HS 1806

Customs Duty on Chocolates & Snacks in Nepal (2026): 2%–40% + VAT

Q: How much duty does imported chocolate attract in Nepal?

Retail chocolate carries up to 40% duty on CIF value at the top of heading 1806's range, plus 13% VAT - festive gift boxes are taxed as the luxury they are. On a NPR 5,000 chocolate add-on the absolute tax stays small, which is why it rides along in bigger parcels.

Q: Will chocolate survive shipping to Nepal?

In winter and shoulder seasons, comfortably. In summer, surface legs through India can melt anything short of couverture in insulated packing - time chocolate orders for cooler months or accept expedited air freight costs for the sake of a Toblerone.

Q: Can I import snacks and specialty foods generally?

Personal quantities of packaged shelf-stable food clear routinely with duty and VAT. Meat products, fresh items and bulk food are different regulatory territory (quarantine, DFTQC) - stick to sealed packaged snacks and the border treats them as ordinary parcels.

Q: Why do imported chocolates cost so much in Kathmandu supermarkets?

The same top-band duty plus VAT applies to commercial importers, who add cold-chain-ish logistics and retail margin on top. Your direct import pays identical tax minus those layers - the supermarket premium is distribution cost, not smuggler's markup.

Chocolate under HS heading 1806 spans 2% to 40% duty into Nepal depending on the line - bulk cocoa preparations sit low, finished retail confectionery high - plus 13% VAT. Gift boxes and specialty bars are a classic add-on item in consolidated parcels rather than a shipment of their own.

Calculate My Import Cost Start an Order

Live tariff

HS-code duty rates for chocolates & snacks

The duty column is the customs rate charged on the assessable (CIF) value; 13% VAT is then applied on the duty-inclusive amount for VAT-liable lines.

HS code	Description	Customs duty	VAT
18061000	Cocoa Powder, Sweetened	40%	13%
18062000	Chocolate And Other Food Preparations Containing Cocoa, In Blocks, Slabs Or Bars Weighing > 2 Kg	2%	0%
18063100	Chocolate And Other Preparations Containing Cocoa, In Blocks, Slabs Or Bars Of <= 2 Kg, Filled	40%	13%
18063200	Chocolate And Other Preparations Containing Cocoa, In Blocks, Slabs Or Bars Of <= 2 Kg (Excl. Fil	40%	13%
18069010	Chocolate And Other Preparations Containing Cocoa, In Containers Or Immediate Packings Of <= 2 Kg	6%	0%
18069090	Chocolate And Other Preparations Containing Cocoa, In Containers Or Immediate Packings Of <= 2 Kg	40%	13%

Rates are the tariff we apply when quoting real shipments to Nepal; excise duty, where levied for a specific product class, is charged in addition.

Worked example

What NPR 5,000 of chocolates & snacks costs to land in Nepal

Step by step, using the representative rate for this category (40% duty on HS 18061000, 13% VAT). Your exact rate depends on the precise HS code in the table above.

Chocolates & Snacks (goods value): NPR 5,000
International freight (illustrative, 10% of goods): NPR 500
Assessable value (CIF = goods + freight): NPR 5,500
Customs duty (40% of CIF, HS 18061000): NPR 2,200
VAT (13% of CIF + duty): NPR 1,001
Estimated landed cost: NPR 8,701

Nepal assesses every courier import - there is no de-minimis exemption, so even small parcels are taxed at these rates. Freight is illustrative - use the calculator for a quote with real shipping on your actual item.

Before you order

What to know about importing chocolates & snacks

Finished retail chocolate sits at the top of the heading's duty range; the table shows the spread.
Heat is the real enemy - chocolate through summer transit needs expedited routing or cool-season timing.
Personal gift quantities clear as ordinary goods; commercial food import involves DFTQC formalities.
Check dates on sale-priced confectionery - short-dated stock is common in clearance sales.

What we ship

Popular chocolates & snacks imports

Lindt and Ghirardelli

Japanese KitKat flavours

Ferrero Rocher

Toblerone

Trader Joe's snacks

Chocolates & Snacks import questions, answered

How much duty does imported chocolate attract in Nepal?+

Retail chocolate carries up to 40% duty on CIF value at the top of heading 1806's range, plus 13% VAT - festive gift boxes are taxed as the luxury they are. On a NPR 5,000 chocolate add-on the absolute tax stays small, which is why it rides along in bigger parcels.

Will chocolate survive shipping to Nepal?+

In winter and shoulder seasons, comfortably. In summer, surface legs through India can melt anything short of couverture in insulated packing - time chocolate orders for cooler months or accept expedited air freight costs for the sake of a Toblerone.

Can I import snacks and specialty foods generally?+

Personal quantities of packaged shelf-stable food clear routinely with duty and VAT. Meat products, fresh items and bulk food are different regulatory territory (quarantine, DFTQC) - stick to sealed packaged snacks and the border treats them as ordinary parcels.

Why do imported chocolates cost so much in Kathmandu supermarkets?+

The same top-band duty plus VAT applies to commercial importers, who add cold-chain-ish logistics and retail margin on top. Your direct import pays identical tax minus those layers - the supermarket premium is distribution cost, not smuggler's markup.

Related duty guides

Customs duty on coffee

HS 0901

Customs duty on tea

HS 0902

Customs duty on dry fruits & nuts

HS 0801, 0802

All Nepal duty categories Import cost calculator Ship to Nepal with iWishBag

Import chocolates & snacks without customs surprises

Send us the product link. We quote goods, freight, the exact per-HSN duty and VAT as one all-in landed price - then buy, ship and clear it for you.

Start an Order Try the Calculator