CZL Duty Deposit Policy: How It’s Calculated and When It’s Refunded
For shipments to certain countries and regions with high duties or where parcels are often "delivered before duties are collected", we collect a duty deposit before dispatch and require the recipient's email address when you ship. Previously, we notified customers of this requirement on a shipment-by-shipment basis. From 2026 November 1, it will become standard policy.
Why We Collect a Deposit
For DHL, FedEx, and UPS shipments to destinations such as the US and Europe, parcels are often delivered to the recipient before the tax bill is issued. If the recipient misses the notification, refuses to pay, or cannot be reached, the courier charges the shipper instead.
The most common reason is a missing recipient email address. Tax bills are generally sent by email. Without an email address, the recipient may never know that payment is due, and the bill is passed back to the shipper once the payment deadline has passed. We previously published an explanation of duty billing issues covering this situation.
Countries and Regions Currently Requiring a Deposit
| Category | Country / Region |
|---|---|
| High duties and significant tax-related risk | US, Brazil, Indonesia |
| Delivery often takes place before duties are collected | EU countries, UK |
This list may change as national policies are updated. Please refer to the latest version of this article. No deposit is required for shipments using a DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) dedicated line.
How the Deposit Is Calculated
Deposit =（Declared Value + Shipping Cost）× 40%
If the declared value is in US dollars, it is converted at 1 USD = 7 RMB. For example:
- A declared value of 300 USD converts to 2100 RMB
- Shipping cost: 650 RMB
- Deposit =（2100 + 650）× 40% = 1100 RMB
The higher the declared value, the higher the deposit. You can estimate the shipping cost first using our shipping rate calculator.
The Recipient's Email Address Is Required
For shipments to the destinations listed above, the recipient's email address is mandatory. We cannot accept shipments without it. Please provide an email address that the recipient regularly uses—not the shipper's address or a made-up one. Otherwise, the tax bill notification still will not reach the recipient.
When the Deposit Is Refunded
Recipient Pays Duties（DDU）
- After the parcel is signed for, we check with the courier to confirm whether the duties have been paid
- If the duties have been paid or no duties were incurred, we refund the deposit to the original payment method on the day this is confirmed
- If the recipient has not paid and the bill is passed back to the shipper, the deposit is first applied toward the duties and related handling fees. Any balance is refunded, and any shortfall must be paid
Shipper Pays Duties（DDP）
Since the shipper is responsible for the duties, we settle the deposit against the actual amount once the courier issues the duty bill. Any balance is refunded, and any shortfall must be paid.
Confirm the Arrangements with the Recipient Before Shipping
Before shipping, confirm two things with the recipient: who will pay the duties, and whether they can receive emails from the courier. If the recipient cooperates with duty payment, the deposit can be refunded promptly.
Before placing an order, you can send the destination and declared value to our customer service team, and we will calculate the deposit for you.
CZL Express International Courier Agency Services
Official website: exp.czl.net
Service hotline: 021-67892002
Customer service email: [email protected]
