What should you know about tariffs, duties, and import fees?

When medication crosses a border, there can be import charges behind the scenes. Depending on the product and the rules in effect at the time, those charges can include tariffs, Customs duties, or other import-related fees.

For SimplePills patients, the important part is much simpler: SimplePills covers the applicable U.S. tariff and import-related charges for the medications we ship. You should not expect an additional import charge when your package is delivered.

Pharmaceutical tariffs can change over time

The U.S. government can change how tariffs apply to pharmaceutical imports over time. Customs duties and other import fees can also vary depending on the product, how it enters the country, and the rules in effect at the time.

For prescription medications, tariff treatment is not always the same for every product, and U.S. pharmaceutical tariff policy can change over time. Our team at SimplePills closely monitors these changes and receives updates from U.S. Customs so we can stay compliant with the latest rules and processes.

For the latest tariff-related updates, see our News & Updates.

What does this mean for a SimplePills order?

For SimplePills patients, we handle the complexity of changing tariff rules so we can keep the process simple for you. SimplePills covers applicable U.S. tariff costs instead of adding them to the price patients pay. We also handle the import-related charges associated with getting the package through the normal shipping and Customs process.

That means the amount you see when you place the order is the amount you should expect to pay for the medication and shipping. You should not receive a separate tariff, duty, or other import-related bill when the package arrives.

Where to go from here

Once you understand the cost side, the last major question before ordering is usually how to tell whether a Canadian pharmacy is legitimate and how to compare your options.

We cover that in How to verify and compare Canadian pharmacies.

Continue reading

Pharmacy guide

How to verify and compare Canadian pharmaciesLearn how Canadian pharmacy regulation works, how to tell whether you are dealing with a real Canadian pharmacy or an intermediary, and what to check before ordering.→

References

1. The White House — Adjusting Imports of Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Ingredients into the United States (opens in a new tab)
2. U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Duty, Taxes and other Fees required to import goods into the United States (opens in a new tab)
3. U.S. Customs and Border Protection — What happens if my mailed goods require duty? (opens in a new tab)