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Understand Customs Fees Before You Ship

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Sending parcels outside the European Union comes with extra steps. You must complete customs documentation, declare the value of each item, and state the shipment’s purpose. Customs authorities will review your declaration and may apply import duties and taxes — typically payable by the recipient.

Gifts and personal belongings can sometimes be exempt, depending on the item value and the destination country’s regulations.

Use the guidance below to understand customs requirements clearly and avoid unnecessary delays or unexpected charges on international deliveries.

Customs Clearance: How It Works

We provide all the customs documents required for shipments outside the EU, and customs clearance is included with our courier services — no need for a separate freight forwarder.

Customs authorities will decide whether duties or taxes apply. If they do, these charges — plus any admin fees from the courier — must be paid before delivery can continue. Waiting for payment is one of the most common causes of delays.

What happens step-by-step:

During booking, you’ll declare the items and the reason for sending them.
We generate the necessary customs paperwork for you to print and attach.
When your parcel reaches the destination country, the courier handles clearance and customs will evaluate your declaration to calculate duty and tax.
The recipient will be contacted to pay any fees, using your declaration as reference.
If you don’t want the receiver to pay (e.g., sending gifts), you can choose to cover these costs yourself. A deposit and small service fee apply.
Once payment is confirmed, customs releases the parcel for final delivery.

About Customs

Every international shipment must comply with customs regulations — there’s no way around it. Customs authorities in the destination country enforce two key responsibilities:

  • Blocking prohibited or restricted items from entering the country

  • Assessing whether incoming goods require import duty or tax, and setting the amount to be paid

Import rules and charges vary from country to country, and it’s the sender’s responsibility to understand these before shipping. For example, some South American nations prohibit the import of second-hand clothing, even if it’s personal property.

If you’re unsure whether your items are allowed, contact customs in the destination country or reach out to our support team for guidance.

Customs Charges Explained

Customs authorities calculate import charges using the details on your customs paperwork — including the declared value, item descriptions, and the reason for export.

Most countries have a duty-free threshold for low-value goods. Items like gifts, samples, or personal effects may qualify for reduced or zero-duty rates, depending on local regulations. If you need help determining these thresholds, our support team can assist.

Some shippers are tempted to undervalue items to reduce charges. That can backfire. If customs suspects the value is inaccurate, they’ll demand proof — and your shipment will be held until they’re satisfied. A lower declaration also reduces the maximum amount you can claim if the parcel is lost or damaged.

We have no control over duties, taxes, or clearance fees. Once your parcel reaches customs in the destination country, payment is required before delivery can continue.

If the goods are dutiable — such as items sold to a customer — customs will assess the charges based on your declared value and the product type.

Every product has a commodity code (Customs Tariff / HS code) assigned to it. This code determines the duty and tax rate applied, and rates vary by country. Providing the wrong code can result in higher charges for the recipient — especially with high-value shipments — because the clearing agent will have to estimate the category from your description.

Once you identify the correct commodity code for your products, contact the customs authority in the destination country to determine the exact duty and tax you should expect.

Preparing Customs Documentation

For any shipment outside the EU (except documents), a customs declaration is mandatory. The details you provide are legally binding, so accuracy matters.

How it works:

  1. During booking, you’ll be asked to:

    • List every item in the parcel

    • Declare the value of each item

    • State the purpose of export (e.g., gift, personal effects, commercial sample)

  2. Once completed, we generate your customs invoice along with your shipping labels.

You should print five copies of the customs invoice:

  • Attach two copies securely to the parcel

  • Give three copies to the courier at collection

You’ll get clear instructions at the time of booking, but the responsibility for correct documentation is on you — mistakes can cause delays.

Prepaying Customs Duties & Taxes

If you prefer the recipient not to handle customs charges — for example when sending a gift — you can choose to prepay them before the parcel is collected.

To arrange this, contact our support team immediately after completing your booking.

Additional costs for this option:

  • A deposit of 25% of the item value
    (any unused amount is refunded once charges are confirmed)

  • A £25 administration fee

After setup, we’ll issue updated labels and customs documents. When the shipment reaches customs, we’ll pay the duties and taxes on your behalf and return any remaining balance from your deposit.