Import duty on used clothing: how to check the rules for your country

Published 31 August 2026

Working out the import duty on used clothing is one of the first practical questions a buyer runs into, and it is also one of the hardest to get a straight answer to, because the honest answer is that it depends entirely on where you are importing to. Rather than list countries and risk telling you something that has since changed, this guide shows you the method customs brokers actually use, so you can check the rules for your own port with confidence and go into your first order knowing exactly what to expect on landing.

Why there is no single answer

Every country runs its own tariff schedule, built on top of a shared international system. That shared system is what makes a country by country list unnecessary once you know how to use it. Duty rates, permit requirements and any restrictions on used clothing are set by each government individually, and they do change from time to time, so a number quoted today is not something worth relying on months later. The method below stays useful regardless.

Start with the tariff heading, not the country

Used clothing sold in bulk or in bales sits under Harmonised System heading 6309, which covers worn clothing and other worn textile articles. To fall under this heading, the goods need to show genuine signs of wear and be presented in bulk, in bales, sacks or similar packing, rather than as individual sorted garments. That is precisely how export bales are put together, which is why 6309 is the heading you will be quoting when you contact your customs authority or a broker.

The first six digits of that heading are recognised internationally, so 6309 will mean the same thing whether you are checking a tariff schedule in the Pacific, in West Africa, or anywhere else. What differs from there is the duty rate your country attaches to it, and whether any additional conditions sit alongside it.

What to actually check once you have the heading

With HS 6309 in hand, there are three things worth confirming with your own customs authority or a licensed customs broker before you order.

First, the duty rate itself. Some countries treat worn clothing under 6309 as duty free, others apply a rate, and it can shift depending on trade agreements your country holds with Australia. Second, whether a permit, licence or quota applies. A number of countries regulate used clothing imports specifically, separate from the general duty question, and this is worth confirming even if the duty rate turns out to be low. Third, whether any additional tax applies on landing, such as a general sales tax or VAT charged on top of the duty, since buyers sometimes budget for one and forget the other.

A local customs broker is normally the fastest way to get all three answers at once, because they deal with your country's schedule daily and can confirm what actually applies at your port rather than what the published schedule technically says.

Restrictions are common, and that is not a red flag

If your research turns up a permit requirement, an inspection step, or a quota, that is completely normal and not a sign that used clothing importing is somehow unusual or risky. Governments regulate this category for reasons ranging from protecting local textile industries to managing the volume of used goods entering the country, and the requirements exist whichever exporter you buy from. Working through them once, properly, is part of setting up as an importer, not a barrier specific to any one order.

Getting a clear answer before you order

The short version is: quote HS 6309 to your own customs authority or broker, ask for the duty rate, ask whether a permit or quota applies, and ask what tax sits on top. That gives you a real number and a real process before any money moves, rather than a guess based on what someone else paid somewhere else. Once you know what lands on your side, the shipment itself is simply a matter of arranging it, which is where our process for getting a bale from Sydney to your port picks up.

We ship worldwide and are used to buyers checking their own import position before committing to a first order, so if you would like a hand working out who to contact in your country, get in touch and we can point you in the right direction.