Setting a duties/tariffs account and tax type

If your store pays import duties or tariffs and you want these posted separately in Xero, our team can map them to a dedicated Xero account, tax type, or item, depending on how your accountant wants them treated.

This keeps duties separate from your regular sales, shipping, and product revenue so that your Xero reports and tax returns remain accurate.

How duties mapping works

When we enable duties mapping on your Post to Xero connection, we will:

Post the duties/tariffs portion of an order to the Xero account you choose (for example, “Customs Duties & Tariffs”).
Apply the Xero tax type you specify (for example, a zero‑rated or tax‑exempt code, or a specific import/GST code set up by your advisor).
Optionally, post the duties line as a Xero item instead of a plain account line, if you have a dedicated duties item configured.

For US books, many merchants use a zero‑rated or tax‑exempt code for duties, but the correct treatment depends on your circumstances, so please check with your accountant.

Information we need from you

Because every Xero organisation is set up differently, we cannot choose the account or tax type for you. Before contacting support, please confirm with your accountant or tax advisor which settings they want and then send us:

The Xero account name and code you want to use for duties (for example, “Customs Duties & Tariffs – 6250”).
The Xero tax type that should apply to duties (for example, “No Tax”, “Tax Exempt”, “GST on Imports”, or a custom tax rate your advisor has created).
Whether you want duties posted to a plain account line or to a Xero item (see optional item mapping below).
Which country’s rules this relates to (for example, US tariffs, AU import duties, EU customs charges).

We can set up the mapping you request, but we can’t advise which account or tax type you should use for duties.

Optional: Map duties to a Xero item

If you track duties using a specific Xero item, we can post the duties line using that item code so Xero applies the item’s default account and tax rate.

To use this option, please make sure the item is already set up correctly in Xero and then provide:

The Xero item code and name you want to use for duties (for example, “DUTIES – US Tariffs”).
Confirmation that this item’s linked expense account and tax rate in Xero are correct for duties.

If you are unsure how to configure the item, please check with your accountant or Xero advisor before asking us to map it.

How to request this from support

Once you have the correct account, tax type, and (optionally) item from your advisor, contact our support team with the information below. You can copy and paste this template and fill in your details:

Subject: Set duties/tariffs account, tax type (and item) in Xero

Hi team,

Please enable the duties/tariffs mapping on my Post to Xero connection.

Xero organisation: [your Xero org name]

Shopify store: [your myshopify.com URL]

Duties account in Xero: [Account name + code, e.g. “Customs Duties & Tariffs (6250)”]

Duties tax type in Xero: [e.g. “No Tax”, “Tax Exempt”, “GST on Imports”, custom TAX00X, etc.]

Duties item in Xero (optional): [Item code and name, if you want us to use an item instead of a plain account line]

Region these duties relate to: [e.g. US import tariffs, AU imports, EU customs]

Please confirm once this has been enabled and let me know if you need any example orders to test with.

Thanks,

[Your name]

What our team will do next

After we receive your request, our support team will:

Confirm that the specified Xero account, tax type, and (if applicable) item exist and are compatible with your current mapping.
Configure your Post to Xero connection so that duties/tariffs are posted using that account, tax type, and optional item.
Let you know once it is enabled and, if needed, ask for one or two example orders to verify the behaviour on the next sync.

Important note (non‑tax advice)

Duties and import taxes can be treated differently depending on your country, tax registration, and accounting setup. We’re happy to implement the account, tax type, and item you request, but we can’t provide tax or accounting advice, so please confirm the correct configuration with your accountant before asking us to turn this on.