How does DHL charge customs duties in your country?

[ansonbao]

I heard some engineers complain DHL service.Sometimes charge customs duties,but sometimes not.According to my understanding.In spain,if the value above 22€,the clients need to pay 25€. In Netherland, $28 pcb charge €60 customs duties.

Consider the ship time and cost,DHL is the most suitable way.

How does DHL charge customs duties in your country?I did't find the details on internet.

And if you have any ways to avoid this,please share here to help others.

[hans]

In NL it's also a 22 euro 'limit'.

Above 22 euro worth of goods, customer must pay fixed 10 euro fee to DHL for importing, and 21% VAT over goods and shipping cost. I think other suppliers like UPS charge even higher fixed fees. VAT is for our government.
Above 150 euro also 4.2% import fees needs to be paid.

Note that when I order 21 euro of goods with 20 euros of shipping cost, I do not have to pay any import fees. Of course it will be obvious when the shipping form says 5$ worth of products and 125$ shipping cost,  so that won't work.

I once had DHL mess this up however (I think also for a PCBway order), where they added both products and shipping cost (can't read chinese?) and wanted to charge me ~20 euro extra for a 20 euro PCB + 25 euro shipping order. No way. Luckily called them and it got fixed.

I think the national postal service only sample orders once a while. Like a lottery. I like to have both shipping options, depending how quick I need the items. For PCBs it's nice to have them quickly, but sometimes it's not required and a slow shipment is fine.

Maybe packets get lost more often though. But for buyers we're protected via Paypal and can claim we've never received goods. For a seller that's of course not ideal. I'm not sure how much extra it costs to get a tracking number for the slower postal services, but having those numbers is always nice..

Edit: If you can read Dutch, this is a useful website: http://invoercalculator.nl/

Some translations for the calculator:
"Bestelbedrag" = goods worth
"Verzendkosten" = shipping cost
"Inklaringskosten" = the fixed fee per supplier I talked about
"Koers 1 euro" is the current exchange rate
Don't need to touch percentages or country, it only changes currency.
"BTW bedrag" is the VAT
"Totaal bijkomende kosten" says how much extra is charged.
"Totaalbedrag" is the total sum for the order.

Not sure how DHL can charge 60 euro's extra, seems a bit excessive. Then again, that calculator has a remark the the DHL fees are not exactly known.

[jm_araujo]

In Portugal DHL will charge you a minimum of 35€ if the order is up to 200€ (shipping costs included). If over 200€ they will charge you more. In top of that you have to pay customs 23% IVA (portuguese VAT) on the order value if it's above 22€ (shipping included). Other customs duties may apply depending on the article.

If the shipping cost is not in the invoice, they will assume it's the same as if returning the parcel to the origin (very asymmetric!) and will add it to the total order value, greatly increasing the taxes you have to pay to customs and the DHL fees. Last time I've dealt with DHL had to pay more in taxes and fees than had payed for the order originally.

[Yansi]

It is $25 fixed fee that those bastards want you to pay, plus VAT (21%). If the package is over 150€, than plus custom duties (up to 20%).

I have no problems paying VAT, possibly customs import duties if needed, however I have a fucking problem paying $25/€21 fixed fee.

Imagine, you send a $30 item with DHL. I have to pay $6.3 VAT plus $25.  That makes $31.3 import fee. That is 104% of its original price. Yes, the import fee is 104%. Fuck it!!!

I made that mistake with DHL once. Never again!

[BravoV]

Let me put it in simpler words, here, UPS and DHL are no different than thugs that takes ransom for packet that shipped to you, period.

Hint : ... to receive you packet, pay in advance the "fee" or else ....

[ZeTeX]

Depends on the day.
Seriously.

[TheAmmoniacal]

The tax-free limit on import is 350 NOK here ($43), this include item value, shipping cost and insurance. DHL should not charge anything for packages delivered under this limit.

For packages delivered which exceeds this limit they charge 25% VAT, typically customs handling fee and deposit charyge; sometimes customs database insert fee (per item).

One or any of the above can be paid beforehand by the shipper, so you don't have to pay anything. Keysight has delivered with DHL and I've never been asked to pay anything.

Personally I've had to boycott DHL (the courier), because they have never done any of this correctly, one time they even went as far as to blackmail me (by sending me past due fees and a letter to elevate my bill to a debt collector even though the bill was completely made up, only after I gave in to the pressure and paid it did they admit it was wrong - but I never got my money back. I only gave in because challenging a debt collector is a legal affair). Maybe they are better in other countries though.

