Reducing Customs Costs & Commercial Invoices

If you wish to minimize your customs costs (import duties) or require a lower-value commercial invoice, please contact us (China PHONEFIX) or leave a message when placing your order.

Customs Clearance & Import Duty – Frequently Asked Questions

We do not charge additional taxes, VAT, or hidden fees. The total amount you see at checkout includes only the product subtotal + shipping cost.

However, most countries require import taxes on goods. Some products may be exempt based on value thresholds or category restrictions, but this varies by country.

1. What is Customs?

Customs is the government agency responsible for regulating goods entering a country. All shipments must clear customs before delivery.

2. Who is responsible for import duties?

Import duties are charged by your country’s customs when a package enters its borders. Buyers are responsible for clearing customs and paying any related fees. Since we cannot predict your country’s tariff policies, we do not include import duties in product prices or shipping costs. However, we can assist if you encounter customs clearance issues.

3. How much are import duties?

Customs fees vary by country based on tariff regulations.

  • Regular Mail vs. Express Service: Import duties may differ depending on the shipping method.
  • For packages shipped via Hong Kong Post or Global Mail Post (see Shipping Policy), we typically declare an invoice value of $10–$20 USD and mark it as a gift. This may reduce customs fees, but it depends on your country’s policies.
  • For Express Services (DHL, FedEx, EMS, TNT): Import duties vary based on your country’s regulations.

DHL Declared Value Policy

  • DHL requires a minimum declared value of $60 USD for customs clearance. If the declared value is lower, DHL may refuse delivery or require additional documents, causing delays.
  • If a package has an unreasonably low declared value, customs may impose fines, return the shipment, or blacklist the receiver.
  • Personal shipments: If signing with a personal name, DHL may require trade documents for clearance.

Note: UPS and EMS have not updated their customs clearance policies like DHL.

Minimizing Your Import Taxes

  • If you have specific requirements for the declared invoice value, please leave a note at checkout or email myvipprogrammer@gmail.com.
  • If no instructions are provided, we will declare the item value between $20–$100 USD, depending on weight and volume.

Handling Customs Clearance Issues

If your package faces customs clearance delays:

  • We will provide the necessary shipping invoice for customs.
  • We will also coordinate with China DHL to resolve the issue.

To avoid delays, please ensure that your shipping details, including address, name, and phone number, are correct when placing an order. Incorrect information may result in additional charges or hold-ups.