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Sales Tax, Customs Duties and Brokerage on a Walk-In Tub Order: What Decides Them and Where They Appear

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary6
  1. What Decides Sales Tax
  2. Retailer Purchases
  3. Canada and International Orders
  4. Prescriptions, Medicare and Insurance
  5. Is the Tub Tax Deductible?
  6. Common Questions

Whether sales tax appears on a walk-in tub order depends on the seller's tax obligations and the state the tub ships to, not on the tub itself. The published terms at ellasbubbles.com/terms/ state that "Sales tax will be added to the price of purchases as deemed required by us," and every seller applies its own rules the same way, so the invoice from where you purchased is the document that shows whether tax was applied to your order. Customs duties, brokerage and any other fees on an order shipped outside the United States are the customer's responsibility.

What Decides Sales Tax

Sales tax is collected according to the seller's obligations and the ship-to address. The same Ella tub can therefore be taxed on one invoice and not on another, depending on who sold it and where it is going. If you are comparing two invoices, look at the ship-to state and the seller on each one; that explains the difference far more often than anything about the tub. If you are unsure what was applied to your order, ask where you purchased, or ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 with your order number.

Retailer Purchases

When you buy through a retailer, the retailer's own tax rules apply and the retailer collects whatever tax is due. Questions about tax on a retailer order go to the retailer, since it holds the order and the payment. Our article on tubs bought through a retailer explains which questions belong with the retailer and which belong with the Ella's Bubbles team.

Canada and International Orders

  • Currency. The published terms state that all payments are in U.S. dollars, so an invoice is in US dollars even when the tub ships to Canada.
  • Duties, brokerage and taxes. The published shipping page states that Ella's Bubbles is not responsible for any customs and taxes applied to your order, and that all fees imposed during or after shipping are the responsibility of the customer, including tariffs, taxes, storage and other related costs.
  • How they appear. Depending on how the shipment is arranged, duties and brokerage may be collected by the carrier or broker before delivery, or itemized on the invoice from where you purchased. Ask before you order so there are no surprises, and check with your local customs authority if you are outside Canada.

The full picture for Canadian, Alaskan, Hawaiian and overseas orders, including the Canadian partner who handles purchases in Canada, is in ordering from Canada or internationally.

Prescriptions, Medicare and Insurance

A doctor's prescription is a medical document, not a sales-tax exemption document, so it does not by itself remove sales tax from a walk-in tub invoice. If you or your organization hold a formal tax exemption certificate, share it with where you purchased before the order is invoiced so it can be reviewed. A prescription or letter of medical necessity can still matter for other things, such as a reimbursement request to an insurer or a grant application, which is a separate topic covered in will Medicare, insurance or the VA pay for my tub. Veteran and senior discounts are also separate from tax and are explained in veteran and senior discounts.

Is the Tub Tax Deductible?

Whether a walk-in tub can be claimed as a medical expense depends on your own situation and the tax rules that apply to you, and the team cannot give tax advice. Please ask a tax professional. Keep your invoice, your prescription or doctor's letter, and your installer's paperwork together in case you need them.

Common Questions

Is there sales tax on the tub?
It depends on the seller's tax obligations and the state the tub ships to, not on the tub itself. The published terms at ellasbubbles.com/terms/ state that sales tax will be added to the price of purchases as deemed required, and every seller applies its own rules the same way. The invoice from where you purchased is the document that shows whether tax was applied to your order.
Why does one seller charge tax and another does not?
Each seller collects sales tax according to its own obligations and the ship-to address, so the same Ella tub can be taxed on one invoice and not on another. When you compare two invoices, look at the seller and the ship-to state on each one, because that explains the difference far more often than anything about the tub. If you are still unsure, ask where you purchased, or contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 with your order number.
Are prices in US dollars or Canadian?
US dollars. The published terms state that all payments are in U.S. dollars, so an invoice is written in US dollars even when the tub ships to Canada. Any duties, brokerage or taxes applied at the border are separate from the invoice amount and are the customer's responsibility.
Who pays customs and duties on a Canadian order?
The customer. The published shipping page states that Ella's Bubbles is not responsible for any customs and taxes applied to your order, and that all fees imposed during or after shipping, including tariffs, taxes, storage and other related costs, are the responsibility of the customer. Depending on how the shipment is arranged, those charges may be collected by the carrier or broker before delivery or itemized on the invoice from where you purchased, so ask before you order so there are no surprises.
Can a doctor's prescription make the purchase tax exempt?
No. A doctor's prescription is a medical document rather than a sales-tax exemption document, so it does not by itself remove sales tax from a walk-in tub invoice. If you or your organization hold a formal tax exemption certificate, share it with where you purchased before the order is invoiced so it can be reviewed. A prescription or letter of medical necessity can still matter for a reimbursement request to an insurer or a grant application, which is a separate topic.
Is a walk-in tub tax deductible as a medical expense?
Only a tax professional can tell you. Whether a walk-in tub can be claimed as a medical expense depends on your own situation and the tax rules that apply to you, and the team cannot give tax advice. Keep your invoice, your prescription or doctor's letter, and your installer's paperwork together in case you need them for that conversation.
Where do I see the tax on my order?
On the invoice from where you purchased, which is the document that records whether tax was applied and how much. If you bought through a retailer, the retailer holds the order and the payment, so the retailer is the place to ask. Otherwise, ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 with your order number if you need a copy.
Is tax refunded if I return the tub?
The published return policy describes how any taxes charged are treated in a refund, and it states that the refund is based on the original product purchase amount plus any taxes that were charged, less the restocking fee and any deductions for damaged or missing parts. The exact figure is confirmed for your specific order once the returned tub has been inspected. See returns and refunds basics for the full process.

Have a question about tax or duties on your order? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support/new or call (800) 480-6850 with your order number.

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