Customs procedures for express deliveries from China involve multiple stages that can seem complicated at first, but understanding the process demystifies what happens to your package. The key difference between express and standard shipping is how efficiently customs clearance occurs, not whether it happens at all. Here’s what you need to know.
The Express Delivery Customs Process: Step-by-Step
Stage 1: China Export Clearance
When you order from a Chinese seller, the express courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, or similar) picks up your package and handles export clearance on China’s side. The seller or courier submits a commercial invoice, packing list, and export declaration to Chinese customs. This process typically takes 1-2 days and is largely invisible to you—the courier manages all documentation.
Stage 2: International Transit
Your package travels by air from a major Chinese hub (Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou) to a gateway airport in your destination country. This takes 1-4 days depending on your location.
Stage 3: Import Customs Pre-Clearance
Here’s where express carriers differ from standard postal services. DHL, FedEx, and UPS electronically pre-clear shipments with your destination country’s customs authorities before the package physically arrives. This “virtual presentation” to customs happens while your package is still in transit. Customs authorities review the documentation and either approve the shipment or flag it for inspection.
The importance of pre-clearance: About 90% of express packages are pre-cleared and approved before arrival, meaning they can clear customs on the same day they land. This is one critical reason express delivery is faster than standard shipping.
Stage 4: Physical Customs Inspection (If Required)
If customs approved your package during pre-clearance, it typically bypasses physical inspection. However, customs may still randomly select packages for physical inspection even after approval—for example, if a detection dog responds to the package or if the declared contents seem suspicious.
If customs requires inspection, a customs officer will physically examine your package’s contents against the declared information. This adds 12-48 hours to clearance time, though it’s relatively rare for express packages (approximately 10% face additional scrutiny).
Stage 5: Duty Assessment and Collection
Once your package clears customs inspection, duties and taxes are calculated based on the package’s declared value, product category, and your destination country. This is where your costs can increase significantly.
Stage 6: Final Delivery
After customs clearance is complete, your package moves to the carrier’s domestic network for last-mile delivery. Express carriers typically complete final delivery within 1-3 business days after customs clearance.
Understanding Duties and Taxes
The De Minimis Threshold Changes (Critical Information)
This is the most important customs change you need to know about. The U.S. previously allowed shipments under $800 to enter duty-free via a rule called “de minimis.” This exemption has been eliminated as of August 29, 2025. Every package entering the U.S. now requires formal or informal customs entry and is assessed duties regardless of value.
For Chinese shipments specifically, this exemption already ended on May 2, 2025. If you’re ordering from China to the U.S., expect to pay duties on every order, even under $100.
The European Union maintains a €150 de minimis threshold, meaning shipments under €150 may avoid customs duties (though VAT still applies). Canada’s threshold is approximately C$20 (about $15 USD) for most countries, much lower than the U.S..
What Duties Actually Cost
Duty rates depend on your product’s Harmonized System (HS) code, which is an international classification system for goods. Here are typical rates for common products imported from China:
| Product Category | Duty Rate | VAT Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics (phones) | 5-10% | 13% |
| Clothing & Textiles | 10-25% | 13% |
| Jewelry & Luxury Goods | 20-35% | 13% |
| Sporting Equipment | 5-15% | 13% |
| Toys & Games | 0-15% | 13% |
How Duty Calculations Work
Duties are calculated on the CIF value, which is the Cost, Insurance, and Freight combined. The formula is straightforward:
Duty Amount=CIF Value×Duty Rate
Example: You order a $50 smartphone with $10 shipping insurance. The CIF value is $60. With a 10% duty rate, you pay $6 in customs duty. Then VAT (typically 13%) applies to the combined total ($60 + $6 = $66), adding $8.58 in VAT. Your total customs costs are $14.58.
Additional Fees from Couriers
Beyond duties and taxes, express couriers charge handling fees for processing customs paperwork. These fees typically range from $10-$20 per shipment. UPS, FedEx, and DHL all charge for customs brokerage services.
How Duties Get Paid with Express Delivery
Express Carriers Handle Payment Differently
This is a crucial point where confusion often arises. Express couriers don’t all handle duty payment the same way:
DHL Express: Attempts to collect duties from you at the time of delivery. If you don’t have cash available, they hold the package at a depot until you can pay, then redeliver. They do not dispose of packages.
UPS: Similar to DHL—attempts collection at delivery, but will hold packages if payment isn’t available. They’ll reattempt delivery within a 10-day window.
FedEx: This carrier has a controversial approach. FedEx pays import duties on behalf of the recipient to speed delivery, then invoices you later for reimbursement. The invoice arrives weeks or even months after delivery. If the recipient doesn’t pay the duties, FedEx bills the shipper—even if the shipper and recipient are different people.
This creates a situation where you receive your package quickly but get an unexpected bill later. For example, a Reddit user received an invoice two months after delivery for duties FedEx had advanced. This policy change followed the elimination of the de minimis rule.
Your Best Option: Ask sellers to “deliver duties unpaid” (DDP is deliver duty paid; DAP is deliver at place, meaning duties unpaid) so you know duties will be collected at delivery rather than invoiced later.
Common Customs Clearance Delays and Red Flags
Incomplete or Incorrect Documentation
The single most common reason for customs delays is incomplete or inaccurate commercial invoice information. Customs authorities rely on these documents to assess duties and verify the shipment’s legitimacy.
