A parcel on which you have to pay import duties and/or VAT is on its way to you. This can be done easily and quickly via the DHL Express app. 

Download de DHL Express app    Download de DHL Express app

Alternatively, you go to the DHL On Demand Delivery website.

Q1 How do I know if I have to pay to import my parcel?

If you purchase from a business within the European Union, then you have nothing to worry about. You will not have to pay anything extra to import your parcel.

If you purchase books, clothing, or other items from businesses that are located outside of the European Union, then you may have to pay import duties or VAT.

 

  • Parcels up to the value of €22 are not subject to extra fees. Postage costs and insurance fees, where applicable, do not count towards the €22.
  • For parcels over the value of €22, you must pay extra fees. In some cases, this may only be a VAT charge. If your parcel is worth over €150, then you will also have to pay import duties.

These costs will be paid in advance by DHL Express and will be charged to you when we deliver the parcel to you.

 

Q2 Who must pay?

Any import duties and VAT will be charged to the person importing the goods. The sender can choose to have the costs invoiced to another party by means of the Duty Taxes Paid (DTP) billing service.

If the sender does not pay the import duties and VAT, DHL will pay the import duties and VAT due to Customs so that your parcel can be imported. DHL will pass on to you the costs it pays to Customs. Your parcel can only be delivered to you once you have paid the full amount and administration fees* to DHL.

*DHL charges a 2% administration fee for this service, with a minimum of €14.50 (excl. VAT).

 

Q3 As a private individual, I will receive a parcel from friends or family from abroad. Do I need to pay anything?

For shipments with a maximum value of €45, you do not pay import duties and VAT. This only applies to articles that are not intended for commercial purposes:

  • The shipment is sent by a private individual, to a private individual
  • The goods are for the personal use of the recipient or the personal use of members of the recipient's family
  • The parcel is of an incidental nature
  • The nature and quantity of the contents of the parcel are such that the parcel is not of a commercial nature
  • The parcel in question is a gift from the sender, for which there is no payment.

Q4 My goods are second-hand. Do import duties also apply to them?

Yes, VAT and/or import duties must also be paid for goods that are older or had a previous owner.

 

Q5 I already paid VAT when I bought my product. Why do I also have to pay VAT when importing into the Netherlands?

The VAT that you have paid to the supplier/online store that sold the product is independent of the VAT that you have to pay when you import the product into the Netherlands. This tax is levied by the Dutch government.

 

Q6 How are import duties and VAT calculated?

Calculation of import duties:

This is a percentage of the sum of the value of the goods + a percentage of the transport costs up to the EU border. The amount of the percentage of the transport costs depends on the country/region from which the parcel was sent. The percentage of import duties is determined by Customs.

Calculation of VAT:

This is a percentage of the sum of the value of the goods + 100% transport costs + import duties. The percentage of VAT is determined by the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst).

 

 

Q7 How do I pay VAT and import duties to DHL Express?

Before DHL will deliver the parcel, you must first reimburse us for any import duties and/or VAT that DHL paid. You can do so quickly and easily here via the DHL Express Mobile app or with the door-to-door courier.

 
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