[TassiloH]

For Germany:

DHL Express (that is the international, express shipping part of DHL) does the customs processing. They will need an invoice for the package, if none is attached, they will ask the recipient for one. The invoice should show shipping charges, otherwise they will assume their non-discounted rate.
If total duty + VAT is less than 5 EUR, it is not charged by the customs office. Otherwise they will charge duty (for most items this is nothing or only a few percent) plus import VAT (19%, also on the shipping cost).
In addition, DHL will charge 10 EUR plus VAT for their processing and pre-payment of customs charges. Typically they send an invoice a few days after the parcel was delivered, but if they think your are not a company they want cash on delivery.

There is a way around the latter 10 EUR fee: The recipient can apply for a DHL account and sign a form that allows DHL to withdraw the charges from his bank account, then only customs/import VAT are charged. In this case it is best the recipient also applies for an EORI (customs identification) number with German customs. This info should be in the DHL account data and the sender of the package should note the EORI on the package. Without that, the identification of the recipient and the link to the DHL account does not always work.

Also note that there is also DHL (without express)) in Germany, which is basically the regular parcel post that delivers the (bigger) parcels that were shipped by international post. Inexperienced buyers don't know the difference.
If the parcel has a decalerd value <22EUR (and they believe the declaration), they just ship it. Otherwise it get delivered to the customs office for the recipients area. Either you can go there and pick it up after paying duty/VAT, or you can send the necessary paperwork and after a week or two they ship it (duty/VAT paid at delivery). This latter used to be free, but I think now they charge you a hefty fee for this.

[ElektroQuark]

In Spain customs charge if the total cost of the goods (price plus shipping) is above 22€. They charge VAT, 21%.

DHL charged yesterday 18,43€ for the paperwork. Say hi DHL! Same on you.

[BBBbbb]

So here general rule for personal shipments is:
VAT applicable to all packets (20%) sent from a seller (not private to private)
Customs tariff (10%) if value over 70eur

But small packages are generally exempt from any charge, some that catch the customs officer's eye are charged with VAT.
Small packets sent by a person are by law exempt from any charge. Big (in value) are charged with VAT and/or custom tariff.


But the real problem is with the DHL as they charge 50eur w/o VAT for their clearance service regardless of the value, and they tend to do that without the recipient's consent, although they are obliged to ask you who you want to do the clearance.
Other delivery companies usually charge you just for the customs check fee (<10eur).

For companies things go a bit differently.

[Alex Eisenhut]

It's a crap shoot, but in general anything that comes by surface will be charged the brokerage to the receiver. And it's quite expensive for what it is, plus UPS adds a "disbursment fee".

The way to get around this used to be simple: you get the shipper to mark "consignee will clear own" on the customs paper (pro-forma invoice) and then they leave it to you to clear the parcel.

In the bad old days this meant heading to the UPS depot, picking up the papers, walking to the Canada Customs office near the bonded warehouse, where you clear customs and pay them. Then Customs stamps your papers and you show them to the UPS guy, usually a surly type with soap issues.

The stupid thing is, once you're there, might as well pick up the package... in which case UPS wins anyways since they don't need to deliver.

[ansonbao]

In NL it's also a 22 euro 'limit'.

Above 22 euro worth of goods, customer must pay fixed 10 euro fee to DHL for importing, and 21% VAT over goods and shipping cost. I think other suppliers like UPS charge even higher fixed fees. VAT is for our government.
Above 150 euro also 4.2% import fees needs to be paid.

means Above 22 euro:10 euro+21%(goods and shipping cost).Above 150 euro:10 euro+21% VAT (goods and shipping cost)+4.2%* total value ?

Note that when I order 21 euro of goods with 20 euros of shipping cost, I do not have to pay any import fees. Of course it will be obvious when the shipping form says 5$ worth of products and 125$ shipping cost,  so that won't work.

You mean if $5+$125 shipping cost,don't need to pay anything?

Not sure how DHL can charge 60 euro's extra, seems a bit excessive. Then again, that calculator has a remark the the DHL fees are not exactly known.

Maybe he make it wrong

[ansonbao]

In Portugal DHL will charge you a minimum of 35€ if the order is up to 200€ (shipping costs included). If over 200€ they will charge you more. In top of that you have to pay customs 23% IVA (portuguese VAT) on the order value if it's above 22€ (shipping included). Other customs duties may apply depending on the article.

