Customs Clearance Services for Global Retail

Experts & Technology

Your expert team for global trade

We combine expert knowledge, smart tech, and trusted brokers to keep parcels moving.

Classification & Labelling

Essential support for every product

Receive support to ensure products are classified and labelled correctly for every destination.

Customs Duty & Tax Advice

Clarity on all cross-border costs

Get expert advice on duties and taxes to ensure transparency for you and your customers.

Flexible Clearance Models

The right clearance model for your business

Choose from a range of options (postal, commercial, DDP/DTP/DAP) that best fit your products.

Returns & Duty Drawback

Simplify returns and recover value

We manage international returns and help you reclaim duties on eligible items.

Smart technology streamlines every step

Automated Pre-Clearance

Orders flow into our platform, where customs data is processed automatically. Integrations with brokers and carriers enable pre-clearance for faster transit and fewer delays.

Returns Management & Duty Drawback

We simplify returns with local options, branded portals, and consolidated processing — reducing costs and boosting visibility. Duty drawback support helps reclaim duties on eligible returns.

Customs prepaid and customs paid at destination alternatives

When you give shoppers the options they prefer, you’ll see higher conversions and fewer rejected parcels.

DDP, DTP or DAP: who pays import charges?

These models create different responsibilities and different checkout experiences. DDP and DAP are Incoterms® 2020 rules. DTP is an Asendia service description rather than an Incoterm, so the importer, settlement method and exact scope must be confirmed for each destination and contracted service.

Model	Import responsibility	Payment experience	What to confirm
DDP Delivered Duty Paid	The seller is responsible for import clearance and the applicable duties and taxes.	The shopper should see a landed cost before purchase and normally has nothing further to pay before delivery.	The named place, legal importer or representative, registrations and reconciliation process.
DTP Duties & Taxes Paid	A retailer-side or pre-paid arrangement under the agreed Asendia service; it is not an Incoterm.	When configured correctly, the shopper is not normally asked to settle import charges at delivery.	The importer, charge-estimation method, invoicing, exceptions and destination coverage in the contract.
DAP Delivered at Place	The buyer handles import formalities and import charges; the seller carries transport risk to the named destination.	The shopper may receive a separate request for duties, taxes and handling fees before the parcel is released.	Clear pre-purchase disclosure, payment communications and the process for unpaid or refused parcels.

Swipe horizontally to view the full comparison table. “DDU” is a legacy term and is not part of Incoterms® 2020.

For a practical comparison of responsibilities, shopper charges and delivery experience, read our DDP, DDU and DAP delivery guide.

Delivery Duty Paid (DDP and DTP)

Retailer pays upfront

No surprise charges for shoppers, which leads to higher delivery success and customer satisfaction.

Delivery Duty at Place (DAP)

Shopper pays on delivery

A simple setup for you. Charges are paid by the shopper on or before delivery, with the option to upgrade to DDP.

Delivery Duty Pre-Paid

Shopper pays before export

Duties are collected from the shopper before the parcel is exported, which reduces rejected parcels and improves trust.

Clearance solutions designed around what you sell and where you sell

Asendia offers customs clearance flexibility designed to fit your unique business needs, ensuring a smooth process for every shipment.

Low-cost clearance for low-value goods via postal authorities.

For higher-value parcels or faster delivery, using commercial channels.

Intra-EU shipments for example where no clearance is required, or when taking advantage of our direct access option and your own customs broker.

For high-volume shippers managing their own logistics and clearance.

Payment to Tax authorities — and how we help

Example: IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop)
IOSS simplifies VAT for EU parcels under €150. We support registration, submissions, and embedding IOSS numbers into shipments.

Faster clearance in the EU
No surprise VAT bills for shoppers
Simplified monthly submissions
Access to IOSS via our partner

How IOSS fits into EU customs clearance

The Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) is a VAT reporting mechanism for eligible B2C consignments valued at €150 or less. It lets VAT be collected at checkout and reported through one registration. IOSS does not remove other customs requirements or the temporary €3 customs duty that has applied to low-value EU imports since 1 July 2026.

Use the guide to IOSS and EU VAT rules for the end-to-end process. If your business is established outside the EU, also review when an IOSS intermediary is needed.

Frequently Asked Questions about Asendia’s Customs Clearance Services

Asendia provides customs clearance support for ecommerce merchants, including pre-collection of duties and taxes where the selected service supports it, customer data capture and electronic submission of shipment data to customs authorities. The exact process depends on the origin, destination, product data and delivery model.

With DDP, the seller is responsible for import clearance and the applicable duties and taxes. With DAP, the buyer handles import formalities and import charges at destination. DDU is a legacy term that is still commonly used for the same buyer-pays-duty arrangement.

Shipment data is transmitted to destination customs before the parcel arrives. This allows authorities and delivery partners to review the information earlier and can reduce avoidable border delays when the data is complete and accurate.

Showing the expected landed cost at checkout reduces unexpected import charges and helps shoppers understand the total cost before purchase. The available presentation and collection model depends on the retailer checkout, destination and selected service.

Retailers need accurate product descriptions, values, country of origin and tariff classifications, plus a clear delivery model and the electronic shipment data required for the destination.

When a destination requires customer action under a pay-at-destination model, clearance and delivery may be delayed if payment or identification is not completed. The shipment may ultimately be returned according to the selected service and route. Exact workflows and time limits should be confirmed for each destination.

Asendia connects ecommerce businesses with delivery services across more than 200 destinations, but customs clearance models and features vary by origin, destination, product type and service. Availability should be confirmed for the required route.

Under a DDP arrangement, the retailer can present a price that includes the expected duties and taxes and settle the assessed import charges. Under DAP, the shopper may be asked to pay import charges at destination. The exact checkout wording and amount depend on the retailer setup and route.

Customs clearance solutions for global retail

Stay compliant, avoid delays, and deliver with confidence.

Customs compliance: a cornerstone of success in shifting trade environments

What happens when parcels aren’t compliant?

With Asendia, you can:

Deliver a seamless shopper experience

Protect your reputation

Ensure compliance worldwide

Avoid delays and returns

Minimise costs

How we help you and your business