Duties & Taxes
Import duties, value added tax and any other charges raised by the destination country are separate from the price of the goods and from freight. This page explains who pays what, and what documents we provide.
1. Who Pays Import Charges
Unless your quotation and invoice explicitly state DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), the buyer is the importer of record and is responsible for all import duties, VAT or GST, customs handling fees and any other charges levied at destination. This applies to all Incoterms other than DDP.
2. Declared Value
We declare the actual invoice value of the goods on the commercial invoice. We do not under-declare values or describe goods inaccurately, as this exposes both parties to customs penalties and delays.
3. Documents We Provide
- Commercial Invoice (CI)
- Packing List (PL)
- HS code information for the items shipped
- Other certificates or declarations where we can obtain them for your destination, on request and confirmed per order
4. HS Codes
HS codes depend on the exact product, material and destination tariff schedule. We provide the code we use for the shipped items so your broker can classify the goods; final classification and duty rates are determined by your local customs authority.
5. DDP Shipments
Where we quote DDP, the quotation states which charges are included. Anything not listed in that quotation, such as storage or demurrage caused by delays in clearance, remains the buyer’s responsibility.
6. Customs Delays
We provide the shipping documents as soon as they are issued. Clearance timing is controlled by the destination customs authority and your broker; we are not able to guarantee clearance dates.
7. Questions
Tell us the destination country and the items you plan to import, and we will confirm which documents we can provide for that route.