Customs Clearance - Import Customs Clearance - Export Customs Clearance

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the operating hours of the customs helpdesk?

The Customs Helpdesk is avaible on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What are the options for paying customs fees and DHL Express service fees?

Payment of customs and service fees is possible after customs clearance via online link to the payment portal, which is sent to the client via email or SMS. It is also possible to pay the fees on the spot upon delivery to the courier by card or in cash.

**Where can I download the invoice for customs and service fees?

The invoice for customs and service fees can be downloaded in the payment portal after the fees have been paid.

What are the rules for charging storage fees on shipments?

The shipment is stored in our customs warehouse free of charge for 3 working days from its arrival in the Czech Republic. After this period, the storage fee is charged according to the valid price list until the shipment is custom cleared (weekends and bank holidays are not included in the assessment).

Where can I request a correction of customs declaration?

To correct a customs declaration, fill in the given form.

Glossary

CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism)

CBAM, or Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, is a European Union instrument that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by imposing additional costs on imports of certain goods that reflect the carbon footprint of those products. The CBAM is being phased in from 2023 and will initially apply to imports of six types of goods: cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen. To generate the report, the amount of greenhouse gases produced must be known. The CBAM applies to goods listed in Regulation (EU) 2023/956 of the European Parliament and of the Council, whose value, individually or in total, exceeds EUR 150 per shipment. The obligation to submit a CBAM report does not apply to goods originating in EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. DHL Express does not represent importers in CBAM reporting. When importing goods which are subject of CBAM, we can only create a customs declaration (SAD) for entities established in the EU. We cannot represent entities without an EU establishment or private individuals without a permanent import registration when processing a customs declaration. In these cases it is possible to use the services of other customs declarations that also represent clients in CBAM reporting. More information on CBAM.

Russian sanctions on iron and steel products

Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 prohibits the direct or indirect purchase and import of certain iron and steel products, including those processed in third countries and originating in Russia. From 30 September, 2023, EU importers are required to prove that no iron or steel of Russian origin was used in the production process. The Regulation also requires EU importers to provide proof of the country of origin of the iron and steel used to process the product in the third country in question. To prove the origin of raw materials, the European Commission recommends the submission of a Mill Test Certificate (MTC), which importers should present to customs when crossing EU borders. This certificate shows, where the raw material was finally extracted. Customs has the power to request further information or evidence. Customs also accepts alternative documents to prove that no raw materials with any relation to Russia were used in the production process. Customs considers admissible one-time or long-term supplier declarations, commercial, manufacturing or customs documents proving the origin of the iron and steel. The importer is always responsible for the accuracy of the certificates and declarations submitted. The regulation applies to products in Chapters 72 and 73 of the Harmonised System, with the exception of subchapters 7201-7205. Proof of origin declarations are not required to be provided for shipments dispatched from Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom according to Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014.

SAD (Single Administrative Document)

The SAD is proof of release of the consignment by the customs office. The SAD is issued for companies free of charge for shipments over 150 EUR.

SRDS (Super Reduced Data Set)

SRDS is a simplified customs document on the release of a consignment by the customs office. SRDS is issued free of charge for shipments up to 150 EUR.
At the importer request DHL Express can issue an import customs declaration (SAD) for shipments up to 150 EUR for a fee of 300 CZK excluding VAT.

Duty

A duty is a fee paid to the state and the European Union if the value of a consignment exceeds 150 EUR. Its rate is determined by the HS Code based on the type of goods (type of goods, material, country of origin, etc.). Tariff rates can be found in the Taric customs administration application. The amount of the tariff rate of the item is the same for all countries of the European Union.

Duty calculation: Value of goods + transport costs to the borders of the European Union (from a non-EU country to the EU borders) + other costs paid abroad (packaging, handling, insurance, etc.)

VAT

VAT is a tax that is paid to the state. The amount of VAT is determined by the VAT Act according to the category of goods. The VAT rates are 21% (most goods) and 12% (mostly food, food products, medicines and medical supplies). For books, we can apply to the customs office for a reduction in VAT to 0% on delivery of the necessary documents (order, payment and power of attorney).

More information in the VAT Act https://www.podnikatel.cz/zakony/zakon-c-235-2004-sb-o-dani-z-...

TARIC

TARIC is an application of the customs administration to determine the HS code of goods, anti-dumping duties, etc ..

You can find it on the page: https://www.celnisprava.cz/cz/aplikace/Stranky/taric-cz.aspx

or you can use the link: https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/taric/taric_consult...

EORI number

EORI is an identification number required for customs purposes, which must be set up by both private individuals and companies. It is assigned by the customs administration.

Private person must generate it for each shipment separately at the link: https://www.celnisprava.cz/cz/aplikace/Stranky/eoriadhoc.aspx.

