import tax

Meaning

A tax collected on goods brought into a country from abroad. While similar to customs duty, 'import tax' is a broader term that can include value-added taxes (VAT) applied at the border. It is a formal term used in trade, travel, and finance.

Examples

• The government recently increased the import tax on foreign vehicles.

  The government recently increased the import tax on foreign vehicles.

• To avoid paying import tax, make sure your purchases are within the legal limits.

  To avoid paying import tax, make sure your purchases are within the legal limits.

• You might be charged an import tax if you order expensive goods online from another country.

  You might be charged an import tax if you order expensive goods online from another country.

• The invoice shows the price of the item plus the local import tax.

  The invoice shows the price of the item plus the local import tax.

• Some countries have free trade agreements that eliminate the import tax on specific goods.

  Some countries have free trade agreements that eliminate the import tax on specific goods.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I had to pay an importation tax on my luggage.

  ✓ I had to pay an import tax on my luggage.

  'Importation' is a noun describing the act of importing, but the standard compound noun for the tax itself is 'import tax'.

• ✗ The import tax for this laptop was very high.

  ✓ The import tax on this laptop was very high.

  In English, taxes are levied 'on' goods, not 'for' them.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Ordering shoes from overseas might subject you to an unexpected ___.

  💡 A tax on items brought into the country.

  Show answer

  import tax

• The total cost of the equipment includes shipping and ___.

  💡 The tax paid at the border.

  Show answer

  import tax