Shipping packages to Costa Rica: Amazon, Temu, fees, and the 13% import tax

Moving to Costa Rica or furnishing a new place does not mean giving up online shopping—but it does mean relearning the math. Amazon, Temu, Shein, eBay, and U.S. retailers can reach you here. What catches newcomers off guard is not whether delivery exists; it is the stack of fees on top of the sticker price—freight forwarding, per-pound handling, category-specific customs duties, and a 13% value-added tax (IVA) on goods imported from foreign sources—and how long everything takes. In practice, packages often need two to eight weeks from click to doorstep, depending on the seller, Miami consolidation, customs, and whether you are in the Greater Metropolitan Area around San José (GAM) or a rural area.

Amazon — usually via a Miami address: For most catalog items, Amazon.com does not ship directly to a Costa Rican home the way it does in the United States. The standard workaround is a freight forwarder (reenviador) that gives you a U.S. mailbox in Miami or Fort Lauderdale. Popular services include Aerocasillas, Jetbox, Mailboxes Etc., Box Correos, and similar couriers. You order to that address; they consolidate, fly or truck the box to Costa Rica, clear customs on your behalf, and deliver or hold it for pickup. Expect roughly $3–$8 per pound (rates vary by company and service level). Timeline: a few days from Amazon to Miami, then often one to three weeks in the forwarder’s warehouse queue, customs clearance, and final delivery—express can shorten that, but many residents still see two to eight weeks door-to-door on a normal order, longer if customs holds the box or you are outside the Central Valley. Prime “free two-day shipping” still applies only to the Miami leg.

Temu, Shein, AliExpress, and direct post: These marketplaces often ship straight to Costa Rica with international parcel post or couriers (Correos de Costa Rica, DHL, etc.). That feels simpler—no Miami middleman—but customs still applies when the shipment enters the country, and transit can still stretch to two to eight weeks—especially on economy shipping, multi-item orders, or when Correos is backlogged. Low declared values do not always mean zero tax; officers can reclassify or reassess. Temu’s tiny prices look even better until IVA and handling land on a multi-item box.

The 13% tax everyone mentions: Costa Rica charges 13% IVA on imported goods from foreign sources. It is calculated on the taxable import base—typically the CIF value (cost, insurance, and freight—the product cost plus insurance and international shipping), plus applicable customs duties and certain other import charges—not on the Amazon sale price alone. In plain terms: if you thought a $100 gadget would cost $100 here, budget at least $113 in IVA before forwarding and category duties. IVA applies broadly; it is the constant line item on nearly every overseas package that clears commercially.

Customs duties beyond IVA: Depending on the product category (tariff heading), you may also pay import duty—often cited in the roughly 1–15% range for many consumer goods, with higher bands for clothing, footwear, and some luxuries. Electronics, tools, and household items each have their own tariff line. Used goods can be treated differently from new. Alcohol, tobacco, medications, supplements, and some food items face extra rules or prohibitions—do not assume a U.S. label clears automatically.

How the total bill adds up (example mindset, not a quote): Item $80 + shipping to Miami $0 (Prime) + forwarder $25 for 5 lb + customs duty (if any) + 13% IVA on the import base + local delivery. A “$30 Temu order” can become a $50+ landed cost once taxes and carrier fees apply. Couriers usually collect taxes and their service fee when the package is released—have colones or a card ready and watch SMS/email from your forwarder.

De minimis and small parcels: Rules and thresholds for very low-value postal shipments have shifted over the years and are applied differently for courier vs. postal channels. Do not rely on “under $100 means free” from a blog comment—verify with your forwarder and Hacienda’s current guidance. When in doubt, declare honestly on the courier form; undervaluing invites holds, fines, or confiscation.

Practical tips for residents and buyers setting up a home: (1) Register with one forwarder before your move and use the same cédula or passport number consistently. (2) Keep invoices or screenshots of what you paid—customs may ask. (3) Split large orders if your forwarder allows it; sometimes one heavy box beats five small ones, sometimes not—ask. (4) For appliances and furniture, compare landed cost against buying locally (Gollo, EPA, PriceSmart, Facebook Marketplace)—importing a washer sounds cheap until duty + IVA + freight exceed showroom price. (5) Assume two to eight weeks for overseas orders—buy local essentials for your first month in the property and order imports early if you need them for move-in.

What works well to import: Spare parts, specialty tools, clothing brands not sold here, books, certain electronics, and hard-to-find sizes. What is painful: heavy items, liquids, batteries in bulk, returns (reverse logistics are expensive), and anything that needs a sanitary or telecom permit.

Online shopping does not replace local stores—Maxi Pali, Automercado, ferreterías, and ferias still anchor daily life, especially outside San José. But knowing the 13% IVA and forwarding fee stack helps you budget a realistic cost of living while you house-hunt or settle into a new listing.

Disclaimer: Import rules, tariff rates, and de minimis treatment change. This article is general guidance for buyers and relocators, not tax or legal advice. Confirm current obligations with your courier, a licensed customs broker (agente aduanal), or Costa Rica’s Dirección General de Aduanas / Ministerio de Hacienda before shipping high-value goods.