Frequently Imported Items: Bahamas Duty Rates Guide
By Mr. Ship It Team · September 26, 2026 · 8 min read
What will customs charge on the things you order online? Bahamas Customs publishes a guide to the goods people bring in most often, the Frequently Imported Items brochure. This post pulls out the rates that matter for online shoppers, shows how the charges add up, and walks through the official example so you can estimate your own bill.
The figures start from the brochure dated July 2024, the latest edition, and are updated for the tariff and VAT changes that took effect in July and September 2025 and the Tariff (Amendment) Act, 2026, in force since July 1, 2026. Rates marked "was" changed after the brochure was printed. The brochure is for information only; the Tariff Act is the legal authority on rates. For a quote on a specific order, use our shipping calculator.
How the charges add up
Four things can apply to a package, in this order:
- Duty is a percentage of the item's value, meaning the price you actually paid. Many everyday items are duty free.
- Environmental levy is a flat fee on certain goods, such as $5 on a TV or cell phone and $15 on a fridge or washing machine.
- Processing fee is 1% of the value, with a minimum of $10 and a maximum of $1,000.
- VAT is 10% of the landed cost: the value plus duty, processing fee, levy, freight, insurance and other charges. Since September 1, 2025, a reduced 5% VAT applies to some health and hygiene goods, listed below.
Because VAT is charged on everything before it, a high duty rate costs you twice: once as duty and again as VAT on that duty.
A worked example from Customs
This is the brochure's own example for a package that arrives by courier, which is how your online orders come in. The item is a TV valued at $400, with $110 in freight, insurance and other charges.
| Charge | How it is worked out | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Duty | $400 × 35% | $140.00 |
| Processing fee | 1% of $400, minimum $10 | $10.00 |
| Environmental levy | TV | $5.00 |
| Landed cost | $400 + $140 + $10 + $5 + $110 | $665.00 |
| VAT | 10% of the landed cost | $66.50 |
| Paid to Customs | Duty, fee, levy and VAT | $221.50 |
The brochure prints the landed cost as $655.00 and the total as $220.50, which look like an adding slip; the figures above are the same charges added up. Either way, the lesson holds: a $400 TV costs over $200 in customs charges, on top of its freight. A laptop of the same value pays no duty and far less VAT.
Electronics
| Item | Duty | Levy |
|---|---|---|
| Computers, laptops and iPads | Free | |
| Computer monitors, routers and modems | Free | |
| Printers | Free | |
| Headphones and earphones | Free | |
| Bluetooth speakers | Free | |
| Smart watches | Free | |
| Digital cameras and drones with cameras | Free | |
| Amazon Echo, Apple TV and Android TV boxes | Free | |
| E-book readers such as Kindle | Free | |
| Smart glasses | 10% (new in July 2026) | |
| Cell phones | 10% | $5 each |
| Batteries | 10% | $5 each |
| Games on disc | 10% | |
| Televisions | 35% | $5 each |
| Stereo systems and radios | 35% | |
| Video game consoles | 45% | |
| Virtual reality headsets | 45% |
Clothing, shoes and accessories
| Item | Duty |
|---|---|
| Baby and toddler clothing, size 6 and under | Free |
| Handbags and wallets | Free |
| Watches | Free |
| Jewellery, costume or gold, silver and platinum | Free |
| Sunglasses | Free |
| Clothing, outerwear and underwear | 20% |
| T-shirts | 20% |
| Shoes, sneakers, slippers and sandals | 20% |
| Socks, bras and pantyhose | 20% |
| Hats | 45% |
| Complete wigs | 20% (was 45%) |
| Hair extensions and hairpieces | 45% |
Beauty and personal care
| Item | Duty |
|---|---|
| Perfume and cologne | Free |
| Deodorant and soap | Free |
| Toothpaste and manual toothbrushes | Free |
| Vitamins and supplements | Free |
| Shampoo | Free (was 25%) |
| Conditioner and hair dye | 25% |
| Make-up | 35% |
| Hair dryers and curling irons | 35% |
| Shavers, hair clippers and trimmers | 35% (was 45%) |
| Electric toothbrushes | 35% (was 45%) |
Baby and kids
| Item | Duty |
