Do You Pay Customs or Import Duties on a Floor Sofa Shipped to the US?
- 4 min reading time
Furniture shipped to the US from abroad is subject to import duties, and the buyer pays them unless the seller ships with duties prepaid. At Floorsofa.co the price at checkout includes US duties and taxes, so nothing is collected at your door.
By Mariam, Floorsofa.co · Updated October 2026
Yes, a floor sofa imported into the United States is subject to customs duties, and unless the seller ships with duties prepaid, the carrier collects them from you before or at delivery. Orders from Floorsofa.co ship with US duties and taxes already paid: the price you see at checkout is the full amount, and UPS does not ask you for anything at the door.
Why do buyers get charged at delivery?
Most Arabic floor sofas sold online are made in and shipped from Türkiye or the Middle East. When the box enters the US, Customs and Border Protection assesses duty on its declared value. Somebody has to pay it. Which party pays depends on the shipping terms the seller chose.
| Shipping term | Who pays duties | What happens at your door |
|---|---|---|
| DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) | The seller | Nothing to pay. The box is handed over. |
| DAP / DDU (duties unpaid) | You, the buyer | The carrier bills you for duty plus its own brokerage fee before releasing the package. |
Didn't small packages used to enter duty-free?
They did. For years, shipments valued at $800 or less entered the US without duty under the "de minimis" rule. The US suspended that exemption for commercial shipments from all countries on August 29, 2025. Since then, low-value orders are assessed too, which is why many shoppers were surprised by bills on orders that used to arrive free of charges. A full sofa set was above $800 in any case.
Duty rates depend on the product, the country it was made in, and current trade policy, and they have changed several times since 2025. For current rules, see US Customs and Border Protection's guide to internet purchases.
What can the bill include?
- Import duty: a percentage of the declared value.
- Carrier brokerage or disbursement fee: what UPS, FedEx, or DHL charge for clearing the package and advancing the duty on your behalf.
- Storage: if the bill goes unpaid and the package waits.
On an $800 to $1,300 sofa, these can add up to a meaningful share of the purchase price. Refusing the package does not always cancel the charges, and return shipping overseas for a bulky item is expensive.
How do you check before you buy?
- Read the shipping policy, not the product page. Look for the words "duties," "customs," "DDP," or "import fees."
- Look for a clear statement of who pays. "Customs fees are the buyer's responsibility" means you will get a bill.
- Check the checkout page. A seller shipping DDP usually says so next to the shipping method.
- Ask in writing. A one-line email or WhatsApp message gives you something to point to later.
What does Floorsofa.co charge?
| Item | Cost on a US order |
|---|---|
| UPS Express shipping | $0 |
| Import duties and taxes | $0 (we pay them) |
| Due on delivery | $0 |
An 8-inch L-shaped sofa listed at $850 costs $850. The shipping line at checkout reads "Insured. Duties & taxes included."
Frequently asked questions
Will UPS contact me to pay anything?
Not for a Floorsofa.co order to a US address. Duties and taxes are paid before your boxes arrive.
Does this apply to Canada and other countries?
No. The duties-included promise covers US orders. For other countries, local import taxes may apply at delivery.
Do I need to do any customs paperwork?
No. Clearance is handled by UPS and by us. You only need to be available to receive the boxes.
How long does delivery take with customs clearance?
About three business days to US addresses after a one-day preparation. Clearance happens in transit.
See the 8-inch L-shaped sets from $850, duties included.
