In this article, we will discuss how ELEX WooCommerce DHL Shipping Plugin with Print Label and ELEX EasyPost WooCommerce Shipping Plugin help WooCommerce store owners generate and print compliant customs documents. We’ll start with the common reasons your packages are held at customs and their respective solutions.
‘Held at Customs‘ means the package you are sending to the destination country is held by the officials of the importer country’s customs office. These government bodies hold the packages until they ensure that only permissible items cross their border and the taxes (Duties & Excise) are paid for the import. These bodies also make sure that the legal ownership and control of the product is handed over to the right party.
So if you are a relatively new e-commerce store owner, your package getting held at customs may become a common phenomenon. Less experience, less information and not using the right resources are the main reasons your packages may be held at customs. While you are still unaware of the rules and regulations, you can get help from your shipping partner or a third-party broker. They help you prepare the correct documents and pay for the duties without any hassles.
Reasons Your Packages are Held at Customs
There are multiple reasons you might get the message “Held at Customs”. Some of the most prominent of them are:
- Incomplete or incorrect Documents
- Unpaid Customs Duties and Taxes
- Sending Restricted or Prohibited items
Therefore, you might have to spend weeks getting the shipment cleared by customs if there are even the smallest errors in these documents or if there are unpaid duties. You must gain a deeper understanding of these prevalent problems to prevent this. Let’s explore:
Incomplete or Incorrect Documents
Attaching an incomplete document to your package is one of the main reasons your package may be ‘Held at Customs’. If there are errors or some important information is missing from the documents you submit, your package may be held at customs.
The list of documents may vary for different products and the country you are shipping to. But few documents are common and are mandatory to be attached to all your packages. These documents are divided into subcategories to help you find the right document required at each step.
COMMON DOCUMENTS
- Commercial Invoice cum Packing List – It is a bill for goods that the seller sends to their customers. It can be the invoice you generate on your own or by using shipping software. These invoices are used to determine the value of the products being imported and apply the duties accordingly. If any country uses only these invoices for controlling their customs, they specify its format, the number of copies you need to submit, its language, and other details required.
TRANSPORTATION DOCUMENTS
- Airway Bill- Shipments shipped via Airfreight require airway bills. You can ask for an airway waybill from your shipper. If you are using their online APIs, you can easily archive air waybills with ease.
- Bill of Lading- It is the agreement between the shipper/owner and the carrier of the package. It should include the Content description, Address of shipper and recipient, etc.
- Electronic Export Information Filing (formerly known as the Shipper’s Export Declaration)- You’ll need to fill out this online form if the package is valued at more than $2,500. Also if the product requires an export certificate this form is mandatory to be filled.
EXPORT COMPLIANCE DOCUMENTS
- Export Licenses- An export license is a government document that authorizes the export of specific goods in specific quantities to a particular destination. This may be required by almost all exports to some countries or other countries for some specific products.
- Destination Control Statement- This statement is required for exports from the US for products listed on the Commerce Control List that are outside of EAR99 or controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). This statement should be printed on the commercial invoice, ocean bill of lading, or airway bill to notify the carrier and all foreign parties that the item can be exported only to certain destinations.
CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN
- Generic Certificate of Origin- You can prepare this document with the help of the product manufacturer and get it certified by a competent government body or the chamber of commerce. Including the country of manufacturing on all your labels is strongly recommended.
OTHER CERTIFICATES FOR SHIPMENTS OF SPECIFIC GOODS
- Dangerous Goods Certificate and Radiation Certificate- If you are shipping dangerous products across the borders shipped through air carriers or air freights, include a Shipper’s Declaration for dangerous goods. This declaration is required by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for safety purposes. You should ensure the information provided about the content, packaging, and other information is correct, as the signee remains the one who will be responsible for the product.
- Halal Certificate– The Middle East is a huge market for meat and if you are shipping meat to these nations make sure you have a Halal Certificate. This makes sure that the meat or the poultry is slaughtered following Islamic laws. These certifications should be obtained by appropriate chambers and legislation by the consulate of the destination country.
