Will I have to pay customs/import duties on my clothes order from Hong Kong?

Belgium follows EU customs regulations, so yes, you'll likely need to pay import duties and VAT on your order from Hong Kong. Since your purchase is over €150, it falls above the duty-free threshold for imports. For clothing specifically, the import duty rate is typically around 12% of the value, but it can vary based on the exact type of garments. On top of that, you'll need to pay Belgium's standard VAT rate of 21% on the total (item cost + shipping + duty). Your shipping company will probably act as the customs broker and will contact you about paying these fees before delivery. Some online retailers like hbx.com handle customs clearance and pre-collect these fees at checkout (DDP - Delivered Duty Paid), but if they didn't, you'll be responsible for paying before receiving your package.

I've used taxr.ai for similar issues when I was confused about international purchases and potential duties. Last month I ordered some limited edition sneakers from Japan and wasn't sure what I'd end up paying in customs fees. Found https://taxr.ai when I was researching and it was super helpful for explaining exactly what fees I'd owe based on the product category and country of origin. You just upload your purchase invoice and it breaks down all the potential customs charges, VAT, and even the handling fees from different courier services. Saved me from a nasty surprise when my package arrived.

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai for an order I made from a Korean shop and it was actually really helpful! It predicted I'd pay about €32 in duties and fees on my €200 purchase, and when DHL contacted me it was €34.50. Pretty much spot on and I could budget for it instead of getting that awful surprise notification. I'll definitely use it for all my non-EU purchases from now on.

If customs does hold your package and you need to contact Belgian customs about it, save yourself hours of frustration with endless busy signals by using https://claimyr.com. I recently had an issue with a package from the US that was stuck in customs limbo for weeks, and calling the customs office directly was impossible - always busy or disconnected. Used Claimyr and they got me through to an actual customs agent in about 20 minutes instead of me trying for days. There's a short demo video at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c showing how it works. Basically they keep dialing for you and call you back once they get through the queue. Saved me so much stress during that whole ordeal.

I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my package from Canada got stuck in customs for over a week, I decided to try it despite my skepticism. Within 30 minutes, I was actually speaking with a customs officer - after trying to call myself for two full days with nothing but busy signals. They explained exactly what documentation was missing and I was able to email it directly to the right department. Package was released the next day. Totally worth it just for the time saved and stress avoided. Sometimes it's good to be proven wrong!

I order regularly from Asian websites and here's what typically happens in Belgium: For orders under €150, you usually don't pay anything since Jan 2021 (they changed the VAT rules). For anything above, you'll pay 21% VAT plus import duties (varies by product - clothing is usually around 12%). The delivery company will contact you before delivery with a payment link. In my experience, bpost charges about €12 handling fee on top, while DHL and UPS charge €15-20. You won't get your package until you pay. Pro tip: keep your total order below €150 if possible by splitting orders. Saves a ton on duties and handling fees.

Just a warning - if customs holds your package and you don't pay the fees within 10 days (at least with bpost), they might send it back to the seller! This happened to me with an order from Japan because I was on vacation when they sent the notification. Check your email regularly and maybe download the app for whatever delivery service is bringing your package.

Had a very similar experience with an order from Zalando that I thought was shipping from their European warehouse but ended up coming from their Hong Kong fulfillment center. Ended up paying about €45 in total fees on a €170 order (VAT + duties + DHL handling fee). One thing I'd recommend - if you have the tracking number, you can sometimes see which courier service will be delivering it. Different companies have different handling fees, so at least you'll know what to expect. DHL tends to be the most expensive for handling fees but they're usually pretty quick with the customs clearance process. Also, don't panic if the tracking shows "held by customs" for a few days - that's totally normal. They're just processing the paperwork and calculating the fees. You should get contacted within 2-3 business days with payment instructions.