Tax Policy – Customs Duties & Import Taxes

Please read this policy carefully before placing your order.

Fantastic Japan ships internationally from Japan. Depending on your destination country, your order may be subject to import duties, VAT, customs clearance fees, and other charges.

IMPORTANT: Additional import charges may be collected upon delivery. These charges are not necessarily included in the total paid at checkout.

We strongly recommend that all international customers review the information below before purchasing to avoid unexpected expenses.

1. United States

For orders shipped to the United States, Fantastic Japan generally uses Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) shipping.

This means that applicable import duties covered by our DDP shipping arrangement are paid by our shop, so customers should not normally be asked to pay additional import duties upon delivery.

If you receive an unexpected customs payment request, please contact us before making any payment.

2. European Union (EU)

Important: New EU customs regulations effective July 1 and November 1, 2026

The European Union has introduced additional charges on low-value imports from countries outside the EU, including Japan.

• From July 1, 2026: A customs duty of €3 applies per applicable product category (customs tariff classification) to imported consignments valued at €150 or less.

• From November 1, 2026: An additional EU customs handling fee of €2 per applicable item/category has been introduced.

• Import VAT: VAT continues to apply separately from these new customs charges.

These charges are governed by EU customs regulations. The amount collected from the recipient, if any, depends on the applicable customs procedures, shipping arrangements, and carrier.

For example, an order containing several different types of stationery products may fall under multiple customs tariff classifications, resulting in higher total import charges.

Please note that paying VAT at checkout does not necessarily mean that all customs duties and handling fees have been paid.

Fantastic Japan does not currently collect EU import VAT through the IOSS system on our Shopify store.

Therefore, customers may be required to pay import VAT and other applicable charges to the customs authorities or delivery company before receiving their order.

Shipping to EU countries is currently temporarily suspended while we review the new customs requirements and associated costs.

We appreciate your understanding.

3. United Kingdom and Other International Destinations

For orders shipped to the United Kingdom and other international destinations outside the United States and EU, import VAT, customs duties, and clearance or handling fees may apply depending on local regulations.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise at checkout, these charges are not included in our product prices or shipping fees and are the buyer's responsibility.

Please check with your local customs authority for information about possible charges before placing an order.

4. Customs Charges and Delivery

Customs authorities and delivery companies determine the applicable import charges according to local laws and procedures.

Fantastic Japan cannot guarantee the exact amount of additional charges or whether a particular shipment will be assessed.

If import charges are due, the delivery company may request payment before releasing or delivering your package.

By placing an international order, you acknowledge that additional import charges may apply and agree to pay any charges for which you are responsible under the applicable shipping terms.

5. Refused Deliveries and Returned Packages

Please do not refuse delivery because of unexpected customs charges without contacting us first.

If a package is refused, unclaimed, or returned because the recipient does not pay applicable import charges, the following conditions may apply:

• Original shipping fees are non-refundable.

• Return shipping fees, customs charges, and other costs incurred as a result of the refusal may be deducted from any eligible refund, where permitted by applicable law.

• Any refund will be processed after the returned package has been received and inspected.

• If the package is abandoned, destroyed, or not returned to us, a refund may not be possible, subject to applicable consumer protection laws.

Please contact us as soon as possible if you experience any customs-related issues.

6. Customs Declarations

All international shipments are declared accurately in accordance with Japanese and international customs regulations.

We cannot undervalue merchandise, declare incorrect product information, or mark commercial orders as gifts to avoid import duties or taxes.

7. Questions Before Ordering

If you are unsure whether additional import charges may apply to your order, please contact us before purchasing.

We are happy to explain our shipping arrangements, although we cannot provide a guaranteed estimate of charges assessed by customs authorities.

Thank you for shopping with Fantastic Japan and for your understanding of international customs procedures.

We don’t mark merchandise value below value or mark items as gifts. Japan and International government regulations prohibit such behavior.