Question 1

What is POTAL?

Accepted Answer

POTAL is a Total Landed Cost API and Shopify app. We help e-commerce sellers calculate and display import duties, taxes, and fees for international orders — covering 240 countries with AI-powered HS Code classification.

Question 2

How accurate are the duty calculations?

Accepted Answer

Our calculations are based on official tariff schedules, trade agreements (FTAs), and de minimis thresholds. While we provide highly accurate estimates, actual customs charges may vary based on the destination country's customs authority assessment.

Question 3

How do I install the POTAL Shopify app?

Accepted Answer

Search for "POTAL" in the Shopify App Store, click Install, and approve the required permissions (read_products, read_orders, read_shipping). The widget will automatically appear on your product pages via the theme app extension.

Question 4

How do I get my API key?

Accepted Answer

Sign up at potal.app, then go to your Dashboard. Your API keys are generated automatically. You can manage and rotate keys from the Dashboard at any time.

Question 5

What happens if I exceed my plan's API call limit?

Accepted Answer

On the Free plan, API calls stop at the 200-call limit. On paid plans (Basic, Pro, Enterprise), overage calls are automatically billed: Basic $0.015/call, Pro $0.012/call, Enterprise $0.01/call.

Question 6

Is there a free plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our Free plan includes 200 API calls per month — no credit card required. Paid plans (Basic, Pro, Enterprise) come with a 14-day free trial. A payment method is collected at signup, but you won't be charged until the trial ends.

Question 7

What data does the Shopify app access?

Accepted Answer

The app only accesses read_products (to classify items), read_orders (to track calculation usage), and read_shipping (to include shipping in landed cost). We never modify your store data.

Question 8

Which countries and currencies does POTAL support?

Accepted Answer

POTAL covers 240 countries and territories with localized tax rules, de minimis thresholds, and customs fees. We support 50 languages in the UI and display costs in local currencies using daily-updated exchange rates.

Question 9

Do you offer WooCommerce, BigCommerce, or Magento plugins?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We provide ready-to-install plugins for WooCommerce (WordPress), BigCommerce, and Magento 2. Each plugin embeds the POTAL widget on your product pages so customers see landed cost estimates before checkout.

Question 10

What is DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) and how does POTAL help?

Accepted Answer

DDP means the seller covers all import duties and taxes so the buyer pays no surprise fees at delivery. POTAL provides a DDP Quote API that calculates the exact landed cost.

Question 11

Do you offer annual billing discounts?

Accepted Answer

Yes — all paid plans offer 20% off with annual billing. Basic: $16/mo, Pro: $64/mo, Enterprise: $240/mo.

Question 12

How does HS Code classification work?

Accepted Answer

POTAL uses a 3-stage AI classification pipeline: cached product database (WDC), vector similarity search, and LLM-based classifier for fast, accurate HS Code assignment.