My Shipping is Dutiable, How Will it Affect My Shipment?

If you are shipping any items overseas or internationally, you may have determined that your shipment is "dutiable". What that means is that the shipment is subject to duties, or inspection fees, as it passes through the customs department of the country to which it is headed. Generally, dutiable items are any packages that must be inspected upon arrival, checked for proper paperwork like invoices and waybills. A special customs form must be attached to the shipment so that it can clear this process. You can determine if your shipment is dutiable by checking with the courier or package service you have decided to use as they can guide you through this process.

If you have determined that your shipment is dutiable, then you can expect that it will affect your shipment in a couple of important ways. Read on more to find out about how this will affect your shipment and what you can expect.

Your package will take additional time as it has to pass through the customs office. The package is going to arrive, be set into a quarantined area and then each package is systematically inspected. The package will be x-rayed and in some cases opened for visual inspection. This is to avoid any harmful substances, contaminants, weapons or any contraband from entering a country. This process is for the protection of the people in that country and for consumers who are purchasing items from outside countries. Your shipment, however, will not be damaged or destroyed. You can be sure that the customs office will handle the packages carefully and as quickly as possible. It is a given then that you will want to allow for an additional two to six weeks for this process, depending on what and where you are shipping your items. Plan ahead when someone orders something to avoid any problems as this is an unavoidable delay.

Your package must have the proper documentation in order for the host company to receive and accept it. If you are shipping something internationally, it is advisable to verify with the shipping company or postal department what type of documentation is needed in order for the package to pass through the countries and make its way to the recipient. You may need to have a commercial invoice, customs forms and waybills. You may also need to have paperwork verifying the contents of the package, who it is going to and for what purpose. You may also need to document that you have insured the package for the proper value. Whatever the case, always verify this in advance of shipping the package. Failure to do so can and will result in the package being rejected by the host country and sent back at your full cost. This would be tragic in the case of sending something that is scheduled to arrive for an important date or event. Plan ahead and be sure to have all necessary paperwork completed.

There are many ways to find out what to do if your package is dutiable. An excellent resource, of course, is the courier or shipper’s international shipping department. Be sure to ask ahead of time to avoid any problems with this process and ensure that your package arrives safely, in a timely manner and without being lost or returned through an oversight on your behalf.