Costs include the legal or advisory time needed to review the duty breakdown carefully, which is more involved than a straightforward single-discipline role. Credential evaluation costs may apply if the degree is foreign or in an adjacent field needing comparison.
Budget for the duty-review step specifically
Ask the reviewer to scope time separately for assessing the duty balance, since that analysis is the crux of this particular case rather than a routine step. If the degree needs formal evaluation because it is in an adjacent field or earned abroad, add that as its own line item. Confirm current government fees directly once the route is settled.
Ask the reviewer to price the duty-balance analysis separately from the rest, since it is the crux of this case rather than a routine step, and the answer it produces determines whether anything else is worth doing. Add credential evaluation as its own line item where the degree was earned abroad or in an adjacent field, and add translation where records are not in English. The laboratory's own administrative time is a real cost too, and it is easier to obtain when asked for early.
Confirm current government charges at the official source once the route is settled rather than budgeting from a figure quoted for a different case. Keep the estimate in writing.