- Insurance Certificate- If the product you are sending is insured by the carrier or a third-party insurance provider, the receipt you receive serves as the certificate. In case, the insurance is bought through online integrations the waybill or the labels have the insurance details on them. Some countries may require a separate certification for this.
- Dock Receipts- A dock receipt provides the shipper a receipt that the package is received by the carrier successfully and the package is in the best condition for exports.
Unpaid Customs and Duties Taxes
As per US Customs and Border Protection,
“The Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) provides duty rates for virtually every item that exists. The HTS is a reference manual that is the size of an unabridged dictionary”.
As we know globalization has eliminated most physical borders when it comes to markets, but when you want to ship the products around the world, they go through the customs check.
Customs are government bodies that charge duty on products that come in or go out of a nation’s borders. Customs duties ensure that there is a balance between the economies of different countries. As a result, product prices are neutralized based on the destination country or the country of origin/manufacturing.
One more reason for such duties is the protection of domestic industries so that if an overseas competitor is selling products at lower rates, their products will be levied to match the domestic market price. If you fail to pay the proper duty rates, your packages will be held at customs until dues are cleared.
If you are based in the US, visit the US Tariff Database for an interactive database that will enable you to get an approximate idea of the duty rate for a particular product. The duty rates are returned as per the information you provide to the customs. The actual duty rates may be way different than the ones you calculated. Only the importer country’s customs determine the correct rate of duty.
There are different ways you can keep up with customs duty rates. A few of them are:
- Do proper research on a personal level and pay for the duty by yourself
- Take assistance from the dedicated customs brokers from your shipment carriers like USPS, FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.
- Use a third-party broker to pay for customs duties.
Sending Restricted or Prohibited Items
No government wants to allow its people to obtain illegal items or get them playing around with the laws. So if you are sending the following products your packages will be held at customs check.
- The product which is illegal in the destination country.
- The product which is infected with some disease or micro-organisms that can affect life in the destination country.
- Products you sell are against the domestic interests of the people and industry in the destination country.
- A product that is restricted and can be imported only after proper checks.
- Political reasons.
Export.gov is the website where you can check for an updated list of products that are on prohibited and restricted lists in all countries around the world.
How does ELEX WooCommerce DHL Shipping Plugin help with Customs Compliance?
Print Correct Waybills
ELEX WooCommerce DHL Shipping Plugin helps you print complete customs-compliant documents for DHL Express from within your WooCommerce Dashboard. While you set up the plugin you enter all the information required to print customs-compliant labels. The shipping address is taken from the address entered by customers on the cart and checkout pages.
An incomplete shipping address may also cause unwanted problems like returns and refunds, so it’s good if you use address validation. A correct shipping address will also help the package cross the customs check with ease. Read why address validation is necessary for an error-free delivery!
Along with this, you get to print commercial invoices for each package which are necessary for international deliveries. These commercial invoices include details like exporter, consignee, importer, order dates and time, bill of landing, list of products, HS Tariff, country of origin, package declared value, box dimension & weight and declaration from the sender.
In other words, the commercial invoice printed through the plugin is ready to use the invoice and abides by the customs regulations.
The entries in these commercial invoices are based on guidelines by DHL, which is a world leader in international logistics. So you if you have all the necessary information entered, you’ll get the correct commercial invoice.
Include Special Services
As we saw there can be several products that are restricted in many countries and are allowed only when there is a declaration is available on the shipping labels or the commercial invoices. This plugin makes it easy for you to select the correct declaration for the type of product it is.
This also mentions the Hazardous Material warning on the labels. You can select these special services for each product or select a default special service if you sell a single product like an alcoholic beverage or a lithium-ion battery.
Apart from special services, you can set the HS Tariff Number and the country of manufacture for the products in the Products Shipping settings. These details help the customs calculate the correct duty rates for it. Entering these details is necessary as they are printed on the commercial invoices just the way you enter them here.
