What should you know when buying goods in the USA and shipping them to Taiwan?
HowBridge does not currently offer or operate any United States-to-Taiwan freight forwarding, purchasing-agent, or payment-agent service. The service does not currently exist, and there is no usable U.S. or Oregon warehouse address, no official rates, and no guaranteed transit times. Any warehouse names, shipping fees, or transit times mentioned elsewhere on this page are general market information only and do not represent services offered by this website. They must not be used to fill in a shipping address or place an order. If this route becomes available in the future, only the official website announcement and the terms then in effect will apply.
Last updated: 2026-08-31 · This page is a pre-order reference guide; the US route is not yet launched.
What to check before shipping US purchases to Taiwan
Check at least four things: whether the item can ship, the seller's terms, your total landed cost, and Taiwan's import rules — each one should be confirmed on the final page of that specific transaction, not assumed from a single platform or brand.
- Destination and delivery eligibility: Set the shipping country to Taiwan and confirm on that item's final checkout page whether the address is accepted; different sellers on the same platform can give different answers.
- Seller and transaction terms: Check the Sold by / Ships from listing, payment eligibility, cancellation, returns, and after-sales terms; third-party sellers and the platform's own store often follow different rules.
- Total landed cost: Compare the item price, domestic/international shipping, US sales tax, possible Taiwan import taxes and fees, and return costs item by item — decide based on the total cost, not the listed price.
- Taiwan import requirements: Look up customs and regulatory requirements based on the item's name, ingredients, purpose, quantity, and CCC Code; supplements, cosmetics, and battery-containing electronics each have their own thresholds.
Spending an extra ten minutes on these checks is not wasted time: according to official statistics released by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in March 2025, US consumers reported fraud losses totaling over US$12.5 billion in 2024 — up 25% from the prior year — with online shopping issues ranking as the second most commonly reported category. A reminder: HowBridge's US route is not yet launched, and there is currently no US receiving address available; if the service is officially launched in the future, you will still need to submit the product link, model, quantity, weight, package dimensions, and any special attributes first, and confirm whether the item can be accepted, the pricing method, and the estimated timeline based on that specific written reply.
Key checks for 6 major US retailers
The following 6 platforms are the US shopping sources Taiwanese buyers ask about most. The common principle: set the shipping country to Taiwan first, then check the final checkout page for each item — platform rules, seller terms, and product eligibility can change at any time, and this page does not replace any platform's official terms.
1. Amazon US (amazon.com)
Items sold by Amazon itself and by third-party sellers on the same platform can have different shipping, payment, return, and after-sales terms. Set the destination to Taiwan first, then check the Sold by / Ships from listing, delivery eligibility, total price, and return conditions on the product page and final checkout page for each item; Prime membership eligibility, benefits, and promotional pricing follow Amazon's official terms in effect at the time.
2. Costco.com (Costco's US website)
Whether membership is required, whether guest checkout is allowed, accepted payment methods, delivery addresses, and product eligibility should all follow Costco.com's official terms, product page, and final checkout result at the time. Don't assume Taiwan membership status or card compatibility carries over; HowBridge currently has no US address available to enter on an order.
3. Sephora (Beauty)
There's no single answer to "does Sephora ship to Taiwan?" — brand, item, price, promotions, eligible countries, and return conditions can all change over time and by delivery address. Check the product page, brand restrictions, official terms, and checkout page for each item before ordering; for cosmetics, also verify current import requirements from Taiwan's TFDA and customs based on the ingredients, purpose, and quantity.
4. Nordstrom / Nordstrom Rack
Products may come from different sellers or channels, and stock, pricing, shipping, and return policies can vary accordingly. Go by the product page, seller information, official terms, and checkout page at the time of purchase, and factor shipping, taxes, and return costs into your comparison.
5. Lululemon / Athleta / Nike US
Each brand may have region, account, promotion, payment, shipping, and return restrictions. Don't assume this transaction will match other regional sites or past promotions; check the US official site's product page, official promotion terms, and final checkout result for each item.
