DHL Express customs paperwork and duties

DHL Express clears customs for you, but it can only work with what you give it. Octoship builds the commercial invoice from your customs details and sends it electronically — most shipments need no printed paperwork at all.

What DHL Express needs#

• A specific description and an HS code for every item
• The country of origin and the value the customer actually paid
• The recipient's phone number and email — DHL contacts them about delivery and any duties
• Tax IDs where the destination requires them (for example, an EORI for some EU business shipments, or an IOSS number for low-value EU orders)

Prepaying duties (DDP)#

Choose I'll pay (DDP) under Duties & taxes and Octoship adds the estimated duties and taxes to the label price. DHL bills the final amount after clearance; if it differs from the estimate, the difference appears as a duty adjustment at cost. Read DDP vs DDU explained for the full picture.