EU customs clearance for ecommerce, cleared clean, released fast
Every parcel entering the EU has to clear customs, and a bad declaration is where shipments stall and customers get billed twice. Get matched to European partners that classify, declare and clear your goods correctly — so the border stops being where your delivery promise breaks.
Het verschil
Declared right, released without a second bill
Customs clearance looks like paperwork until a wrong HS code triggers a duty query, the parcel sits in a bonded shed for three days, and your customer opens a ticket asking why the courier wants another payment. The matching filters to partners that classify goods correctly, declare against your IOSS or deferment setup, and clear at speed — so the border is a formality, not a failure point.
Correct classification and declaration
Filter to partners that assign the right HS commodity code, value the consignment correctly, and file the import declaration against your VAT and IOSS setup — the three things that decide whether a parcel releases in hours or gets held for a query.
No surprise bill at the door
See partners that handle duty and import VAT the way you intend — prepaid through IOSS or a deferment account, not collected from the customer on the doorstep — so the price they paid at checkout is the price they pay, full stop.
How customs clearance works
- 01
Describe what you ship
Tell us your product types, where stock ships from, the EU markets you sell into, your average order value against the 150-euro IOSS line, and whether you already hold an IOSS number or a deferment account.
- 02
Compare shortlists
Partners are filtered to those set up to clear your goods into your markets, then scored on how they classify, declare and handle duty — so you compare on clearance capability, not just storage price.
- 03
Request an intro
Send a request with your product and volume profile attached, so a partner quotes against your real catalogue and clearance flow rather than a generic sample.
- 01
Classify and value
Each product is assigned its HS commodity code and the consignment is valued correctly — the two inputs customs uses to decide duty and whether the parcel needs a closer look.
- 02
Declare
The import declaration is filed against your VAT and IOSS setup, with the IOSS number applied where the order qualifies, so VAT is accounted for at the point of sale rather than at the border.
- 03
Release and dispatch
Customs clears the consignment, the parcel is released into the domestic carrier network, and tracking flows back so the customer sees continuous movement instead of a silent hold.
Get your EU customs handled
Start from the directory, or publish a store profile and let the matching find a European partner that clears your goods cleanly, applies your IOSS correctly and never lands your customer with a second bill.
Wat is customs clearance?
Customs clearance is the process of getting a shipment through a country's customs authority so it can be legally delivered: declaring the goods, assigning the correct HS commodity code, stating the consignment value, and accounting for any import VAT and customs duty owed. For ecommerce parcels entering the EU, clearance is where the 2021 VAT reforms bite — every commercial parcel owes VAT regardless of value, and consignments up to 150 euros can be cleared under IOSS with VAT collected at checkout instead of at the border. A fulfilment partner or 3PL typically handles clearance on the merchant's behalf, either registering and filing themselves or applying the merchant's own IOSS number and deferment account. Clean clearance releases a parcel in hours; a misclassification or valuation error gets it held for a query and can pass a surprise bill to the customer.
Ook wel genoemd: customs brokerage, import clearance, customs handling
Veelgestelde vragen
What is customs clearance for ecommerce?
It is the process of declaring your parcels to the customs authority of the country they enter so they can be released for delivery. For each shipment that means an HS commodity code, a stated value, and accounting for import VAT and any duty. For parcels entering the EU up to 150 euros, this is usually done under IOSS so VAT is collected at checkout rather than charged to the customer on arrival.
Does my fulfilment partner handle customs, or do I?
It depends on the partner, and it is the single thing to confirm in writing. Some register and file everything on your behalf. Some apply your IOSS number and deferment account but expect you to hold and manage them. Some clear delivered-duty-unpaid and leave collection to the carrier and the bill to your customer. All three are legitimate; only one is usually what a seller assumes they are buying.
What is an HS code and why does it matter?
An HS (Harmonised System) code is the internationally standardised commodity code that classifies what a product is. Customs uses it to determine the duty rate and any restrictions, so an incorrect code can mean the wrong duty, a held shipment, or a compliance problem. A good partner classifies your catalogue correctly up front rather than guessing per parcel.
How does the 150-euro threshold affect clearance?
Consignments with an intrinsic value up to 150 euros can be cleared under IOSS, with VAT collected at the point of sale and no duty due. Above 150 euros, IOSS does not apply: the parcel goes through standard import clearance and both VAT and potentially customs duty are collected, usually at the border. If your average order value straddles that line, your partner needs to run both flows without you checking each shipment.
Why do parcels get held at customs?
The common causes are a missing or wrong HS code, an inconsistent or missing value, no IOSS number where one was expected, or incomplete paperwork such as a vague goods description. Each triggers a manual query that adds days. Clearing cleanly is mostly about getting the declaration right the first time, which is exactly what an experienced partner is for.
Can customers still be charged on delivery?
Only if the shipment was not cleared with VAT prepaid — for example shipped delivered-duty-unpaid, or over the 150-euro line without the import VAT settled in advance. When a parcel is correctly cleared under IOSS or a deferment account, the customer pays nothing further on arrival. Confirm your partner's default flow so a checkout promise is not undone at the door.
Explore further
EU VAT and IOSS fulfilment
The tax-registration side that clearance is filed against.
UK to EU fulfilment
Clearing the post-Brexit border into the EU from Britain.
US to EU fulfilment
Importing and clearing stock into Europe from the States.
Browse the directory
Filter every partner by country, platform, carrier, COD and VAT/IOSS.
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