If above 22€ (shipping included),charge 23% VAT*total (goods+shipping cost)?

If the shipping cost is not in the invoice, they will assume it's the same as if returning the parcel to the origin (very asymmetric!) and will add it to the total order value.

I am not clearly understand the meaning.They add the shipping cost by themselves?

[JPortici]

I am not clearly understand the meaning.They add the shipping cost by themselves?

if they are not told in the invoiec how it cost to ship, they will assume it's the same they would charge to ship it back

[hans]

In NL it's also a 22 euro 'limit'.

Above 22 euro worth of goods, customer must pay fixed 10 euro fee to DHL for importing, and 21% VAT over goods and shipping cost. I think other suppliers like UPS charge even higher fixed fees. VAT is for our government.
Above 150 euro also 4.2% import fees needs to be paid.

means Above 22 euro:10 euro+21%(goods and shipping cost).Above 150 euro:10 euro+21% VAT (goods and shipping cost)+4.2%* total value ?

Correct.
And as the general opinion is here; I'm fine with paying VAT, but the 10 euro is a rip off.

Note that when I order 21 euro of goods with 20 euros of shipping cost, I do not have to pay any import fees. Of course it will be obvious when the shipping form says 5$ worth of products and 125$ shipping cost,  so that won't work.

You mean if $5+$125 shipping cost,don't need to pay anything?

Technically, yes. But it will be obvious, because DHL know their own shipping fees as well...
And if caught it's probably fraudulent, so please don't. It was just a means to illustrate the way it works.

[BBBbbb]

The limit in US is quite friendly. I think from China/HK, I used to receive DHL goods declaring $150 without tax.
For USPS, I once received a package from Japan declaring $460 without being taxed.

I had similar experiences with USPS in Serbia. Packages were smaller, but with goods exceeding several hundred euros (electronics), just delivered to my door without any customs charge, although value was clearly declared on the packaging and accompanied by an invoice.

[Towger]

if they are not told in the invoiec how it cost to ship, they will assume it's the same they would charge to ship it back

This is a killer and can easily most far more than the origional item, including shipping.

[ansonbao]

Depends on the day.
Seriously.

According to their description,sometimes is really depends on the day

[floobydust]

DHL from Singapore-> Canada,  no customs or duty charged. But USD $20 item ---> USD $20 in DHL fees alone (not including any taxes) 

Currency Conversion to $CAD 2%
GST Tax on item $1.33
DHL Processing Fee  $10.50
DHL Transaction Fee $4.25
GST Tax on fees $2.07
--------------------
DHL Invoice     $16.82

[jm_araujo]

In Portugal DHL will charge you a minimum of 35€ if the order is up to 200€ (shipping costs included). If over 200€ they will charge you more. In top of that you have to pay customs 23% IVA (portuguese VAT) on the order value if it's above 22€ (shipping included). Other customs duties may apply depending on the article.

If above 22€ (shipping included),charge 23% VAT*total (goods+shipping cost)?

If above 22€ (shipping included), charge 23%VAT*total +35€ processing fees (more if total above 200€)

If the shipping cost is not in the invoice, they will assume it's the same as if returning the parcel to the origin (very asymmetric!) and will add it to the total order value.

I am not clearly understand the meaning.They add the shipping cost by themselves?

If it's not in the invoice, they add to the total the shipping cost from Portugal to the country of origin and present that to customs.

Last time I've used DHL in an online order from China of 210€ (including shipping), I had to pay DHL Portugal 230€ extra to get the parcel. The 230€ were calculated as follows:  23% VAT+ 1.5% custom duties on total value + 98€ processing fees.  Total value considered= 210€ from invoice + 330€ shipping (from Portugal to China as it was not discriminated in the invoice). I know it makes no sense, but that's how they work, it's a complete ripoff!

[G7PSK]

It is quite simple I just wont order from companys that only ship via DHL or UPS. On one occasion I got charged £11-00 plus VAT at 20% on an item shipped from the states that cost less than £5-00 UPS added their shipping costs to the item cost got that up beyond the minimum tax point by a penny by doing so. They then demanded cash as the card reader on the van would not work had no change and the driver said that he or someone would be back the next day with my change and 7 years on I still have not had my change despite several letters to them all of which are unanswered. So I will never have anything to do with the robbing B,stards. Post or TNT nothing else. 

