ShipTime takes the complexity out of international shipping by offering upfront visibility into duties and taxes, flexible payment choices, and reduced brokerage fees - removing unexpected costs at the border.
Duties and Taxes are now calculated upfront for select carriers, including FedEx, DHL and Canada Post, and appear on the International Details page.
What are Duties and Taxes?
Duties and taxes are fees imposed by a country’s government on imported goods. They're part of the total landed cost of a shipment and must often be paid before the goods are released from customs. Here's a breakdown:
Duties (also called customs duties or tariffs):
These are charges applied to specific types of imported goods, usually based on:
HS code classification
Declared value
Country of origin
Governments use duties to:
Protect domestic industries
Generate revenue
Enforce trade policies (like tariffs on specific countries or goods)
Taxes:
These are standard government taxes applied to goods entering the country, and vary depending on the destination. Common examples:
VAT (Value-Added Tax) – common in the EU
GST (Goods and Services Tax) – in countries like Canada and Australia
Sales tax – in some U.S. states
Steps to obtain your Duties & Taxes
1. In Quote & Ship, on the Shipment Details page, select who will be paying Duties & Taxes
Shipper Pays:
Select this option if you will be paying the Duties & Taxes. These will be displayed on the International Details page and will be collected with the payment for the shipment.
Recipient Pays:
Select this option if your Recipient will be paying the Duties & Taxes. These will be displayed as an estimate on the International Details page and can be communicated to the recipient.
2. Proceed to the International Details page. Enter the Product details in the Products Shipped area.
Repeat for each item in your shipment
3. Attach Customs documents to each product line where additional documentation is required. Note: CUSMA-exempt products will not be rated for duties or taxes with a valid CUSMA document uploaded. (For more information on adding documents click here)
4. Duties & Taxes will be displayed.
- If the Recipient will be paying, this is an estimation only, and the fees will be collected by the courier.
- If the Shipper is paying, this amount will be included in the total cost of the shipment.
5. Continue to Finalize & Pay if the Shipper is designated as paying Duties & Taxes, the amount will be highlighted again and collected with the shipment.
Discounted Brokerage Fees:
We’ve secured discounted brokerage fees through our courier partners to help you save. These fees - charged by the courier for handling customs documentation - can quickly become costly, particularly for small businesses These fees will also be included when you designate Shipper as the payee, saving you from receiving these charges after the shipment has shipped.
The Impact of Tariffs & Trade Policies
With ever-changing import and export regulations, including higher tariffs and the elimination of De Minimis thresholds, knowing your total landed cost is more critical than ever. ShipTime provides upfront visibility into duties and taxes, helping you stay ahead of changing trade rules, avoid surprise fees at delivery, and offer your customers a clearer, more transparent cross-border experience.
NOTE: Carriers like Canada Post and FedEx are not accepting shipments created with DDU where the recipient is responsible for duties and taxes.
About ShipTime:
Ship Smarter – with ShipTime, we are a true partner beyond just discounted rates with the Top National Couriers. We provide a best-in-class shipping platform packed with features and backed by our legendary Heroic Support™ team.
You can sleep easy with ShipTime’s best-in-class customer care. Our bilingual team is available by phone, live chat, or email Monday – Friday from 8:30AM to 8PM EST.