Who pays customs for dropshipping to Egypt?

[Saraminute]

Hello, 

If I want to open a shopify dropshipping store, and I target egyptians, who is going to pay the customes? I know the taxes and customes is really alot in Egypt.

[Rick]

Hi there @Saraminute 

Welcome to the Shopify Community! Is this your first time using Shopify to sell products online?

I understand that you wish to set up a dropshipping business targeting customers in Egypt, and have some questions about who is responsible for the customs fees & taxes.

Usually when you dropship products, you would use suppliers located in places like China who send the products directly to your customers. So based on that example, they would be sent directly from China to Egypt. Generally it would be the customer in Egypt who is liable for any import/customs charges on the products due at the time of import or delivery, however if you are unsure of your legal tax obligations as a seller then I would recommend speaking to a local tax professional for advice.

Some suppliers may be able to offer shipping rates that are inclusive of taxes & duties however this may not be available from all suppliers and on all products. 

It would be a good idea to include a shipping policy page on your store that outlines what your customers should expect, and what charges they are liable for. This will help to avoid any surprise charges for your customers and can help prevent things like returns/chargebacks.

To learn more about dropshipping and Shopify in general, I'd recommend checking out the following resources:

• The Ultimate Guide To Dropshipping (2022)
• The Official Shopify Tutorial: Set Up Your Store the Right Way
• Shopify Help Center - Taxes

[lexie966]

Hi rick,

I am wondering who do I know the shipping cost before I get the customer. Because I find out that a lot of suppliers even don't have the option to shipping to egypt.

[Rick]

Hi @lexie966 

Thanks for reaching out here for assistance - welcome to the Shopify Community.

I understand that you are wondering about the shipping cost of dropshipping products from your suppliers to your customers in Egypt. I'd be happy to provide some advice and explain some next steps you can take.

Determining the dropshipping shipping cost and availability of products to specific countries like Egypt will depend on the suppliers that you work with. While we can certainly recommend some popular dropshipping apps to use on your store, we do not provide any dropshipping services ourselves, so I cannot say for sure how much you should expect shipping costs to be. Shipping costs and availability can vary greatly depending on the supplier, product, and shipping method chosen.

There are some things that you can certainly consider when researching products to sell such as looking for suppliers who have products that align with your business. Check their website information on places like AliExpress, or consider contacting them directly to see if they ship to Egypt. Some suppliers may have a list of supported countries or provide shipping information on their website/product descriptions.

Once you have selected some products to add to your store, consider placing a test order with the supplier to Egypt. This will allow you to experience the shipping process firsthand and get a more accurate understanding of the shipping cost and delivery times you can expect. This information would be useful to include in places like your shipping policy.

[Salma543]

Hi Rick 

I want to start a shopify selling in the UK but I am located in Egypt. I was wondering whether this is possible? Also I am slightly confused regarding whether starting a shopify would mean I would have to contact a local accountant for tax purposes or is this only when you start an independent e-commerce business.  Is it possible to getting taxed in Egypt but operate in the UK market using a Egyptian or International Bank? 

[Rick]

Hey @Salma543 

Welcome to the Shopify Community! Thanks for reaching out here for assistance.

I understand that you have some questions about starting a Shopify store in Egypt, but selling to the UK. I would be happy to provide some advice and assistance here!

Yes, it is certainly possible to start a Shopify store and sell in the UK, while being located in Egypt. Shopify is a global platform that allows businesses from various countries to operate and sell internationally.

When it comes to tax obligations, we are not in a position to provide tax advice, so you may want to consider consulting with a local accountant or tax professional who is familiar with the tax laws and regulations in both Egypt and the UK. They can provide you with accurate guidance based on your specific circumstances and your business setup. We have some great tax information here on our help center, so feel free to browse through that.

Regarding banking, Shopify integrates with various payment gateways that support international transactions, allowing you to receive payments from customers in the UK and other countries. However, it's important to ensure that your chosen payment gateway is compatible with your bank and supports the currencies and payment methods required for your business. To see a full list of all payment gateways available in Egypt, check out this resource here and enter Egypt as your location (the payment gateways available to you will depend on your store location, not the locations you sell to). We also have a fantastic tutorial video here that explains how to set up your store - I would highly recommend using it as a guide!