About DutyDecoder

Simplifying global trade, one shipment at a time

Our Mission

International trade shouldn't require a degree in customs law. DutyDecoder was built with a simple mission: make import duties, tariffs, and landed costs transparent and accessible to everyone — from first-time importers and small e-commerce sellers to seasoned logistics professionals.

We believe that every business, regardless of size, deserves access to the same caliber of trade intelligence that multinational corporations rely on. That's why our core tools are completely free.

What We Do

DutyDecoder is an AI-powered import duty calculator and customs compliance platform that helps you understand the true cost of importing goods into 50+ countries. Our platform provides:

  • Landed Cost Calculator — Estimate import duties, VAT/GST, and total costs before you ship
  • AI HS Code Classification — Automatically classify products into the correct Harmonized System codes using natural language descriptions
  • Country-Specific Import Guides — Detailed duty rates, de minimis thresholds, import restrictions, and required documents for each destination country
  • Real-Time 2026 Tariff Data — Continuously updated tariff schedules so your calculations reflect the latest trade regulations

How It Works

Simply describe your product, select the origin and destination countries, and enter the shipment value. Our AI engine classifies the product under the correct HS code, looks up the applicable duty rate from our tariff database, and calculates the full landed cost — including customs duty, VAT/GST, and any applicable surcharges.

Every calculation is stored as a public reference page so future importers shipping similar products can instantly access estimated costs.

Our Data & Methodology

Accuracy matters in trade compliance. Our tariff data is sourced from official government customs schedules, WTO tariff databases, and verified trade agreements. We combine this structured data with a proprietary AI classification engine to deliver reliable estimates.

For full transparency on how we source, validate, and update our data, visit our Data Methodology page.

Who We Serve

  • E-Commerce Sellers — Know the exact landed cost before pricing products for international markets
  • Small & Medium Businesses — Budget accurately for import expenses without hiring a customs consultant
  • Freight Forwarders & Customs Brokers — Quickly estimate duties for client quotations
  • Individual Importers — Understand what you'll owe at customs before ordering from overseas
  • Trade Compliance Teams — Cross-reference HS codes and duty rates across multiple countries

🌍 Our Commitment

We are committed to keeping DutyDecoder's core tools free and accessible. As global trade evolves, we continuously expand our country coverage, improve our AI classification accuracy, and update tariff data to reflect the latest regulations. Our goal is to be the most trusted, comprehensive import duty resource on the web.

Our Expertise

DutyDecoder was built and is maintained by a team combining deep customs and trade compliance knowledge with modern AI and software engineering. Our content and calculations are informed by:

Official Tariff Schedules

Every duty rate traces directly to an official government-published tariff schedule — USITC HTS, EU TARIC, UK Global Tariff, and 50+ national customs authorities.

AI + Human Verification

Our AI classification engine follows WCO General Rules of Interpretation (GRI 1–6) — the same legal framework licensed customs brokers use. Edge cases are flagged for manual review.

Trade Data Analysis

Over 5,000+ product-route combinations classified and cross-referenced against official HS nomenclature to continuously improve accuracy.

Domain-Expert Content

All country guides, compliance articles, and educational content are written by contributors with real-world import/export experience and reviewed against official customs publications.

📋 Our Editorial Process

Every piece of content on DutyDecoder follows a rigorous editorial process to ensure accuracy and trustworthiness:

  1. Research: All tariff data is sourced directly from official government customs authorities — never from scraped aggregators or unverified third-party databases.
  2. AI Classification: Product classifications follow the WCO Harmonized System standards and General Rules of Interpretation (GRI 1–6), the same legal framework used by licensed customs brokers worldwide.
  3. Cross-Verification: AI-generated HS codes are cross-referenced against our database at three levels (10-digit, 6-digit, 4-digit heading) to ensure the closest official rate match.
  4. Continuous Updates: Major trade partners receive rate updates within 48 hours of any official gazette publication or Federal Register notice.
  5. Transparency: We publish our full data sources and methodology, including known limitations and areas where professional customs broker consultation is recommended.

Get in Touch

Have questions, feedback, or a partnership idea? We'd love to hear from you. Visit our Contact Us page or email us directly at contact@dutydecoder.com.