6. iHerb
Set the shipping country to Taiwan first, then confirm whether each item can be delivered, along with shipping cost, tax notices, and the checkout total. Free-shipping thresholds, member discounts, and product eligibility can be adjusted, so don't assume a fixed threshold or that every item can be imported into Taiwan; supplements are also subject to Taiwan's personal-use quantity limits (see the product section below).
4-Step Check Process for Shipping US to Taiwan
HowBridge's US route is not yet launched; the following is a pre-order decision process and does not indicate that receiving or shipping service is currently available.
- First, confirm service status and the official addressThere is currently no HowBridge US receiving address available. If the service launches in the future, only use an address officially shown on the website or member center that matches your consignment information; don't use an address from search results, outdated information, or a guessed Oregon / US West Coast address.
- Confirm transaction terms on the retailer's checkout pageFirst test whether the item can ship directly to Taiwan, and record the seller, model number, price, shipping cost, sales tax, payment eligibility, and return terms for each item. Page information and cart contents can change, so keep a record of your order and checkout details at the time of purchase.
- Get a written quote for each itemIf the service is officially launched in the future, provide the product link, name, model, quantity, actual weight, full package dimensions, and attributes such as batteries, liquids, powders, magnets, or fragility when requesting a quote. Use that specific reply to confirm whether the item will be accepted, the billable weight, fee items, carrier method, and estimated timeline — don't apply rates from other orders.
- Check import and customs clearance requirements before orderingLook up the customs tariff schedule and requirements from authorities such as the BSMI, NCC, and TFDA based on the product's CCC Code, ingredients, purpose, quantity, and the importer's status; if express clearance requires a real-name authorization, complete the correct declaration and authorization in EZWay as instructed. See the complete EZWay authorization guide.
US Sales Tax and Taiwan Import Tax
Shipping US purchases to Taiwan involves two rounds of tax: US state sales tax (determined per transaction) plus Taiwan import taxes and fees (the entire dutiable value is taxed once it exceeds NT$2,000). Both need to be factored into your total cost before ordering.
Sales tax is a state tax — go by the checkout page
There is no nationwide federal sales tax in the US; sales tax is levied separately by each state and local government, and the rate depends on the state, locality, product category, seller, and transaction context. Go by the checkout page and the official rules in effect at the time of the transaction — the delivery address alone does not guarantee tax exemption, a refund, or a fixed savings percentage.
NT$2,000 is a threshold, not an allowance
Under an announcement by the Ministry of Finance authorized by Article 49 of the Customs Act, a single import shipment with a dutiable value of NT$2,000 or less is exempt from customs duty and the business tax and commodity tax collected by customs on its behalf (excluding tobacco, alcohol, and tariff-rate-quota agricultural products); once it exceeds that amount, tax is calculated on the entire dutiable value, not just the portion above the threshold. If the same taxpayer receives more than 6 duty-free releases within a half-year period (January–June or July–December, recalculated each January 1 and July 1), this counts as frequent importing, and the 7th release onward is no longer duty-free. Check the tax rate first via the CCC Code, then estimate your total cost with the import tax calculator.
Checkout total ≠ total landed cost
Check the item price, seller, delivery address, domestic/international shipping, sales tax, membership or promotion eligibility, payment restrictions, and return costs for each item; add possible Taiwan-side customs duty, commodity tax, business tax, and clearance-related fees to get your actual landed cost. Free-shipping thresholds and membership benefits change over time, so don't rely on results from old articles or other accounts.
Effective August 29, 2025, the US, by executive order, eliminated the USD $800 de minimis exemption for goods from all countries entering the US — that rule applies to the inbound-to-the-US direction; buying something in the US and shipping it back to Taiwan is governed by Taiwan customs rules (the NT$2,000 threshold, CCC Code, and regulatory import requirements). The two systems run in opposite directions and are unrelated — don't conflate them.
Import Essentials for 7 Common Product Categories
Import thresholds in Taiwan vary widely by product: some depend on quantity, some on ingredients, and some on voltage and batteries. The following 7 categories are the most common items in US shopping — each one must be checked item by item; you can't generalize by category.
