CZL Duty Deposit Policy: How Deposits Are Calculated and When They're Refunded
For shipments to certain countries and regions with high duties or where carriers often "deliver first and collect duties later", we collect a duty deposit before dispatch. The recipient's email address is also required when shipping. Previously, we notified customers of this requirement on a shipment-by-shipment basis. From November 1, 2026, it will apply as a standard policy.
Why We Collect a Deposit
For DHL, FedEx, and UPS shipments to destinations such as the United States and Europe, parcels are often delivered to recipients before the duty bill is issued. If the recipient misses the notice, refuses to pay, or cannot be reached, the carrier bills the sender instead.
The most common reason is that the recipient's contact details do not include an email address. Duty 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 sender once the 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 a high risk of unpaid duties and taxes | United States, Brazil, Indonesia, Argentina |
| Frequent delivery before duty collection | EU countries, United Kingdom |
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%
Declared values in US dollars are converted at 1 USD = 7 RMB. For example:
- Declared value: 300 USD, equivalent 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 an order without it. Please provide an email address the recipient regularly uses—not the sender's email address or a made-up address. Otherwise, duty payment notices 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 carrier 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 of confirmation
- If the recipient has not paid and the bill is passed back to the sender, the deposit is applied toward the duties and related handling fees. Any excess is refunded, and any shortfall must be paid
Sender Pays Duties (DDP)
As the sender is responsible for the duties, the deposit is settled against the actual amount once the carrier issues its duty bill. Any excess is refunded, and any shortfall must be paid.
Confirm 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 carrier. 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 customer service, 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]
