Frequently Asked Questions About DHL Duties & Taxes
Who pays DHL duties and taxes?
By default, the receiver pays any duties and taxes before the shipment is released, DHL clears the goods and collects the charges on behalf of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). If you would rather pay them yourself, select Duty Tax Paid when you book, and DHL bills the duties and taxes back to you instead of the receiver.
What is DHL Duty Tax Paid (DTP)?
Duty Tax Paid lets the shipper or a third party, rather than the receiver, be billed for destination duties and taxes. DHL charges a fee for the service: 2.5% of the fiscal charges, with a minimum of 16.00 CAD (as of the 2026 guide). It is useful for business-to-consumer shipments where you do not want your customer surprised by a customs bill.
How much does DHL charge for customs clearance?
When DHL prepares the customs entry, it applies a clearance service charge of 2.75% of the fiscal charges, with a minimum of 12.00 CAD if you hold a DHL Brokerage Account, or 18.00 CAD if you do not (as of the 2026 guide). Other situations, such as non-routine entries or storage, carry their own charges, listed in the table above.
Why did DHL charge me a brokerage or import fee?
On a cross-border shipment, DHL acts as your customs broker: it prepares the entry, advances any duties and taxes to the government, and collects them from the payer with a processing fee. That is why an import can show a clearance charge (and sometimes duties and taxes) on top of the shipping rate. The specific fees are set out above and in the DHL Surcharges & Fees guide.
How can I estimate DHL duties and taxes before shipping?
Use DHL's free My Global Trade Services (MyGTS) tool: enter your product, its HS code, and the destination, and it estimates the landed cost, duties, and taxes before you ship. To compare the shipping rate itself across carriers, use Secureship's calculator.
What documents do I need for DHL customs clearance?
Every cross-border non-document shipment needs a commercial or proforma invoice. Customs uses it to assess duties and taxes, so it must show an accurate description, value, quantity, country of origin, and ideally the HS code. A complete, electronically produced invoice also avoids clearance delays and correction charges.
How do I pay DHL duties and taxes?
DHL contacts the receiver before delivery with the amount owing and a way to pay it, and business accounts can pay through the DHL Global Payment Portal. If duties and taxes are not paid, customs holds the shipment until they are. To avoid billing the receiver at all, choose Duty Tax Paid at booking so the charges come to you.
