Visa / Mastercard
Credit or debit card
Typical fee varies by bank
Convenient for online purchases, but the rate can include card network conversion plus issuer fees or taxes such as IOF in Brazil.
Payment Methods & Import Taxes
A practical guide to understanding exchange rates, payment fees, customs duties and the total cost of international purchases.
Payment fees
Compare the real cost of paying abroad
When you buy internationally, the final price is not only the product value. Banks, card networks, wallets and transfer providers may add spreads or explicit fees to the exchange rate.
GlobalCalc treats these numbers as estimates so you can compare options before you pay.
PayPal
Digital wallet
Typical fee higher spread
Useful and widely accepted, but currency conversion may include a larger spread than reference market rates.
Wise / Revolut
Transfer or balance
Typical fee transparent
Often clearer about fees and rates, especially for transfers, multi-currency balances and planned payments.
Import tax
Estimate total landed cost before buying
Total landed cost usually combines product price, international shipping, customs duty, VAT or sales tax, payment fees and handling fees.
Rules vary by country and product category, so estimates should always be checked against official customs sources.
Simple formula
Total = product + shipping + duty + VAT/tax + payment fee + handling
Practical tip
Use the import calculator before checkout, especially when shipping is expensive or when your country taxes shipping as part of customs value.
Quick comparison
What to check before paying
| Method | Best for | Watch out for | Cost clarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit card | Fast checkout | Issuer fees and taxes | Medium |
| PayPal | Buyer protection | Currency spread | Lower |
| Wise / Revolut | Transfers and balances | Availability by country | Higher |
| Bank transfer | Large payments | SWIFT or receiving fees | Medium |
Official sources
Verify important decisions
GlobalCalc is built for planning, not for legal or tax decisions. Exchange rates come from Frankfurter API using public ECB data. Import rules should be confirmed with the destination country's official customs authority.
Disclaimer
GlobalCalc provides estimates for informational purposes only. Tax rates, payment fees and exchange rates can change and may vary by provider, product and destination.