Guide
Pin Badges to the UK: 4% Duty, 20% VAT and Who Pays
UK import charges on custom pin badges from China: 4% duty under HS 7117.19, 20% VAT on goods, freight and duty, and who pays under FOB, DAP and DDP.
Written in British English for UK and Irish buyers.
Custom metal pin badges imported into the UK from China pay 4% customs duty under HS 7117.19 and 20% VAT. VAT is charged on the goods value plus freight plus duty, not on the goods alone. Under FOB or DAP you pay both to HMRC through your carrier or broker before release. Under DDP we pay both and they are inside the quote. As of September 2026, subject to change.
The two charges
| Charge | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty | 4% | Customs value of the badges (goods plus freight and insurance to the UK border) |
| Import VAT | 20% | Customs value plus the duty |
Worked in words: take the badge value, add freight and insurance to the border, apply 4%. Add that duty to the same base, apply 20%. The VAT is the larger figure of the two by a wide margin.
Rates are as of September 2026 and subject to change. Check the UK Global Tariff for HS 7117.19 before budgeting a large order.
Who pays, by Incoterm
- FOB Shenzhen. You arrange freight. Your carrier or broker lodges the entry and bills you duty plus VAT plus their fee before the parcel is released. This is the "customs bill" many first-time importers are surprised by.
- DAP (Delivered At Place) your address. We deliver to your door. You still pay duty and VAT to the carrier on arrival.
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). We pay duty and VAT. They are in the quoted price. Nothing to pay on arrival. Simplest for a first order, a charity or a club without an import setup.
Full comparison in our DDP vs FOB guide.
VAT-registered buyers
If you are VAT-registered, import VAT is normally recoverable. Under FOB or DAP you are the importer of record and can use postponed VAT accounting or reclaim on your return, with the import documentation from your broker. Under DDP the import is made by our forwarder's UK agent, and whether you can reclaim depends on how the entry is documented. Tell us your VAT status at the quote stage and we will say which route suits you.
Charities, schools and clubs that are not VAT-registered cannot reclaim, so DDP is usually the cleanest for them.
Northern Ireland and Ireland
Northern Ireland follows EU customs rules for goods. Ireland is EU: 4% duty plus Irish VAT. We quote DDP to both. The rate stack is similar; the paperwork differs.
Compliance for badges sold in the UK
- Nickel release. UK REACH mirrors EU REACH Annex XVII entry 27: nickel release from items in prolonged skin contact no more than 0.5 µg/cm²/week, tested to EN 1811. Badge posts and clutches count as skin contact.
- Lead and cadmium. UK REACH mirrors entry 63 (lead no more than 500 ppm) and entry 23 (cadmium no more than 100 ppm) in jewellery.
- Test reports. We can arrange EN 1811 nickel release testing for your order on request.
- Origin marking. "Made in China" on the badge or packaging.
- Children. If badges are intended for children under 12, tell us; we arrange the required testing for that order.
Budgeting a UK badge order
- Ask for FOB and DDP on the same specification.
- If FOB, add freight to the UK, then 4%, then 20% on the total, then your broker's fee.
- If DDP, the quote is your landed cost.
- If reselling, set the retail price from the landed cost, not the FOB price.
Badge types and finishes are on the custom pin badges page.
This is general guidance, not legal advice.
Order Facts
- From 100 pcs per design · better price at 500+, best at 1,000+
- Free artwork proof within 2 working days
- Sample 10–14 working days · bulk 30–60 days · rush from 10–15 days
- DDP door-to-door available: duties and taxes included in the quote
- Bella replies within 12 hours
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a duty-free threshold for small orders?
Not one that helps a badge order. Low-value parcels are handled under separate VAT collection rules, but a 500-badge order sits well above them. Assume both charges apply.
Does the mould charge attract duty?
The mould stays in China. Whether a buyer-paid tooling charge must be added to customs value as an "assist" is a question for your broker. Mention it to them.
Can you deliver DDP to a charity's PO box?
DDP needs a physical address for delivery and for the import entry. Give us a street address.