Frequently asked questions

Yes, completely free. You get 3 calculations per month with no payment details required. You can upgrade at any time from inside your account.

Four things:

1. Product description — a plain English description of what you're importing (e.g. "wireless bluetooth headphones")

2. Country of origin — where the goods are manufactured, not where your supplier is based

3. Product value — the invoice price per unit in GBP

4. Shipping cost — total freight cost for the shipment

LandedHQ's AI will identify the correct HS code and duty rate automatically — you don't need to look it up yourself.

No. LandedHQ's AI classifier identifies the most likely HS code for your product automatically, presents you with three options ranked by confidence, and you confirm the right one. If you do already know your HS code you can enter it directly. You can also use the free HS Code Lookup tool to search the full UK tariff independently.

Under two minutes. Sign up, describe your product, enter the value and shipping cost, and you'll have a full duty, VAT and landed cost breakdown immediately. No setup, no onboarding call required.

Directly from the HMRC Trade Tariff API — the official UK government source. We synchronise with HMRC daily. Starter and Growth plan users receive automatic alerts whenever a rate affecting their saved products changes.

Import duty is a one-off tax on the value of goods entering the UK. The rate varies by product type and country of origin and is a genuine cost that doesn't come back.

Import VAT (currently 20%) is charged on the CIF (cost + insurance + freight) value of goods. However, if you are VAT-registered you reclaim it in full on your next VAT return — so for most businesses it is a cash flow timing issue rather than a real cost.

Yes. The UK has trade agreements with over 70 countries through DCTS (Developing Countries Trading Scheme) and bilateral FTAs such as those with Japan, Australia, Singapore and the CPTPP bloc. Where a preferential rate exists and your goods meet the rules of origin, LandedHQ will show the reduced rate rather than the standard MFN rate.

FOB (Free on Board) means the seller is responsible for goods until they are loaded onto the vessel. CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) means the seller covers shipping and insurance to the UK port.

UK customs duty is calculated on the CIF value — product cost + freight + insurance. LandedHQ adds your freight cost automatically to ensure the duty base is correct. If your supplier quotes FOB, enter your separate freight cost and we handle the rest.

Our tariff database syncs with HMRC daily. When the UK government announces trade deal changes, seasonal tariff variations or Budget measures, those changes are reflected in LandedHQ rates as soon as HMRC publishes them. Starter and Growth plan users are notified by email when a saved product rate changes.

Your landed cost is the total cost of getting a product from your supplier's factory to your warehouse — product cost + freight + import duty + VAT. It is the real cost of your stock. Many importers price products using only the factory price and are surprised by duty and freight bills. LandedHQ gives you the complete picture before you place an order.

An HS (Harmonised System) code is a standardised international number that classifies every product that crosses a border. In the UK, commodity codes are 10 digits and determine exactly which duty rate applies to your goods. Using the wrong code is one of the most common — and costly — customs mistakes importers make. LandedHQ identifies the right code automatically and lets you confirm it before using the rate.

Yes. LandedHQ covers the full UK Global Tariff — all chapters from live animals and food through to machinery, electronics, clothing, chemicals and everything in between. For source countries, we cover the UK's main trading partners and flag where preferential rates may apply based on current trade agreements.

Yes. After confirming a calculation you can save it to your Product Library. From there you can track duty costs per product, see annual duty spend, monitor rate changes, and compare sourcing options across countries. The library grows with your business — Starter, Growth and Pro plans all include unlimited saved products.

Rate alerts automatically monitor the duty rates on your saved products. When HMRC changes a rate that affects something in your library, you receive an email notification so you can update your pricing or sourcing before the change affects your next shipment. Rate alerts are included on Starter plans and above.

Yes. The Document Checker lets you upload a commercial invoice (PDF, JPG or PNG) and our AI will extract the product details, HS codes, values and quantities automatically. This is useful for checking that a supplier's declared HS code is correct before your goods reach UK customs.

You'll be prompted to upgrade your plan. Your existing calculations and saved products are never lost — everything is waiting for you when you continue. If you are on the free plan you can also spread your calculations across the month to stay within the 3-calculation limit.

Yes. You can change your plan at any time from the Settings page inside your account. Upgrades take effect immediately. Downgrades take effect at the start of your next billing period so you keep access to your current features until the period ends.

Yes. Monthly plans cancel at the end of the current billing period — no penalty, no questions asked. Annual plans run until the renewal date. You can cancel directly from Settings and your data remains accessible until the period expires.

Annual billing with a discount is on our roadmap and will be available soon. If you'd like to be notified when it launches, email us at hello@landedhq.co.uk.

If you are unhappy for any reason within the first 14 days of a paid plan, contact us at hello@landedhq.co.uk and we will issue a full refund. After 14 days, charges are non-refundable but you can cancel to prevent future billing.

Our rates come directly from the HMRC Trade Tariff API and are updated daily — the same source used by licensed customs brokers. For the vast majority of standard imports, the rates will be correct.

LandedHQ is designed for import planning, budgeting and cost management — not for submitting customs declarations. Official declarations (C88/E2 entries) must be filed through HMRC's Customs Declaration Service (CDS) by an authorised declarant or licensed customs broker. We help you understand and plan for your costs before goods arrive.

Not automatically. Suppliers sometimes provide codes based on their own export country's tariff, which may differ from the UK's 10-digit commodity code. An incorrect code can lead to underpayment of duty (creating a liability) or overpayment (costing you money). Use LandedHQ to independently verify any code a supplier provides before using it for planning or filing.

Yes. LandedHQ is fully responsive and works on any device — phone, tablet or desktop. The calculator, product library, reports and document checker all work on mobile. There is no separate app to download.

Yes. You can export your full calculation history and product library as a CSV from the Settings page. This is useful for sharing with your accountant, customs broker or finance team. Your data always belongs to you.

An API for enterprise customers is on our roadmap — useful for integrating landed cost calculations into ERP systems, Shopify stores or procurement tools. If you're interested in API access, email us at hello@landedhq.co.uk and we'll keep you updated.