Customs duties FAQ

Heads-Up for Our U.S. Customers: Import Tariffs Are Here (But Don’t Worry — We’ve Got You Covered!)

If you’ve shopped with us before and checked out without ever thinking about import taxes, you’re not alone. Most U.S. customers are used to receiving international packages without any surprise fees. But as of August 29, that’s no longer the case.

What’s New

Due to recent U.S. trade policy changes, all shipments from Israel are now subject to import tariffs, even small orders. We know — it’s not great news. But we’re here to be transparent and help you understand how it works.

A Global Perspective

While this may come as a surprise, it’s actually the standard in most of the world. Our customers in Europe, Australia, and beyond have always paid import duties. U.S. shoppers are simply catching up to what’s already the global norm.

Domestic ≠ Duty-Free

Thinking of switching to a U.S.-based vendor to avoid tariffs? Here’s the catch: most Judaica sold in the U.S. is still imported. Retailers pay customs duties and pass those costs on to you — so the total you pay often ends up the same, or even higher.

Full Transparency

To make things simpler, import duties will now be prepaid at checkout. This way, you’ll know exactly what you’re paying — no surprise charges when your package arrives.

Wait — Aren’t Religious Items Exempt?

We often get requests (especially from Europe) to mark products as “religious items” on customs forms. Unfortunately, that rarely helps. The new U.S. tariffs also don’t include exemptions for religious or Judaica items.

The only exception applies to official religious institutions. For example, if a synagogue places a bulk order of tallitot using its own account, it may qualify for an exemption. But simply listing a synagogue’s address as the delivery location won’t work.

Supporting Israeli Businesses

We’re confident our community will continue to support Israeli craftsmanship and families, especially during challenging times. Every purchase helps sustain local workshops, manufacturers, and livelihoods across Israel.

Good News: Tallit Prices Are Down!

Here’s a bit of good news — thanks to growing competition among tallit makers, prices have dropped in recent months. We’ve passed those savings directly on to you, helping offset the impact of these new tariffs.

What Does It Cost?

The new import tariff is a flat 15% on shipments from Israel. You’ll see it listed at checkout as “Import Duty” when selecting the United States as your shipping destination.

For context:

VAT in Israel is 18%

In Canada, it’s 13% (plus around CAD $9.95 handling)

In the UK, 20% plus a processing fee

In most of the EU, between 19%–22%

In some countries like South Africa and Hungary, taxes are even higher

In fact, the U.S. rate for Israeli imports is one of the lowest among nations with a trade deficit with the U.S.

Why Prepaid Is Better

If a package arrives without prepaid duties, the shipping company will bill you directly — often adding hefty administrative fees (such as “Entry Preparation,” “Disbursement,” or “Merchandise Processing” fees) that can reach $30 or more.

That’s why we’ve switched exclusively to prepaid shipping for U.S. orders. Thanks to our volume agreements with Israel Post , we’ve secured reduced rates and pass those savings straight to you.

Are There Any Workarounds?

Not really.

Waiting until your next trip to Israel won’t help — local purchases are subject to 18% VAT.

Shipping to a U.S. address to bypass Canadian or Mexican duties doesn’t work either — and now, American customers are in the same position with no true duty-free option.

Can You Just Mark It as a Gift or Sample?

Simply put — no. We don’t engage in that kind of workaround. In today’s digital customs systems, all shipping, billing, and payment data are cross-checked automatically. The old days of handwritten customs slips are long gone!