1. Dietary Supplements (Vitamins, Fish Oil, Probiotics)
The US supplement market is huge (according to a 2024 survey commissioned by the industry group CRN and conducted by Ipsos, about 75% of US adults use dietary supplements), but there are clear limits for shipping to Taiwan: per an announcement by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, personal-use tablet or capsule-form food products imported by mail or courier are exempt from import inspection application if each type does not exceed 12 bottles (boxes, cans, packs, or bags) and the total does not exceed 36 bottles (in original packaging only); above that, you must apply to the TFDA for import inspection, and the items are for personal use only, not for sale — don't split orders to avoid declaration either. If the ingredient is classified as a drug in Taiwan (see the warning below), the food-category limits don't apply — mailing ordinary drugs requires prior approval from the TFDA for a personal-use drug import project, and controlled drugs may never be mailed. See the supplement and vitamin import guide and TFDA import inspection rules.
2. Apple Devices and Electronics Accessories
Verify the exact model, keyboard/band/charging specs, battery shipping restrictions, and whether the item is regulated by the BSMI or NCC. Devices with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or mobile communication functions are classified as regulated radio-frequency equipment: under Article 9 of the current Regulations Governing the Manufacture, Import, and Filing of Regulated Radio-Frequency Equipment, personal-use imports by mail or other non-hand-carried means are exempt from an import approval certificate up to 2 units per shipment and 10 units total per person per year (importer must be 18 or older); beyond that, the import approval process applies. For warranty, check that model's manufacturer warranty terms before purchase — don't assume global warranty coverage. See the NCC radio-frequency equipment import guide.
3. Athletic Apparel and Footwear
When comparing prices, use the same SKU, size, currency, and purchase time, and factor in shipping, sales tax, possible import taxes and fees, and exchange/return costs. Price and promotion eligibility follow the brand's official product page, promotion terms, and final checkout page. See the clothing import tax guide.
4. Cosmetics (Sephora, Ulta)
Personal-use import rules for cosmetics were updated effective July 1, 2024: per an announcement by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the previous limit of "12 bottles per type, 36 bottles total for specific-use cosmetics" has been abolished — personal-use cosmetic imports are now generally not subject to a quantity limit, but may not be supplied, sold, publicly displayed, or offered as samples (violations can incur a fine of NT$10,000–1,000,000 under the Cosmetic Hygiene and Safety Management Act); products in glass ampoule containers still require prior application to the TFDA. Before ordering, also confirm whether the carrier accepts liquids, sprays, or alcohol-containing products. See the cosmetics shipping guide.
5. Baby and Infant Products
Formula, baby food, and general baby items are subject to different regulatory requirements — you can't generalize them all as "mother and baby products." Check the ingredients, age range, purpose, quantity, TFDA rules, and carrier restrictions before deciding whether to order. See the toys and baby products import guide.
6. Outdoor and Camping Gear
Confirm the package dimensions, materials, and whether the item contains batteries, fuel, compressed gas, liquids, blades, or magnetic parts; these attributes can affect seller delivery, carrier eligibility, and Taiwan import requirements, so ask about each item individually. Lithium battery restrictions are very real: per the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), lithium batteries under 100Wh may only be mailed in limited quantities if properly installed in equipment or packaged alongside it, large lithium batteries such as those in e-bikes or scooters are entirely prohibited from mailing, and international mailing restrictions are stricter than domestic US ones. See the lithium battery shipping guide.
7. Kitchen Appliances (KitchenAid, Vitamix, Instant Pot)
Compare the checkout total, warranty terms, and import requirements for that model first. US appliances are often labeled 120V/60Hz, while common residential/commercial outlets in Taiwan are 110V/60Hz — the two shouldn't be assumed identical; see the voltage section below and the guide to checking US appliance voltage compatibility.
The FDA's own official guidance states that by law, the FDA does not conduct premarket safety and efficacy approval for dietary supplements, and most products don't even need to notify the FDA before going on sale; a 2023 spot-check study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that 88% of 25 melatonin gummy products sold in the US had labeling that didn't match their actual contents, with actual amounts ranging from 74% to 347% of the labeled value. In Taiwan, per an announcement by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, products containing melatonin should be regulated as "drugs", and there is currently no legally approved melatonin drug license in Taiwan — such products don't qualify for the food category's 12-bottle/36-bottle personal-use limit, and importing them without approval carries legal risk. Confirm Taiwan's classification ingredient by ingredient before ordering; don't assume something is importable to Taiwan just because it's available at a US drugstore.
