Your Guide to Customs Charges and Procedures

At EasyCargo, we help customers from all walks of life discover to postage rates and options that best suit their unique sending requirements. Our collaboration with a long list of couriers means we can provide you with competitive parcel delivery services at the click of a button, with UK and international postage all accessible via our quick quote tool.

When sending a parcel internationally however, there’s another thing to consider. The customs process is vital for controlling the import and export of goods into and from any country. Customs procedures ensure prohibited and illegal items are intercepted at the border as well as any tax and duty owed on selected goods collected.

Each country has their own rules and regulations regarding customs, which can make sending a parcel internationally rather complex. Our experts delve deeper into the customs procedures and charges that could affect your international parcel delivery.

Do I need to submit a customs declaration?

One of the basics of any customs procedure and paperwork that is required for all international parcels is a ‘customs declaration’.

Both individuals and businesses sending a parcel internationally need to complete and submit a customs declaration. This declaration will state the reason for the export (whether it’s a sale, gift or return), its country of origin (i.e. the sender’s destination), more details regarding the sender and the recipient, and a description of the item, including its value.

Businesses sending parcels internationally will need to supply yet more information with the UK EORI number a vital detail that needs to be submitted. If the business is sending the parcel to another business, the EORI number of the importer must be provided as part of the customs declaration.

How do I complete a declaration when sending a parcel?

The international couriers we work with have plenty of experience and expertise dealing with customs authorities. With different countries having different rules for the import and export of goods, this knowledge is invaluable to individuals and businesses shipping internationally either on a one-off or regular basis.

Most couriers will ask you questions so that the customs declaration required with your international parcel delivery can be completed on your behalf. The completed customs declaration will then be emailed to you with your shipping labels.

You must print out four copies of your customs declaration, placing one of these copies inside the parcel. The remainder should be placed in a wallet or envelope marked ‘customs’ and attached to the outside of the parcel alongside the shipping label.

Do I need any additional documentation to clear customs?

Selected countries require additional documentation for an international parcel to clear customs. Argentina, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and South Africa for example require the recipient of the international parcel to submit their tax ID or passport number as part of their customs procedures.

Researching the individual requirements of your delivery destination is therefore recommended, although most international couriers provide support with these country-specific customs procedures.

Do I need to pay customs duties and taxes?

In most circumstances, international parcels will incur customs duties and taxes. The exact charge however depends on the country of delivery, the item’s value, and the type of goods you’re sending.

These customs duties and taxes are not included in your EasyCargo delivery quote, and are generally paid by the recipient once the parcel arrives in its destination country. This method is referred to as ‘Delivery Duty Unpaid’ and is the most common way to collect customs duties and taxes.

Some international couriers choose to pay duties and taxes on behalf of the recipient and invoice the recipient directly to recover the fees. This process is called ‘cash on delivery’.

What if my parcel is held by customs?

If the recipient does not pay the duties and taxes due to customs, it will be held at customs. Contacting the recipient to pay the necessary fees should be your first port of call. Alternatively, you can contact the courier to enquire about the delay.

Unfortunately, as a parcel delivery broker, we cannot contact the relevant customs authorities on your behalf to resolve these issues.

I’m sending a parcel to the EU, what’s the customs procedure?

As part of the UK’s Brexit agreement with the European Union (EU), every parcel entering any EU member state is classed as an export shipment. This means that it must clear customs and may also be subject to additional customs duties and taxes. This legislation came into effect on 1st January 2021.

Looking to send a parcel internationally? Use our quick quote tool to discover the cheapest or fastest way to get your item from A to B in just a few clicks.