To find the Product settings, go to your WooCommerce Dashboard and click on Products to get the list of products you have on your website. Now click on any product you want to have these details. Scroll down to find the ‘Product data’ and click on Shipping (screenshot above).
Selecting a Default Special Service
Select a default special service for all the products from the Special Service drop-down menu in the Label and Tracking tab of DHL Express.
Once you select a default service, you can enter a Default UN Number. UN numbers (United Nations numbers) are used to identify the type of hazardous items, which are supposed to be transported internationally.
These are four-digit numbers given to a particular product or a group of similar materials. Different UN Numbers may also be provided to solids and liquid phases of a single chemical as they mostly differ in their reactive properties. Acids, which have different levels of purity may also get different UN numbers. UN numbers range can be anything between UN 0004 to about UN 3534.
Choosing Who Pays the Customs Duties
The plugin helps you choose who pays for the duties. You can choose from:
- Shipper– If you are the shipper, select shipper if you are going to pay for the customs duty. To avoid any complications do proper research on the duty rates.
- Recipient– You can also choose your customers to pay for customs duties. In case you choose this option, make sure you let your customers know about this during the purchase of the product.
- Third-Party/Other– If you want your broker or a third party to pay for the customs duty, choose the option and enter the Duty Account Number of the broker. This is one of the most used and secure customs duty payment methods.
How does the ELEX EasyPost WooCommerce Shipping Plugin help with Customs Compliance?
1. Customs-Ready Shipping Labels
Shipping labels generated by the plugin include necessary customs information, ensuring packages are properly labeled for international shipping and meet carrier and customs requirements.
2. HS Code Support
Users can specify Harmonized System (HS) codes for their products. HS codes are used internationally to classify goods and determine applicable tariffs and duties. Proper classification helps ensure compliance with global shipping regulations.
3. Commercial Invoices
For commercial shipments, the plugin can generate commercial invoices. These invoices are often required by customs authorities to clear goods and include detailed information about the shipment.
4. Customs Declarations
The plugin allows for precise customs declarations, including product descriptions, quantities, values, and weights. This accuracy helps avoid delays and penalties associated with incorrect or incomplete customs information.
5. Multiple Carrier Support
Supports multiple carriers like FedEx, UPS, USPS & Canada Post, adhering to various carriers’ compliance protocols and documentation requirements, ensuring shipments meet regulatory standards.
Last Shot
When your packages are held at customs, it means you need to put in additional effort to get them cleared. You may need to:
-
- Reprint correct labels & commercial invoices,
- Pay additional customs duties or
- Check if the packages are packed in the right way and contain only allowed items.
ELEX WooCommerce DHL Express Shipping Plugin helps you automate entire customs regulations from your admin panel itself. You can print shipping labels, commercial invoices, and archive waybills for smooth deliveries across borders.
ELEX EasyPost WooCommerce Shipping Plugin automates customs documentation, including HS codes, and commercial invoices ensuring precise declarations and compliance with global shipping regulations. It generates customs-ready shipping labels and supports multiple carriers, adhering to their compliance protocols. This streamlines international shipments, avoiding delays and penalties.
FAQ’s
1. What should I do if my package is held at customs?
First, check the tracking information. Contact your shipping carrier or customs for clarification if no updates are available.
2. Why is my package held at customs?
Packages can be held at customs for several reasons, including incomplete documentation, inaccurate labeling, or prohibited
items.
3. How long can a package be held at customs?
The duration can vary significantly. Some packages may clear in a few hours, while others can take several days or even
weeks, depending on the specific issues.
4. Who is responsible for paying customs duties and taxes?
Generally, the recipient is responsible for paying any customs duties and taxes. However, this can depend on the shipping terms agreed upon between the sender and the recipient.
5. What happens if my package is not cleared by customs?
If the package is not cleared, it may be returned to the sender, seized by customs, or subject to additional fines and penalties. It is important to address any issues promptly to avoid such outcomes.
