Customs & duties
Cross-border paperwork, duties and taxes, explained.
For international shipments, the destination country may charge import duties and taxes (such as VAT). Who pays depends on the terms: by default the receiver pays on arrival, or you can choose Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) so the sender covers them and your customer pays nothing at the door.
With DDP, duties and taxes are calculated and paid up front by the sender, so the shipment is delivered with nothing to pay on arrival — a smoother experience for your customers. Ask us to set this up for your shipments.
Most international shipments need a commercial (or proforma) invoice describing the goods, their value and origin. Some destinations or goods need extra documents, such as certificates of origin or licences. We prepare and check the declarations for you as part of our customs service.
Yes — as soon as we are to file a customs export declaration on your behalf, you need an EORI number. The EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number identifies you to customs and is mandatory for businesses moving goods out of, or into, the EU.
If your company is established in Germany, you apply free of charge to German customs through the Generalzolldirektion online portal. It usually takes a few working days, so apply before your first shipment is due to leave rather than on the day.
Already have one? Just add it to your booking. For genuinely private one-off shipments you normally will not need one.
Shipments can pause in customs while duties are assessed, documents are checked or an inspection is carried out. This is normal and usually short. If yours seems held up, contact us with your tracking number and our local team will chase it.
Duties and taxes are based on the goods' commodity (HS) code, their declared value and the destination country's rules. Correct classification avoids delays and overpayment — which is exactly what our customs team handles for you.