Companies must have EORI number assigned by the customs administration office, either by request via the Internet at this link:
https://www.celnisprava.cz/cz/clo/e-customs/eori/Stranky/defau... (the customs office has up to 14 days to assign ) or a personal visit to the customs office (in this case, the EORI number is normally assigned within one day).

More information can be found on the website of the customs administration: https://www.celnisprava.cz/cz/clo/e-customs/eori/Stranky/defau...

Powers of Attorney, POAS

Powers of attorney are required so that DHL Express can represent you in customs proceedings.

For companies, they are usually closed on the first shipment transported via DHL Express, and if there is no change in the company's information in the Commercial Register or the closing of an account with DHL Express, then these powers of attorney are permanent.

DHL Express has two types of powers of attorney - direct and indirect. Companies are required to conclude both types of proxies. For private individuals, filling out our DHL4U form is in most cases considered a power of attorney. However, there are exceptions for certain commodities (alcohol, food, etc.) when it is necessary to fill in the power of attorney directly from the client.

Indirect Representation (NPOA) standard power of attorney, we need it in most cases where the shipment is simplified.

Direct representation (PPOA) is only needed for commodities that require it. These are "risky commodities", such as weapons, paintings, military equipment, etc. In general, it is necessary to say that such commodities need to be physically cleared at the customs office.

There is also a one-time contract for self-employed.

Transit accompanying document, TDD, T1

This type of customs is used when the company does not wish to ship the shipment via DHL Express. In this case, the client will arrange another customs forwarding, which will clear the consignment at the customs office chosen by him or use the services of his own customs declarants (if he has his own customs warehouse). The given forwarding company can choose at which customs office it wishes to clear the consignment. The consignment is then transported to its destination under the T1 document. DHL Express must be informed of the end of the transit by the deadline indicated on the transit accompanying document (usually within 3 calendar days) of its issuance and release of the consignment under the T1 customs office. Issuance of a transit accompanying document is charged at 1,100 CZK excluding VAT. Private individuals do not have the option of using this method of customs clearance.

Handover protocol, PP

The handover protocol is used if the client does not wish to clear the shipment via DHL Express. The goods must be cleared at the customs office to which the consignment belongs (Prague Zdiby - Pražská 180, 250 66 Zdiby; Brno - Řípská 9,672 06 Brno; Ostrava Mošnov- Gen. Fajtla 372,742 31 Mošnov) and the goods remain in our customs warehouse until its customs clearance. After the end of the customs procedure at the customs office, it is necessary to send a customs clearance document (SAD) to the email address celni@dhl.com specifying whether the client wishes personal collection at our branch (Ostrava Mošnov -, Areál leteckého Cargo, module 8; Brno - Brno-Turany Airport, 627 00 Brno, Prague Zdiby - Parkerova 626, Klecany) on the same day, or delivery to the address the next working day. The handover protocol is charged for companies in the amount of 300 CZK without VAT according to our price list. It is issued free of charge for private persons.

If the value of the shipment is up to 150 EUR, then non-VAT payers have the option to clear the shipment themselves via the Customs website Celnička (https://celnicka.cz/cs). The consignee enters the information about the consignment from the handover report into the customs portal, clears it in this way and then pays the customs fees. Once the customs office informs us that the shipment has been cleared (usually the customs office informs us within 2-3 days of the clearance and payment of customs fees), we can forward the shipment for delivery or personal collection if the recipient wishes.

If the recipient is a VAT payer or a non-VAT payer but the consignment is worth more than 150 EUR, the customs clearance must take place physically at the customs office, see the first paragraph.

IOSS

IOSS is a service where a foreign e-shop is registered for VAT payment in the European Union and sells its goods with VAT. In order for the service to be recognised by customs, IOSS must be entered into the system by the sender when ordering the shipment. It is only valid for shipments to non-VAT payers up to EUR 150. IOSS, in other words, means that when the shipment is cleared in the Czech Republic, the recipient no longer pays the VAT, as it was paid when the goods were purchased.

DTP (Duties and Taxes Paid)

DTP is a service whereby the sender (or a third party) agrees to pay any customs fees incurred in clearing the shipment if the shipment is sent via DHL Express. This service must be indicated by the sender on the bill of lading. VAT payers charge VAT in their accounts, VAT for VAT payers is not re-invoiced to the sender. If a company has set up a paid service with us Request contact before clearing shipment, then this fee is charged to the consignee as it is a company setup and not directly related to the customs process of that shipment.

DTU service

DTU is the most frequently used service. It can also be found on the bill of lading, in which case the consignee pays the customs fees.

Requested contact before customs clearance (paid notification)

This is a service that only a company can set up with us. Thanks to this service, the company will receive our DHL4U form to provide information on customs procedures for each shipment, so the recipient can check the documents from the sender before clearing the shipment and thus avoid any complaints. The paid notification is charged at 300 CZK without VAT for each consignment contacted in this way. The shipment is not cleared through customs until we obtain information from the consignee for customs clearance.