What is DHL's Duty Tax Paid fee?

When a parcel arrives and duty is owed, someone has to pay Customs before it can be released. On an express shipment DHL does that itself rather than holding the package while it contacts you, because holding costs more than advancing. The Duty Tax Paid fee — sometimes appearing as an advancement or disbursement charge — is what DHL bills for having fronted the money.

Two things about the structure catch people out. First, it is a percentage of the duty advanced with a floor, so on a small duty the floor decides the fee and the percentage is irrelevant. A $4 duty and a $9 duty can attract exactly the same charge. Second, it is entirely separate from the duty itself: the duty goes to the government, this goes to DHL.

That separation is what makes it checkable. DHL publishes its surcharge schedule, so if the line on your invoice does not match the published rate for your shipment date, you have a specific thing to raise. The duty line, by contrast, is set by law and is not something DHL can adjust.

What to check

• 01Find the duty amount on the invoice — that is the government portion.
• 02Find the Duty Tax Paid or advancement line — that is DHL's.
• 03Compare the second against DHL's published surcharge schedule for your shipment date.
• 04If the fee exceeds the published minimum and the percentage does not match, raise it with DHL billing citing the schedule.