Tax-Free US Address: How to Stop Paying Sales Tax on US
A tax-free US address in Delaware means 0% sales tax on every purchase. See how much you save on electronics, clothing, and more — and get started free.
Most international shoppers don't realize they're overpaying. Every time you use a US shipping address in California, New York, or Texas, the store adds sales tax at checkout, 7%, 9%, sometimes more. On a $500 order, that's $35 to $50 gone before your package even ships.
There's a straightforward fix: use a US address in a state with no sales tax. When you shop from USA stores without sales tax applied, you keep that 7–10% in your pocket before you've even thought about shipping.
This is what a tax-free US address does. It's a real warehouse address in a state where the government charges 0% sales tax on purchases.
The store sees a US address. It applies the local tax rate. That rate is zero. You pay less.
Here's how it works, how much you can save, and how to get started.
What Is US Sales Tax, and Why Do You Pay It?
Sales tax in the US is set at the state level, not federally. Every state sets its own rate — some charge 4%, some charge over 10%.
Five states charge nothing at all.
When you shop on a US website and enter your shipping address, the store calculates tax based on where the package is being delivered. Ship to New York, and you pay New York's rate. Ship to a tax-free state, and the tax line reads $0.00.
Here's how the rates vary across the states international shoppers commonly use (source: Tax Foundation state sales tax data):
State | Average Sales Tax Rate |
California | 8.68% |
New York | 8.52% |
Texas | 8.19% |
Florida | 7.01% |
Illinois | 8.82% |
Delaware | 0% |
New Jersey | 0% on most purchases |
Oregon | 0% |
Montana | 0% |
Most package forwarding services place their US warehouses wherever is cheapest for them to operate. That often means Florida, California, or Texas, states where you pay full sales tax on every order.
Forwardme's US warehouses are in Delaware and New Jersey, both of which are tax-free for most purchases. That's not an accident. It's one of the reasons international shoppers choose Forwardme over other forwarding services.
Want to see how much you'd pay to ship a package after saving on sales tax? Use the shipping calculator to get a real estimate.
How Much Does a Tax-Free US Address Actually Save?
The savings compound fast, especially if you're buying electronics, clothing, or luxury goods.
The math on a typical order
Say you're buying a pair of running shoes from a US brand for $180. If your forwarding address is in California, you'd pay 8.68% sales tax, that's $15.62 added to your order automatically at checkout.
With a Delaware address, you pay $0 in sales tax. You just saved $15.62 on a $180 purchase before even thinking about shipping.
Here's how that scales:
Purchase Amount | Tax in California (8.68%) | Tax in New York (8.52%) | Tax in Delaware (0%) | Your Saving |
$100 | $8.68 | $8.52 | $0 | ~$8-9 |
$300 | $26.04 | $25.56 | $0 | ~$25-26 |
$500 | $43.40 | $42.60 | $0 | ~$42-43 |
$1,000 | $86.80 | $85.20 | $0 | ~$85-87 |
$2,000 | $173.60 | $170.40 | $0 | ~$170-174 |
On a $1,000 electronics purchase, a laptop, a camera, some headphones, a tax-free US address saves you roughly $85 before you've paid a cent in shipping. On a $2,000 order, that's $170.
A real example: ordering electronics from the US
Layla lives in the UAE. She wanted to buy a Sony camera body from B&H Photo, a US electronics retailer. The camera cost $1,349.
She originally had a forwarding address in Florida. At checkout, B&H added $94.43 in Florida sales tax.
She also noticed the camera was listed at a lower price on B&H directly — but a New York ZIP code would have triggered an additional 8.875%, another $114 on top.
When she switched her forwarding address to Forwardme's Delaware address, the tax line dropped to zero. She saved $94.43 on that single order, enough to cover most of the international shipping cost to Abu Dhabi.
That's what a tax-free US address does. It doesn't just save a few dollars. On high-value purchases, it pays for itself within the first order.
Sign up for your free Forwardme US address and get a Delaware address immediately.
