The two stores put import charges on different people
BRKOX ships to four countries: the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Its shipping policy says all duties and taxes are included, so no extra customs fees, import duties or VAT should be due after checkout. Shipping itself is calculated at checkout by destination, and no free-shipping threshold is listed. [1]
Lightailing ships worldwide from warehouses in China, the US and the EU. Its policy says that, where applicable, the recipient is responsible for customs duties, taxes or other import charges, and that customs clearance can add delay. It does not say which warehouse will send a given order, so you may not know in advance whether your parcel crosses a border. [2]
| Policy point (29 Oct 2026) | BRKOX | Lightailing |
|---|---|---|
| Countries served | US, UK, Canada, Australia | Worldwide |
| Duties and import VAT | Stated as included | Recipient pays, where applicable |
| Ships from | Not stated on the policy page | China, US or EU warehouse |
| Free shipping | No threshold listed | Standard free from $69 in eligible regions |
| Customs delays | Says it will help resolve customs issues | Says clearance may cause delay |
What your own government says you may owe
United Kingdom: GOV.UK says customs duty applies to goods from outside the UK only if they are excise goods or worth more than £135. VAT is charged on all goods except gifts worth £39 or less. For goods over £135, VAT is paid to the delivery company before delivery or on collection, and the carrier sends a bill listing exactly what you owe. Carriers usually hold a parcel for about three weeks; if you do not pay, it goes back to the sender. [3]
European Union: the European Commission says the VAT exemption for imported goods under €22 was abolished on 1 July 2021, so imports are subject to VAT. For consignments up to €150, sellers can collect VAT at checkout through the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS). [4] If a checkout does not show EU VAT as collected, expect it to be collected at delivery.
Canada: CBSA thresholds for courier shipments depend on where the parcel comes from. From the US or Mexico: duty and tax free up to C$40, duty free but taxed from C$40 to C$150, and both above C$150. From anywhere else, including China: duty and tax free only up to C$20. [5] Because Lightailing does not promise a US warehouse, a C$60 kit could be tax-free or taxable depending on where it ships from.
United States: CBP's e-commerce page, read on 29 October 2026, links a Federal Register notice on an indefinite suspension of the de minimis exemption for mail shipments, and says the compliance date for new informal entry procedures for international mail moved from 22 October 2026 to 20 January 2027. [6] If a kit could ship from outside the US, read that page before assuming a small parcel arrives with nothing to pay.
Worked example: why the cheaper basket can cost more
A UK buyer is choosing between two kits for the same set. Store A lists £70 with duties and taxes included. Store B lists £62 plus £6 shipping, with import charges left to the buyer. These prices are invented to show the method.
Store B is £68 at checkout, £2 cheaper. But the goods come from outside the UK, so VAT applies. If the carrier collects 20% VAT on the £68 parcel value plus its own handling fee, the door bill is well over £2, and Store B becomes the more expensive basket. If Store B's checkout shows UK VAT already collected, Store B stays cheaper. The decision turns on that one line at checkout, not on the headline price.
| Step | Store A (duties included) | Store B (buyer pays import) |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | £70 | £62 |
| Shipping at checkout | Included in example | £6 |
| Checkout total | £70 | £68 |
| Possible door bill | None expected per policy | VAT plus any carrier fee, unless collected at checkout |
| What you actually compare | £70 | £68 plus the door bill |
Checklist before you pay
This is general information from official pages, not tax or customs advice for a specific shipment.
- Find the line in the checkout summary that says duties or taxes are included or collected. No line means plan for a door charge on an imported parcel.
- If you are in Canada, ask Lightailing support which warehouse will ship your order; it changes the threshold that applies.
- Keep a copy of the shipping-policy wording with your order confirmation.
- Do not refuse a parcel to avoid a bill. Lightailing's refund policy says shipping, return shipping and customs costs may be deducted from a refund for refused or undeliverable packages where the law allows. [7]
- Do not split an order to stay under a threshold without reading your customs authority's rules first.
- Record each store's full total side by side in the import cost check worksheet.
Questions before you decide
Will I pay import VAT on a BRKOX kit shipped to the UK?
BRKOX's shipping policy, read 29 October 2026, says all duties and taxes are included, so no extra VAT should be due after checkout for its four destination countries.
Who pays customs on a Lightailing order?
Lightailing's shipping policy says that, where applicable, the recipient is responsible for customs duties, import taxes, VAT and handling fees.
Is a small kit duty free in Canada?
It depends on origin. CBSA lists duty and tax free up to C$40 from the US or Mexico, but only up to C$20 from other countries.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- BRKOX shipping policy Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Lightailing shipping policy Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Tax and customs for goods sent from abroad Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- European Commission: Customs formalities for low value consignments Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- CBSA: Low-value shipment thresholds (page modified 25 November 2025) Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: E-commerce Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Lightailing refund policy (last updated August 2026) Accessed 29 Oct 2026
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