Common documentation mistakes that cause delays:
- Missing HS codes: The product’s classification code is essential; without it, customs cannot determine the correct duty rate
- Vague product descriptions: “Electronics” or “spare parts” without specifications trigger manual review and delays
- Mismatched quantities: If the commercial invoice lists 2 units but the packing list shows 3 units, customs will hold the shipment for clarification
- Incorrect declared value: Under-declaring value to reduce duties is illegal and results in heavy fines; over-declaring increases your costs unnecessarily
- Missing Incoterms: International trade terms (like FOB, CIF, DDP) clarify responsibility for shipping and duties
Random Customs Inspections
Even with complete, accurate documentation, customs may select your package for physical inspection. These random checks typically occur on 5-10% of express shipments. Physical inspection adds 12-48 hours. There’s no way to avoid this, but it’s neither a sign of fraud nor something the courier can influence.
Restricted or Prohibited Items
Certain items face automatic customs holds:
- Pharmaceuticals and medications (require proof of legitimacy)
- Electronics with lithium batteries
- Items requiring specific certifications (ROHS compliance for electronics, CE marking, etc.)
- Textiles and branded goods (checked against counterfeit databases)
- Agricultural products (phytosanitary requirements)
If your item falls into these categories, customs will likely request supporting documentation from the seller. This can delay clearance 5-15 days.
Missing or Invalid Tracking Information
Express carriers provide real-time tracking, which is essential for customs pre-clearance. If tracking information is missing or invalid, customs cannot pre-clear your package, forcing manual inspection upon arrival.
Understanding Customs Clearance Timeline
Express Courier Timeline (Best Case)
Under optimal conditions, express packages clear customs within 24-48 hours:
- Day 1-3: Transit from China
- Day 3-4: Customs pre-clearance and inspection (if needed)
- Day 4-5: Final delivery
Total: 4-5 business days from shipment to delivery.
Express Courier Timeline (Delayed Case)
If customs flags your package for additional documentation, inspection, or if duties are owed:
- Day 1-3: Transit
- Day 3-4: Customs pre-clearance (passes)
- Day 4-7: Held pending documentation or duty payment
- Day 8-10: Final delivery
Total: 8-10 business days.
What Causes Delays at Customs
Standard clearance time: 1-2 days
Physical inspection: Add 12-48 hours
Documentation requests: Add 2-5 days
Duty disputes or queries: Add 3-7 days
Peak season (holidays, shopping festivals): Double normal times
Duties on Common Items from China
To give you practical numbers, here are realistic duty estimates on popular items:
| Item | Value | Duty | VAT | Carrier Fee | Total Customs Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30 Phone Case | $30 | $3 | $4.29 | $15 | $22.29 |
| $80 Smartwatch | $80 | $8 | $11.44 | $15 | $34.44 |
| $150 Bluetooth Speaker | $150 | $15 | $21.45 | $15 | $51.45 |
| $300 Laptop | $300 | $30 | $42.90 | $15 | $87.90 |
Notice that carrier fees ($15) are often larger than duties on inexpensive items. For a $30 product, the courier’s processing fee exceeds the actual duty owed.
What Happens If You Can’t Pay Duties
If you refuse or fail to pay assessed duties with an express carrier:
DHL: Returns the package to sender (shipper covers return shipping)
UPS: Holds the package for 10 days while attempting to collect
FedEx: Delivers the package and bills the shipper after 30 days if recipient doesn’t pay
FedEx’s approach is problematic because the shipper may not be liable for the recipient’s refusal to pay. However, FedEx policy currently makes the shipper responsible.
How to Avoid Customs Delays
Before Ordering
- Verify the product’s HS code and expected duty rate by using online tariff databases specific to your country
- Ask the seller to declare the actual product value accurately
- Request the seller include detailed product descriptions and specifications in the commercial invoice
- Confirm the seller will use “deliver at place” (DAP) so duties are collected at delivery, not invoiced later
During Customs Processing
- Track your shipment closely through the carrier’s system
- If customs requests additional documentation, provide it immediately
- Don’t ignore notices from the carrier about duties owed; delays in payment trigger additional storage fees
- Keep all receipts and documentation from your purchase for 2+ years in case customs audits the shipment
For High-Value Items
- Consider using a customs broker if your item exceeds $2,500 in value
- Request insurance coverage for duties (in case the item is delayed or lost)
- Have the shipper arrange duty prepayment so you’re not surprised with unexpected bills
Regional Variations You Should Know
United States
No de minimis exemption as of August 29, 2025—all shipments are subject to duties. Formal or informal entry required regardless of value. Duties on items from China are particularly high due to Section 301 tariffs (10-25% additional tariff on top of base duties). Total effective tariff rate on Chinese goods is approximately 29.3% as of November 2025.
European Union
De minimis threshold of €150 applies, but VAT always applies regardless of value. Total import costs typically lower than U.S. for the same items.
Canada
De minimis threshold approximately C$20 for duties (about $15 USD), with higher thresholds from U.S. and Mexico. Total customs costs similar to or slightly lower than EU.
Other Regions
Australia, Japan, South Korea, and other developed nations typically have 5-15% duty rates on most goods. De minimis thresholds vary widely; check your specific country’s customs authority website.
Key Takeaways
Express delivery from China still requires customs clearance, but express couriers handle the process more efficiently through pre-clearance and dedicated brokerage teams. Unlike standard postal delivery, express packages are typically cleared within 24-48 hours rather than 5-15 days.
Duties are unavoidable under current regulations—even items under $100 are now subject to duties when shipped via express couriers to the U.S.. Budget for duties based on product type (5-35% of value) plus carrier fees ($10-$20).
The biggest variable in customs clearance timing is documentation accuracy. Complete, detailed commercial invoices prevent delays far more effectively than any other factor.
Express couriers handle duty payment in different ways—FedEx invoices later (often causing surprises), while DHL and UPS collect at delivery. Understanding your carrier’s policy prevents frustration when duties come due.
For orders under $100, the courier’s processing fee often exceeds the actual duty owed, making the total customs cost higher than you might expect. This is particularly important when deciding whether express shipping is worth the premium.