[senso]

In Portugal DHL will charge you a minimum of 35€ if the order is up to 200€ (shipping costs included). If over 200€ they will charge you more. In top of that you have to pay customs 23% IVA (portuguese VAT) on the order value if it's above 22€ (shipping included). Other customs duties may apply depending on the article.

If above 22€ (shipping included),charge 23% VAT*total (goods+shipping cost)?

If above 22€ (shipping included), charge 23%VAT*total +35€ processing fees (more if total above 200€)

If the shipping cost is not in the invoice, they will assume it's the same as if returning the parcel to the origin (very asymmetric!) and will add it to the total order value.

I am not clearly understand the meaning.They add the shipping cost by themselves?

If it's not in the invoice, they add to the total the shipping cost from Portugal to the country of origin and present that to customs.

Last time I've used DHL in an online order from China of 210€ (including shipping), I had to pay DHL Portugal 230€ extra to get the parcel. The 230€ were calculated as follows:  23% VAT+ 1.5% custom duties on total value + 98€ processing fees.  Total value considered= 210€ from invoice + 330€ shipping (from Portugal to China as it was not discriminated in the invoice). I know it makes no sense, but that's how they work, it's a complete ripoff!

Just wait before Rangel(aka Fedex) quicks in....
Their "paperwork handling fee" is just a smidge under 90€, for the great convenience of waiting up to 2 months for customs to be done and then they have the stupidity to call it expedited service. 

[L1L1]

In Greece, you need to pay 23% VAT on the total cost of the PCB plus the shipping cost. On top of that, you need to pay brokerage fees of minimum 60 euros, DHL storage and handling fees (8 euro per day, weekends included).

You can clear the customs yourself in theory if the purchase is for personal use/hobby. The process takes about 2:30 hours, during which you will be queuing a dozen distinct times. I did it twice but I'm not sure it's worth it.

Unfortunately, you are at the mercy of the bureaucrats that work at the customs service who can decide arbitrarily that your stuff is not a "hobby" but "professional". You must then go through a broker again, and pay up. I once ordered parts from Arrow and I was told by the customs officer that my order could not be for "hobby" use given the quantities I had ordered. The lady showed me a line on my invoice that listed "200 SMD 0805 resistors -- 10K ohm". With a big smile on her face, she then said: "200! this is not a hobby! You are a professional! Don't try to fool us! You will need to get a broker!". I pointed out that each resistor was 1 cent, totaling 2 euros... to no avail... 

[Alex Eisenhut]

I used to work for UPS, customer service. Being the kinda guy I am, I spent a lot of time exploring the system instead of doing my job. I once got Paramus on my case because of my incredible skill of pressing ESC twice at the AS/400 menus and being put into a console, from where I could randomly reset other operator's terminals during a call, and send "tweets" to the whole floor. Fun times.

Anyways, the way it worked back then is that international packages arrive en masse at the bonded warehouse. This warehouse is on Canadian soil, but legally something like international waters, so all packages are physically in Canada, but not yet legally.

Yes, there were armed officers. They aren't joking. I checked. 

So anyways, back then the customs paperwork was attached on the box. Someone collected all the invoices on the box, entered the information in the computer. Then the customs brokers calculate the customs fees according to a gigantic set of tariff codes, which specify the taxes, duties, excise, you name it.

The broker then sends the papers with this information to Canada Customs, who then stamps the forms, which are then sent back to UPS to "release" the shipment on its merry way.

In the meantime, if you don't have an account with UPS with money in it, UPS paid the fees to Canada Customs, and will recover that cost with a vengeance at delivery.

There was a class-action suit against UPS about that. It never went anywhere. They're still doing the same today.

Even back then, you could transmit the customs information ahead of time, but only if you had an account and used the 1st or 2nd day air services.

Couriers all work more or less the same, no one really opens the boxes to check, it's all off the invoice and the general mood in the office that day.

No one really cared about the parcels for "little people". UPS was more about customers that needed a fleet of 18 wheelers at their warehouse every day.

I use the postal service as much as possible, there should be a service in exchange for that 50% that's missing on every paycheck!

[lem_ix]

The biggest problem with DHL here besides the cost is that they sometimes may refuse to import a large quantity of items (such as 10 pcbs) on the grounds that it's not for personal use. This is stated by the law but is not really enforced when the package travels though normal post.