High duty charges for PCBs  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: kcbanner
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2016, 02:51:06 pm
content: I ordered some PCBs from PCBWay, 10$ + 25$ USD shipping. I just got a message from DHL that they have passed Canadian customs and I owe $22 CAD in duty! Is this because they deemed the $10 artificially low?My "10 dollar" PCBs turned out to be more expensive than I thought. How do I get more accurate duty charges?

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2016, 02:57:28 pm
content: I don't know for Canada, so I will guess.The duty is probably something like $6.DHL then charges you for that charge something like $16 (their processing fee for making the charge).$6 + $16 = $22 extra charges.The duty is going to be charged on the total, including delivery, in all likelihood.So it is based on $35 not $10.In the UK DHL adds something like £11 to any duty charges.So if the duty came to £3, they would charge £14 (approx) for the "duty".NOT to be confused with daylight robbery

author: kcbanner
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2016, 03:11:44 pm
content: Thanks for the info! I'll have to compare domestic prototyping places with these fees in mind. Trap for young players I guess.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2016, 03:47:08 pm
content: There can be at least two ways of reducing the effective charges.One tip is the charges that the delivery company adds to the duty, may have an upper limit. So you might be able to save, by doing all your PCB orders in one delivery batch.Some countries, don't charge duty, below a certain order value. So by using an alternative (cheaper) delivery company (if the PCB supplier offers this), the cost may be below that $value, so you pay no duty.For the UK it is something like £15, below which there is no duty (VAT) charge.For Australia it is something like $1000 (AU$).

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 28, 2016, 04:26:38 pm
content: Don't want to pay those charges, the choose delivery by post. Then Chinese companies will declare some low value which will pass below customs threshold.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 28, 2016, 04:29:23 pm
content: Quote from: kcbanner on December 28, 2016, 02:51:06 pmNo, because there was full value of PCB cost and shipping in the invoice. That was above threshold. So you got taxes calculated on that (yes, shipping cost is also dutiable) +customs broker fee from DHL.

author: TJ232
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2016, 06:25:19 pm
content: Been there, done that, DHL has become a big joke! Express my ass. Insane delays (over 3 weeks for a usual 3 days delivery), goods sent back with flag (delivery failed - receiver not available, WTF?), fancy fees out of the blue, etc.In EU they play the game like that: doesn't matter the value of the goods, can be even 1$, as soon as arrived and are processed by DHL they add a DHL fee, customs broker fee, blabla, of about 25EUR!! 25EUR!!The only way to get rid of their fancy fee/tax is to provide them in advance your EORI code. If you don't have EORI Code, bad luck, they ask you to pay that 25EUR for processing or will sent back the goods on the sender cost!!Ah, and when you send your EORI Certificate, send also the Original Invoice translated and with proper TARIC Codes for the goods!ORUse anyhting else than DHL!!

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 29, 2016, 01:26:57 am
content: Quote from: TJ232 on December 28, 2016, 06:25:19 pmValue of the goods do not matter basically. As once DHL shipping cost is added, it is automatically above EUR 22 which is customs limit for going through untaxed. Here in Latvia, we had a choice: either pay EUR 25 or drive to the customs yourself. Other couriers are not better. And you need provide all of the parers in any case, invoice on the package is not sufficient. Recently was implemented that we can send documents to the customs via email, pay taxes, then parcel gets delivered. Nothing to pay to DHL. If don't want to bother with any of that, choose post or EMS (same post but faster). Then it gets auto cleared based on declared value (unless customs get suspicious), and you need to pay taxes when receiving the goods, no additional fees.

author: jm_araujo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2016, 10:29:42 am
content: In Portugal DHL charges a minimum customs broker fee of 35€ for all orders below 200€. Either that or deal with customs yourself.In top of that if you fail to provide a "valid" invoice with the shipping charges discriminated (*valid according to their own criteria), they add the shipping cost from Portugal to the origin which is usually much more expensive , and then you'll have to pay taxes and extra brokers fee on that fictional value.Last time I've dealt with DHL I've ended paying up 240€ in taxes and fees for an order of 210€ (postage included).After that experience I will avoid them like the plague in the future.

author: G0MJW
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2016, 10:37:11 am
content: In the UK these extra charges by the courier on top of the duty and our pretty high shipping charges already are a real barrier to sending anything across boarders and it is going to get a lot worse...Quote from: MK14 on December 28, 2016, 02:57:28 pm

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2016, 11:36:58 am
content: Pro Tip: Don't use DHL/UPS or other named company.I've tried it a few times, pcb house says it's faster. It isn't. And since DHL does the import themselves, and not the customs, you'll 100% guaranteed to pay.Using no-name bulk tracked shipping is cheaper, not slower, and lowers your customs fee to only 1 in 10 parcels.

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2016, 09:25:14 pm
content: Quote from: Jeroen3 on December 29, 2016, 11:36:58 amCan you please tell us the names of some of these "no-name tracked shipping companies"?

author: ansonbao
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2016, 03:54:31 am
content: Quote from: kcbanner on December 28, 2016, 03:11:44 pmIt is also make us very confused,because some clients said they meet this situation,some clients didn't. Hope you can still use our service,hongkong post will take about 2 weeks,is it ok for you?

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2016, 06:40:44 am
content: Quote from: DerekG on December 29, 2016, 09:25:14 pmIt's no-name because you don't know. It's advertised as "Registered air mail" at most webstores. But it basically means the local international post office.

author: richardlawson1489
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2017, 01:49:44 pm
content: What are the other trusted option for shipping?

author: iampoor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2017, 03:26:00 pm
content: Much of this advice depends on your country....I would be very careful with all the blanket statements guys.Here in the USA, DHL has always delivered within 2 days of shipment, and we dont have an import duty on orders under 600$ (from my understanding). I have never ordered more than 300$ in PCB's...but DHL has always delivered on time, much better than the 3 week wait of the no name services!

author: ebclr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2017, 12:37:26 am
content: Isn't dutty charge, is DHL profit charge

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2017, 01:13:29 am
content: kcbanner, DHL probably gave your a colored "Import Duty and Tax Invoice" sheet, on the bottom of that sheet you should have three lines; Sales tax, Processing Fee and Collect on Delivery fee.The sales tax is based on the Canadian value of the imported item (no duty here, only sales tax).The Processing Fee ($10 CAD) and the Collect on Delivery fee ($4 CAD); these two fees is what DHL charged you to do some paper work.UPS does the same thing.For Canadian, when importing Low Value Items, it is more economical to use regular postal service.

author: technotronix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2017, 02:29:08 pm
content: DHL delivered me the product on time and with good condition. I am almost satisfied with the services.