Import duty on makeup brushes depends on how the goods are classified, where they originate, and the tariff measures in force on the date of import — and those rates change. There is no single permanent percentage that you can safely copy from a blog or a supplier chat. Classify the product with official tools or a licensed customs broker, then check current United States and European Union official sources. This page is not legal, tax, or customs advice and does not quote a duty rate.
Tariff classifications and duty rates, including any additional duties or trade measures, change. Always verify the current rate and rules with official sources — for example, the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and CBP information, and the EU TARIC / national customs authorities — or with a licensed customs broker. Do not use this page to complete an entry or a cost sheet.
Duty is not a guess and not a factory’s marketing line
A factory may offer a past rate, a customer’s old experience, or a bundled “DDP price” that quietly assumes a classification. That is not an official ruling. Two brushes can also classify differently if they are sold as a set with other items, or if the materials and description differ.
Your job is to describe the goods accurately (for example, brushes for the application of cosmetics, with the materials that are actually present) and to let the official tariff and, where needed, a professional broker determine the heading and the rate that apply to that shipment, from that origin, on that date.
If you sell into both the United States and the European Union, you must check both systems. They are not copies of each other.
Classification comes before the rate
Goods are classified in the Harmonized System and then in each customs territory’s tariff. Makeup and cosmetic brushes are generally discussed in the broader family of brooms, brushes, and similar articles, but the exact heading, subheading, and national breakouts must be confirmed in the official schedule. Do not assume a heading you heard in a forum is correct for your SKU.
Sets can be more complicated than a single open-stock brush. A kit that includes other tools or products may not be treated the same way as brushes alone. How the invoice is written should follow the goods, not a wish to simplify the rate.
If classification is unclear, a broker can help, and some customs authorities have formal ruling processes. A confident wrong heading is worse than a short delay to check.
Origin and extra measures can matter as much as the base rate
The ordinary duty rate, if any, is only part of the bill. Additional duties, trade-remedy measures, or other programs can apply depending on country of origin and the rules in force. Measures that affect China-origin goods, when they exist, have changed over time and can change again. You must look at the current official position for your origin and heading, not at a rate someone paid two years ago.
Preferential rates, if they exist for a given origin and if you can prove origin under the relevant rules, also have to be checked, not assumed. A makeup brush made in China will not become eligible for a preference simply because it is shipped via another port.
VAT, sales tax, merchandise processing or similar fees, and broker charges may apply on top of customs duty. Landed-cost planning should leave room for those, with figures taken from official or professional sources.
What to put in your process
- Keep a precise product description and material list with the purchase order.
- Ask the factory for accurate commercial invoices, not a vague description.
- Look up, or have a broker look up, the current official classification and rate before you lock a retail margin.
- Recheck when the law or the product changes, and when you enter a new market.
- Do not instruct anyone to under-declare value or to misdescribe brushes to obtain a lower rate.
If a DDP quote already “includes duty,” ask which heading and rate the seller assumed, and whether they will update the quote if official rates change before shipment. You still need to understand the basis.
EU and US are separate checks
For the United States, official starting points include the Harmonized Tariff Schedule and CBP guidance. For the European Union, TARIC and the customs authority of the member state of import are the official starting points. National procedures and VAT treatment can differ even inside the EU.
This guide will not quote those databases. They are the current source; a static article is not.
FAQ
Can you tell me the duty rate in percent?
No. A rate in this article would be at risk of being wrong the day after it was written, or wrong for your heading and origin. Use official tariff tools or a licensed broker.
Is a brush set taxed the same as a single brush?
Not always. Sets and mixed kits can be classified differently. Describe the goods accurately and get a classification for what you are actually importing.
If my factory ships DDP, do I still need to think about duty?
Yes, because the cost and the legal description still exist. Understand what was assumed and who is the importer of record under your contract.
Where do I check the current US or EU tariff?
Use the official U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and CBP resources for the United States, and TARIC plus the relevant member-state customs authority for the EU, or ask a licensed customs broker to do the look-up with you.