Cargosender is a freight forwarder, not a customs broker — which is exactly why the contractual answer and the practical one aren't quite the same question.
Cargosender's Terms and Conditions are direct about this: Cargosender does not act as a customs broker or agent and is not responsible for customs duties or procedures. The client is responsible for understanding and complying with customs requirements, and must bear any customs duties, taxes including VAT, penalties, storage charges or other related expenses. If Cargosender incurs costs because of customs action or inadequate documentation, those costs are passed on to the client.
In practice, who is actually asked to hand over payment at the destination end — the recipient at the door, or an amount settled in advance — depends on the logistics provider's own process for that route and service. Cargosender does not set that mechanism, which is exactly why it can't be promised in advance for every route.
What can be worked out in advance is the amount likely to be due, and that's where the mechanics below and the duty calculator help.
These four factors are general international customs practice used by customs authorities worldwide (the concept of a duty-free de minimis threshold, for example, is standard customs terminology, not a Cargosender or Eurosender policy) — not Cargosender-specific rules. Cargosender's own role is limited to what §3.5 of its terms states above.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Declared value | Duty and VAT are calculated as a percentage of the customs value — a higher declared value means a higher charge, not a higher risk of one. |
| Product category / commodity code | Different HS code categories carry different duty rates for the same destination — see the HS code guides for how to classify what you're sending. |
| Destination country's de minimis threshold | Many countries don't charge duty below a set value threshold, though VAT thresholds are often lower or non-existent — this varies by country. |
| Trade agreements and country of origin | Some origin/destination pairs qualify for reduced or zero duty under a trade agreement, which is not applied automatically without the right documentation. |
Unpaid customs charges typically mean the parcel is held at destination customs rather than released for delivery.
A hold that isn't resolved can turn into a return to sender or, in the worst case, disposal — both of which carry their own costs under Cargosender's terms.
Under-declaring a shipment's value to reduce the duty owed is treated as misrepresentation, which can carry civil or criminal penalties including forfeiture of the shipment — not just a corrected invoice.
No. Cargosender's Terms and Conditions state explicitly that it does not act as a customs broker or agent and is not responsible for customs duties or procedures unless stated otherwise for a specific service.
No — most destinations apply a de minimis threshold below which duty (and sometimes VAT) isn't charged. The threshold and what counts toward it varies by country, which is why it's worth checking the specific destination guide rather than assuming.
Whether that's possible depends on the logistics provider's process for the specific route and service — it isn't something Cargosender can guarantee across every destination. Check with support for the route you're booking.
An unpaid customs charge can lead to the parcel being held, then returned or disposed of — see the guide on refused and returned parcels for what that costs.
No. Duty is a tariff based on the product category and country of origin; VAT (or the local equivalent, such as GST) is a consumption tax applied on top, usually including the duty and shipping cost in its base. Both can apply to the same parcel.
Get a realistic estimate for your route and product category before you commit to a price.
Open the Duty Calculator →