Import Duties, VAT and Taxes in Bangladesh: What Importers Should Know

Import taxes are often the biggest surprise for new importers in Bangladesh. The duty and taxes on a shipment can add a significant amount to the product price, so understanding them is essential for pricing your goods correctly.

The Main Import Taxes in Bangladesh

Depending on the product, a shipment may attract several of the following charges, calculated in stages on the assessed value:

• Customs Duty (CD) — the base import duty, which varies by product
• Supplementary Duty (SD) — applied to selected or luxury goods
• Regulatory Duty (RD) — an additional duty on certain items
• Value Added Tax (VAT) — a standard rate of 15% on most imports
• Advance Income Tax (AIT) — collected at the import stage
• Advance Trade VAT (ATV) — applied to certain commercial imports

Why Your Total Tax Rate Varies

There is no single import-tax rate in Bangladesh. The combined burden depends on your product’s HS code and is revised each year in the national budget. Two products in the same shipment can carry very different rates, which is why you should confirm the current figures before ordering.

How Taxes Affect Your Landed Cost

Duty and taxes are a core part of your total landed cost. Always factor them in before you set a selling price, or an apparently cheap product can turn into a loss once it clears customs.

DE International calculates duty and taxes accurately and manages customs clearance for your imports. Send us your product details for a duty estimate.