectly? (Appeal/settlement logic)

This section is important for clarifying the consumer's course of action in legitimate disputes , especially by avoiding risky areas such as "I undervalued the property."

According to the Ministry of Trade's "Customs Settlement" information:

Compromise and objection cannot be used simultaneously
The application for conciliation must be submitted within the objection period (if no objection has been filed) .
It is clearly stated that the action was taken within the 15-day objection period stipulated in Law No. 4458 .

When will it come up?

Your estimated value was incorrect (e.g., shipping costs were added twice).
The type of item has been misclassified (e.g., a tax was applied to printed publications when it should be 0%).
There is a clear discrepancy between the amount stated on the payment receipt and the customs value.

Practical action list:

Keep the bill of lading and the carrier's notice that was served/given to you.
Gather the invoice, proof of payment, product screenshot, and document showing shipping costs into a single file.
Don't miss the deadline: 15 days will pass very quickly.

Note: The course of action may vary in each specific case; the distinction between "objection/settlement/direct lawsuit" should be evaluated according to the type of procedure and the nature of the notification.

10) Frequently Asked Questions

10.1. Will there be a tax on amounts under 30 Euros?

Yes, it will be deducted in many cases. A single, flat tax is applied to shipments between €0 and €30 (excluding 0% exceptions such as books/printed publications).

10.2. Is it always lower if it comes from the EU?

For shipments originating directly from the EU in the 0–30 Euro range , the rate is stated as 30% , while for other countries it is 60% .

10.3. I thought shipping (freight) wasn't included; is that correct?

No. Shipping costs are added to the value; additionally, if freight is not shown separately, €3 comparable freight may be added.

10.4. I ordered a mobile phone; can I pay the tax and receive it?

General rule: It is not possible to send mobile phones via postal/express courier; even if they arrive this way, they will not be delivered.

10.5. How many data packages do I have per month?

The Ministry of Trade states that this exemption/facilitation limited to 5 shipments per person per calendar month .

10.6. The express shipping company charged a "delivery/consultancy" fee; is this normal?

It is stated that it is not possible to charge fees under such names in transactions covered by simplified declarations; furthermore, no storage fees can be charged for the first 3 days from the date of notification.

11) Conclusion: A checklist of 5 points for "trouble-free customs"

Calculate the total cost of the product plus shipping (do not exceed the 30 Euro limit with shipping)
the invoice/payment receipt/product screenshot at the time of ordering .
Check for prohibited/restricted items (especially phones, tobacco, alcohol, cosmetics, etc.) before ordering.
If you receive a notification, don't delay; complete the transaction before the storage/cost chain grows.
If there are any errors in tax/transaction procedures, determine your legal course of action within the 15-day period

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