Can 120V US Appliances Be Used in Taiwan?
There's no one-sentence answer. US residential power is commonly rated at 120V/60Hz, while Taiwan runs at 60Hz with common residential/commercial outlets at 110V; whether an appliance can be used depends on checking the nameplate's INPUT voltage range, frequency, wattage, plug, and manufacturer instructions for that specific model.
A matching plug shape doesn't mean electrical compatibility. If a model labeled only 120V doesn't explicitly state it accepts 110V from the manufacturer, it shouldn't be claimed as directly usable; appliances with heating elements, motors, or compressors are more sensitive to voltage differences, so both rated and starting wattage need to be checked.
A standard step-up/step-down converter only changes voltage — it won't convert 50Hz to 60Hz; the US and Taiwan are both 60Hz, so frequency is compatible, but voltage still needs to be confirmed individually against the nameplate. If a building has a code-compliant dedicated 220V circuit, that must also be evaluated separately from the requirements of US 240V equipment — the two shouldn't be mixed.
Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs specifies a standard AC frequency of 60Hz, with power delivery including 110V, 110/220V, and 220V; the US Department of Energy states that the US uses 110-120V/60Hz. US OSHA requires electrical appliances to be labeled with volts and amps/watts, and frequency-specific products must be labeled with frequency; additionally, under US Department of Energy regulations, a transformer is defined as a device that changes voltage or current through electromagnetic induction, so a standard step-up/step-down transformer cannot serve as a frequency converter. Always go by the nameplate and manufacturer manual. Sources: MOEA Electric Power Supply Regulations, US Department of Energy, Electricity 101, OSHA Electrical Standard, US DOE 10 CFR 431.192.
Shipping Large Furniture and Appliances to Taiwan
For large items, you can't go by the website price alone, and you shouldn't assume ocean freight is always available or always cheaper. HowBridge's US route is not yet launched; if related services become available in the future, get a written per-item assessment before deciding whether to purchase:
- Confirm packaging detailsGet the outer carton dimensions, gross weight, number of boxes, materials, and whether stacking is allowed for each box from the seller — don't substitute the item's own dimensions.
- Get a complete quoteConfirm pickup, warehousing, repackaging, billable weight or volume, export/import, inspection, destination, and delivery line items.
- Check packaging and disassemblyConfirm the seller's original packaging, secured parts, moisture protection, and fragile-item protection; whether disassembly is feasible depends on the manufacturer's instructions and the carrier's conditions.
- Check import rules firstConfirm the CCC Code using the full model number and function, and check whether the BSMI, NCC, TFDA, or other authorities regulate the item; don't assume "personal use" automatically guarantees exemption from inspection. Personal-use exemption for items subject to mandatory inspection has a threshold: under Article 5 of the Regulations Governing Commodities Exempted from Inspection, non-sale personal-use items are generally capped at US$1,000 or less and 2 units or fewer, and must still be reviewed by the inspection authority (some items have their own separate unit limits). See the BSMI regulated products guide.
- Check voltage and frequency model by modelUS residential power is commonly rated at 120V/60Hz, while common residential/commercial outlets in Taiwan are 110V/60Hz — you can't determine compatibility by country or brand alone. Confirm that the nameplate's INPUT range covers 110V and 60Hz, and check the wattage, plug, grounding, and manufacturer instructions before deciding whether it can be used directly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shipping US to Taiwan
HowBridge's US route is not yet launched; the following answers are pre-order check recommendations and do not indicate that service is currently available.
Shipping US Purchases to Taiwan: Check First, Then Order
HowBridge's US route is in preparation and not yet launched, and there is currently no US address, rate, or timeline available. Please check the retailer's checkout page, official terms, Taiwan import requirements, and product specifications first; future service information will only be based on official announcements on the website and item-by-item quotes.
See Our Published Shipping Guides →