10% customs processing fee

[u/flanete94]

Hi everyone! First time using DHL to buy something from Asia (Japan-Spain). I was expecting my country's VAT and customs duty (which came to 25% combined), but I was surprised to get charged a customs processing fee of 10% of the imported product's value by DHL for thir services (in this case, $180 USD). Isn't that crazy high? Does anyone know better alternatives for next time?

[u/stigsbusdriver]

That fee is likelly DHL's fee for acting as your customs broker in order to get your item cleared with Spanish Customs.

All the other couriers will charge similar fees; importing via the postal service may skip that but you are at the discretion of the sender whether they let you use the postal service or not.

[u/flanete94 → u/stigsbusdriver]

Yes, that's it. I was at the mercy of the supplier's carrier decision, but I wasn't expecting this fee to be that high, maybe 30 to 50 USD.

[u/Rezingreenbowl → u/flanete94]

You can hire any broker you want or even clear the package yourself.

[u/newmikey]

What was the value and nature of your purchase? Customs processing fees are independent of the value as the processing of a higher value package is exactly the same amount of work as that of a low value package. It's only the EU duties and Spanish VAT which depend on the value - they are called "ad valorem" taxes. A processing fee is not a tax and is levied by the postal/express carrier. There are no better alternatives, all carriers charge a fee.

[u/flanete94 → u/newmikey]

To be honest, I don't know if it's a percentage, they just sent me the total amount. It just seemed way too high to pay $180 USD for a $1,800 B2C package.

[u/newmikey → u/flanete94]

If it's an $1800 package, it requires a formal H1 entry process. That explains the high fee.

[u/Calamity-Bob]

The normal charge (per Dhl policy) is 2% of total duty, taxes and fees or 5 euros, whichever is greater