How are customs duties calculated for shipments outside the European Union

In what cases does the sender have to cover the customs duties?

While when processing international shipments outside the European Union, customs duties are typically covered by the recipient by default, on platforms like Swotzy, with certain couriers such as FedEx, there is an option to choose whether the recipient or the sender covers the customs duties.

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Under courier options, selecting Duties Payor - Sender means that the sender covers the shipment costs.

We offer such options on our platform because for certain shipments, such as sending packages to Amazon warehouses in the USA, the sender is responsible for covering customs duties.

By what parameters are customs duties calculated for shipments?

The customs authorities of the respective country, when calculating the total customs costs, take into account the following information provided by the sender about the contents of the shipment

• HS Code: Harmonized System code for describing and classifying goods. Customs officials use this code to identify the exact nature of the shipment and apply relevant taxes, fees, and regulations.
• Description of Goods: Helps customs officials verify the accuracy of the declared HS code.
• Value of Goods: Helps customs determine duties and taxes applicable to the shipment.

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Accurately providing the product description, HS code, and commercial value information not only helps to calculate customs duties more precisely but also reduces clearance time, thereby shortening the overall delivery time of the shipment.
On the other hand, inaccurate information can not only delay the shipment's arrival at its destination but may also lead customs officials to detain the shipment in cases of suspicion.

When does one need to cover customs duties?

In cases where, when processing a shipment, you choose the option Payor - Sender, customs duties for the shipment will be included in your Swotzy monthly bill along with courier service fees.

📚 Learn more
You can find out more about how fees and taxes are calculated in this article prepared by FedEx.