|---|---|
| Car seats, strollers, cribs, playpens and high chairs | Free |
| Bottles and nipples | Free |
| Diapers and baby wipes | Free |
| Tricycles | Free |
| Crayons, pencils and school rulers | Free |
| Toys and dolls | 20% |
Home and appliances
| Item | Duty | Levy |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerators with no separate freezer door | Free | $15 each |
| Fridge-freezers with a separate freezer door | 35% | $15 each |
| Stoves, 30 inches and under | Free | $5 each |
| Fans | Free | |
| Generators | Free | $20 each |
| Solar panels and solar inverters | Free | |
| LED light bulbs and fixtures | Free | |
| Washing machines, fully automatic | 5% | $15 each |
| Freezers, household | 5% | $15 each |
| Window and wall air conditioners | 5% | $10 each |
| Dryers | 45% (5% under 22 lb capacity) | $15 each |
| Microwaves | 35% | $5 each |
| Coffee makers and toasters | 35% | |
| Blenders, food mixers and juicers | 35% (was 45%) | |
| Vacuum cleaners | 35% (was 45%) | |
| Plastic kitchenware and tableware | 20% (was 45%) | |
| Sheets | 15% | |
| Towels | 20% | |
| Household furniture | 25% | |
| Pots and pans | 25% | |
| Curtains and drapes | 30% | |
| Rugs and carpet | 45% | |
| Pillows and comforters | 45% | |
| Mattresses | 60% |
Energy-efficient appliances can be duty free. Since July 2025, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and water heaters with the top energy-efficiency rating qualify for a duty-free concession: up to 4 air conditioners, 2 water heaters, 2 refrigerators and 2 freezers per home. You need a certificate of approval from the National Emissions Registry before the goods are cleared, so apply before you ship.
Health and fitness
| Item | Duty |
|---|---|
| Medicine | Free |
| Prescription glasses and contact lenses | Free |
| Blood pressure monitors and glucose meters | Free |
| Test strips, including diabetes and pregnancy | Free |
| Hearing aids | Free |
| Exercise machines | Free |
Reduced 5% VAT. Since September 1, 2025, these carry 5% VAT instead of 10%: diapers and baby wipes, sanitary pads and tampons, adult disposable underwear, bed pads, blood pressure monitors, blood glucose meters, lancets and insulin syringes, first-aid kits, adhesive bandages, and many medicines, including antibiotics, insulin and vaccines.
Car parts
| Item | Duty | Levy |
|---|---|---|
| Auto parts | 60% | |
| Oil and air filters | 20% (was 45%) | |
| Rims | 60% | |
| Tires, auto, unmounted | 25% | $5 each |
| Motor oil | 45% | |
| Car alarms | 45% |
Food and drink
| Item | Duty |
|---|---|
| Coffee and tea | Free |
| Cereal, rice, pasta and noodles | Free |
| Peanut butter, jams and honey | Free |
| Chocolates | 30% |
| Soft candies | 30% |
| Hard candies | 60% |
| Energy drinks, sports drinks and flavoured water | 30% (was 55%) |
| Soda | 60% |
Tips to keep your customs bill down
- Keep your invoice. Customs needs the supplier's invoice to clear every shipment, and duty is worked out on the price you actually paid. Without it, Customs can value the goods itself. Upload your invoice in your account as soon as you order, and we clear customs for you.
- Check the rate before you buy. A 60% item and a duty-free item of the same price land at very different costs. Our shipping calculator adds up freight, duty, VAT and fees before you spend a dollar.
- Know what the $500 exemption covers. Residents can claim $500 twice a year on goods they bring back as travellers. The brochure's courier example applies no exemption, so plan on paying the full charges on packages that are shipped to you.
For more on how each charge works, read our guide to understanding Bahamas customs duty, or see our rates. Don't have a US address yet? Sign up free and start shopping.
Sources: Bahamas Customs & Excise Department, Frequently Imported Items brochure (July 2024) and Rate Changes for the Year 2025; Tariff (Amendment) Act, 2024; Tariff (Amendment) Act, 2025; Tariff (Amendment) Act, 2026. For official rates and classifications, contact Bahamas Customs or visit bahamascustoms.gov.bs.
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