What types of coupons does AliExpress actually offer?

AliExpress has four real coupon types: welcome coupons for new accounts, store coupons from individual sellers, event-based platform coupons (like 11.11), and coins earned through mini-games or reviews.

Why isn't my AliExpress coupon applying to my cart?

It's usually because the coupon is seller-specific and your cart has items from multiple stores, the minimum spend hasn't been met, the coupon was tied to a sale event that already ended, or you've already used a one-per-account welcome coupon.

Will I pay customs duty or VAT on an AliExpress order?

It depends first on where the parcel is delivered. In the European Union, VAT is due from the first euro and the platform may collect it at checkout (the IOSS system) for consignments up to 150 euros; since 1 July 2026 a flat customs duty of 3 euros per item also applies, running until 1 July 2028. In Morocco those EU rules do not apply: Moroccan import VAT and import duties are due depending on the product and its origin, with no exemption threshold for online purchases. In both cases the carrier may add its own clearance handling fee, which is not a tax.

AliExpress Promo Codes: What -90% Hides

AliExpress is probably the platform that shows the most coupons directly in its own interface — which is both good news (the discounts are real and stackable) and a source of confusion (there are at least four different types of coupons, each with its own stacking rules).

The four types of AliExpress coupons

Welcome coupons (new accounts): automatically offered when you create an account, usually in tiers ("$3 off $20", "$8 off $50", and so on). They show up directly in the app's "Coupons" section.
Store coupons: offered by a specific seller and only visible on that seller's storefront, under the "Store coupons" tab. The same marketplace logic explains why most eBay codes fail and why an Etsy code almost never travels.
Event-based platform coupons: tied to the big sale events (11.11, Black Friday, AliExpress's anniversary sale), which you have to manually claim in the app before they expire — sometimes within just a few hours.
AliExpress coins: earned by playing the app's mini-games or leaving reviews, usable as a partial discount at checkout.

How to apply them without messing it up

Add your items to the cart rather than buying straight from the product page: that's the step where platform and store coupons stack best.
On the cart page, AliExpress usually shows applicable coupons automatically — check the "Available coupons" box before you check out.
If you have a code found elsewhere (the brand's social media, another reader's tip), enter it under "My Coupons" in your account before placing the order, not at the payment step itself.
Check the minimum spend required: many AliExpress coupons only activate above a certain amount, often in $10-$20 tiers.

VAT, customs duty, carrier fees: three different things

A 30% discount loses its appeal if charges land on delivery. Three separate things can apply, and they follow different rules: VAT, customs duty, and the carrier's clearance handling fee, which is not a tax.

If your parcel is delivered in the European Union. VAT is due from the first euro. For consignments up to €150 the platform may collect it at checkout through the IOSS system, in which case nothing is claimed on delivery for VAT. However, since 1 July 2026 the customs duty exemption below €150 has been removed and replaced by a flat duty of €3 per item, in force until 1 July 2028. A "VAT included" line does not cover that duty.

If your parcel is delivered in Morocco. Those EU rules do not apply. Moroccan import VAT and import duties are due under national rules, and there is no exemption threshold for online purchases. The amount depends on the product, its origin and the carrier.

The one reliable habit, wherever you are: before paying, check whether the platform offers to collect taxes at checkout. It is the only way to know the real cost in advance.

General information, checked on 7 September 2026. The rules change, and what you owe depends on the product, its value, its origin and the carrier: only the customs authorities of the delivery country are authoritative.

Why your AliExpress coupon won't apply

It's restricted to one specific seller and your cart has items from several different stores.
The minimum cart value isn't met once other discounts are deducted.
The coupon was tied to a sale event (11.11, anniversary sale) that has already ended.
You've already used a welcome coupon on this account — those are one-per-user, no exceptions.

Coins, in-app games, and major sale events

AliExpress runs a "coins" system collected through in-app mini-games, redeemable for discount vouchers. The biggest savings still cluster around events like 11.11 or 3.8, when many sellers cut prices independently of any code — the same dates Temu runs its own operations, which makes comparing prices unusually worthwhile on those days. A welcome coupon is also typically offered to brand-new accounts.

Bottom line

On AliExpress, coins earned through the mini-games and big sale events like 11.11 generally pay off more than a code found on a third-party site. Amazon arrives at the same conclusion by a completely different route, which is worth knowing before you compare the two on price alone.