Which US States Have No Sales Tax?
Five US states charge 0% statewide sales tax. A sixth, New Jersey, exempts clothing, footwear, and most everyday goods — effectively tax-free for the purchases international shoppers make most often.
- Delaware — 0% on all goods. Delaware tax-free shopping is available to anyone with a forwarding address here, not just US residents. This is Forwardme's primary US warehouse state. (Confirmed by Delaware Division of Revenue)
- Oregon — 0% on all goods.
- Montana — 0% on all goods.
- New Hampshire — 0% on all goods.
- Alaska — No statewide tax (some local municipalities charge their own).
- New Jersey — Exempts clothing, footwear, and most consumer goods. A 6.625% rate applies to items like prepared food, which international shoppers rarely buy through a forwarding service.
Of these, only Delaware and New Jersey have significant package forwarding infrastructure. That's why forwarding services based in these states offer a real tax advantage, the others are too remote or don't have the warehouse ecosystem to support it.
Oregon is a popular choice for local US residents who cross state lines to shop. But for package forwarding, there are very few services operating warehouse-based forwarding from Oregon or Montana. In practice, Delaware is the primary option.
How a Tax-Free US Address Works
The process is straightforward.
Step 1: Sign up and get your address
When you create a Forwardme account, you receive a free US mailing address in Delaware. It's a real street address, not a PO box, at Forwardme's warehouse. This takes about two minutes.
Step 2: Shop using your Delaware address
Use your Forwardme address as the shipping address on any US website. The store calculates tax based on Delaware's 0% rate. You pay no sales tax at checkout.
Step 3: Packages arrive at the warehouse
When your order ships, it goes to the Forwardme warehouse in Delaware. You get a notification when it arrives. You can request photos, request repacking, or wait for more orders to arrive if you want to consolidate.
Step 4: Choose your carrier and ship internationally
You select your international carrier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, or USPS), pay for international shipping, and Forwardme sends your package to your door.
The tax saving happens at step 2. Everything after that is standard package forwarding.
Stacking Tax Savings with Package Consolidation
The tax-free address saves you money at checkout. Consolidation saves you money when you ship. Together, they're the most effective way to reduce the total cost of shopping from the US.
Here's how consolidation works: instead of shipping five packages to your home country separately, five international shipping charges, Forwardme holds them at the warehouse and combines them into one box. You pay one international shipping charge.
The savings can be up to 70% compared to shipping each item individually.
Example: combining both savings
Consider Marcos, who lives in Brazil. He's ordering from four US stores: a supplement brand, a clothing retailer, a bookshop, and an electronics site. Total order value: $620.
Without a tax-free address or consolidation:
- Sales tax (using a Florida address): ~$43
- International shipping on 4 separate packages to Brazil: ~$160
- Total extra cost: $203
With Forwardme's Delaware address and consolidation:
- Sales tax: $0
- International shipping on 1 consolidated package: ~$65
- Total extra cost: $65
Marcos saves $138 on a $620 order, a 22% reduction in his total cost, by doing two things: using a tax-free US address and consolidating his shipments.
Use the shipping calculator to estimate what consolidation would cost for your specific packages.
What About Customs Duties When Your Package Arrives?
A tax-free US address removes US sales tax at checkout. It does not affect the customs duties or import taxes your country charges when the package arrives.
These are different things.
US sales tax = a US government charge, applied at checkout, based on the US state you ship to.
Import duties = your country's charge, applied on arrival, based on your local rules.
You save on the first. The second is separate and unavoidable.
The amount of import duty you pay depends on what you're importing, its declared value, and your country's rules. Some countries have low thresholds, anything over $50 triggers duty. Others are more generous.
Our customs and duties guide explains how import taxes work across different countries. Factor this into your total cost before you order, purchase price + shipping + expected duties is the number that tells you whether the deal makes sense.
What You Cannot Ship
A tax-free US address works for most consumer purchases: clothing, electronics, beauty products, books, sporting goods, household items, and more.
