Understanding Customs

What Is Customs?

Customs is a term commonly used in international shipping pointing to the duties, fees or taxes charged on items being shipped from one country to another. Costs can vary depending on the items and countries being shipping from and into.

Each country has its own customs rules and guidelines, but no matter where you’re shipping, our online tools will accurately let you know what to expect.

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Who Pays Customs Duties, Fees or Taxes?

Either the seller or the buyer of a shipment must pay customs duties, fees or taxes. Generally, the party responsible for payment is prearranged in the shipper and receiver’s terms of sale. (Check your terms of sale to learn whether you’re responsible.) Terms will typically require the buyer to pay. This is called Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU).

If a shipment is DDU, the buyer pays any applicable customs duties, fees or taxes when the shipment arrives at the border - before the shipment can be delivered. However, if the shipment is designated Delivery Duty Paid (DDP), the seller pays. Typically, merchants will ship DDP and pass the cost along to the consumer up front.

Depending on the quantity or value of what you’re shipping, and where the shipment is going, there may be no costs at all. Use our landed costs estimator to calculate what your expected costs are likely to be.

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What Customs Forms Do I Need to Fill Out?

Actually, we’ll help you complete the required forms as you go. Our web shipping tool will automatically generate customs forms for you to help you glide through the shipping process.

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Want to know more about which forms are required? We took the time to break each of them down so you know the sole purpose behind each one and why you will or won’t need it.

Learn More

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