Some items cannot be shipped internationally, regardless of the address. These include loose lithium batteries, aerosol sprays, certain liquids, and items prohibited by your country's customs rules.
Check the full restrictions list and restricted items help article before ordering anything you're unsure about. This is especially important for electronics with built-in batteries and items from specialist retailers.
Does a Tax-Free Address Work for Every US Store?
Yes, with one exception: some stores have policies against shipping to freight-forwarding addresses. If a store detects that your shipping address is a warehouse, they may cancel your order.
This is uncommon, but it does happen with certain fashion brands, some electronics retailers, and a few marketplace sellers. It's not related to the tax-free status of the address, it's a forwarding policy.
If this happens, Forwardme's Personal Shopper service works around it. You provide the product link and details, and Forwardme's team purchases the item on your behalf using a standard delivery address. You get the product without the restriction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a US tax-free address mean I pay no tax at all?
No. It means you pay no US sales tax at checkout — a US shopping address no sales tax applies to is one located in a 0% state like Delaware. You may still owe import duties when the package arrives in your country. Those are set by your government, not by the US retailer or the forwarding service.
Is Delaware really tax-free?
Yes. Delaware has a 0% state sales tax rate on all goods. It's one of five US states with no statewide sales tax, and the most practical option for international shoppers using a forwarding service. This is why Forwardme operates its primary US warehouse there.
Does the tax-free address work on all products?
Yes. Delaware addresses is completely tax-free.
What if the store charges tax anyway?
Some stores have automated systems that don't update correctly, or charge a minimum handling fee that looks like tax. This is rare. If it happens, check the store's own tax policy or contact their support — it's unrelated to your forwarding address.
Can I use a tax-free address for every US store?
Most US stores, yes. A small number of retailers restrict orders to forwarding addresses. For those, Forwardme's Personal Shopper service is the workaround — Forwardme's team buys the item on your behalf and ships it to the warehouse as normal.
How is this different from the free US address guide?
Every Forwardme address is in Delaware or New Jersey, so every Forwardme address is already tax-free. This article specifically explains the tax mechanism — what it is, how it's calculated, and exactly how much you save. The free US address guide covers the full setup process if you haven't signed up yet.
How do I know which carrier to use for international shipping?
Forwardme shows rates for DHL, FedEx, UPS, and USPS side by side when you're ready to ship.
Be aware that DHL and FedEx may add a $35 Remote Delivery Area fee for some addresses. Check the surcharges guide before you choose. For other carrier questions, see the FAQ.
Is the US address actually free?
Yes. Signing up and getting your address costs nothing. You pay for international shipping when you're ready to send your package. The address itself, 30 days of storage, and package notifications are all free for international shoppers — no monthly subscription required.
What if my package is damaged or lost?
Forwardme offers optional shipping insurance for a small fee ($3 per $100 of declared value). For high-value purchases — electronics, luxury goods — this is worth adding. Without it, you're relying on the carrier's own limited liability.
How to Get Your Tax-Free US Address
Sign up at forwardme.com. Your Delaware address is available immediately, no subscription required.
From there:
- Copy your US address
- Use it as the shipping address on any US shopping site
- Watch the sales tax line drop to $0 at checkout
If you're ordering from multiple stores, wait for everything to arrive at the warehouse and consolidate before shipping. That's where the biggest savings come from, combining the tax savings with a single international shipping charge instead of many.
Our customs and import duties guide explains what to expect on arrival, and our duty calculator gives you a country-specific estimate before you ship.
The Bottom Line
US sales tax ranges from 4% to over 10% depending on the state. Most forwarding services operate warehouses in high-tax states — which means their customers pay full sales tax on every order.
A tax-free US address in Delaware changes that. Forwardme's warehouses are in Delaware and New Jersey, both effectively tax-free for the purchases international shoppers typically make.
On a $500 order, that's $35 to $50 you keep in your pocket before paying a cent in shipping. On a $1,000 order, it's closer to $85.
The address is free. The setup takes two minutes. The savings start from the first checkout.