Duties & Taxes: DDP vs DDU
At JustShip, we understand that navigating duties and taxes can be a complex process. It's not just about compliance; it's about choices that suit your needs and preferences.
As long as the value of your shipment exceeds the destination country’s tax/duty threshold, customs charges will apply. This applies to all shipments, be it gifts, personal effects, or repair & return items.
With JustShip, you get to choose:
**Delivered Duty Paid (DDP)**: To prepay duties and taxes as the sender, or
Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU): Let the recipient settle the charges later.
We introduced DDP to address one of the biggest pain points for international shippers — unpredictable customs charges.
Many recipients are caught off guard by additional fees when their parcel arrives. This leads to:
Delivery delays
Poor customer experience
Rejected shipments and costly returns
With DDP, senders take control. We quote a fixed duties & taxes payment upfront, and your recipient never has to worry about surprise charges or stalled deliveries. The benefits:
No Surprises: Fixed charges mean no unexpected costs.
Recipient's Comfort: Ideal for gifts; your recipient pays nothing extra.
Fast Clearance: Your parcel clears customs swiftly.
Avoid Abandonment: No risk of return shipments due to unpaid charges.
Save Money: Handling fees for post-paid taxes can be costlier by 3-4 times.
The flat handling fee for this service is $20.
(read more here)
When you opt for DDP at checkout, you'll be quoted a prepaid charge for duties and taxes based on your declared item value and estimated shipping cost (depending on destination country's calculation method)
If your verified shipping cost increases later, your shipment value may rise — which means duties and taxes may also increase.
Once DDP is paid, your recipient should not be contacted or delayed due to unpaid customs charges.
📌 Important notes:
DDP charges are non-refundable - Even if customs waives duties or charges less, no refund will be issued.
If customs charges more than quoted, JustShip will cover the difference, as long as the shipment was accurately declared.
Misdeclared or under-declared shipments are not covered — any shortfall will be the sender’s responsibility.
If you're confident your items won't incur duties, or you’ve arranged for the recipient to handle any applicable charges, you can opt for DDU. This means no upfront payment is required from you for duties and taxes — the recipient will be contacted by customs (or the courier) to settle any fees before the shipment is delivered.
If there are any duties and taxes incurred for your shipment, it will be billed to your recipient directly after parcel arrives at the destination country. Package will be released for delivery after payment of the charges.
❗Please note that JustShip will not manage this process. We:
Don’t know in advance how much the duties will be
Cannot assist with payment or resolution if the recipient refuses to pay
Are not liable for any delays, rejections, or return charges that result
For the latter, that package will only be released for delivery after payment is made by the recipient.
Be aware that failure to pay any import charges by the deadline may result in the package being returned to Singapore at the shipper's cost.
To avoid getting into such a situation, opt for DDP (delivered duty paid) where a fixed upfront charge is quoted to you as the shipper and paid for, even before the parcel is shipped out of Singapore.
Duties and taxes need not be a maze. With JustShip, you get transparent options that align with your needs. Whether you choose the convenience of DDP or the flexibility of DDU, our experts are here to guide you through the process. Questions? Contact us via WhatsApp, and we'll simplify your shipping journey.
As long as the value of your shipment exceeds the destination country’s tax/duty threshold, customs charges will apply. This applies to all shipments, be it gifts, personal effects, or repair & return items.
With JustShip, you get to choose:
**Delivered Duty Paid (DDP)**: To prepay duties and taxes as the sender, or
Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU): Let the recipient settle the charges later.
| Option | Who pays duties & taxes | What the recipient experiences |
|---|---|---|
| DDP | Shipper (the sender) | Peace of mind. No surprise charges at delivery. Customs clearance is faster. |
| DDU | Recipient | May receive a customs payment request, delaying delivery until it’s paid. |
Why did JustShip launch DDP?
We introduced DDP to address one of the biggest pain points for international shippers — unpredictable customs charges.
Many recipients are caught off guard by additional fees when their parcel arrives. This leads to:
Delivery delays
Poor customer experience
Rejected shipments and costly returns
With DDP, senders take control. We quote a fixed duties & taxes payment upfront, and your recipient never has to worry about surprise charges or stalled deliveries. The benefits:
No Surprises: Fixed charges mean no unexpected costs.
Recipient's Comfort: Ideal for gifts; your recipient pays nothing extra.
Fast Clearance: Your parcel clears customs swiftly.
Avoid Abandonment: No risk of return shipments due to unpaid charges.
Save Money: Handling fees for post-paid taxes can be costlier by 3-4 times.
The flat handling fee for this service is $20.
Why am I charged an additional courier handling fee?
The additional courier handling fee applies when you choose to have the sender cover import charges through DDP. This fee helps cover the courier’s cost of managing and processing these charges on your behalf.
(read more here)
What happens after I select DDP?
When you opt for DDP at checkout, you'll be quoted a prepaid charge for duties and taxes based on your declared item value and estimated shipping cost (depending on destination country's calculation method)
If your verified shipping cost increases later, your shipment value may rise — which means duties and taxes may also increase.
Once DDP is paid, your recipient should not be contacted or delayed due to unpaid customs charges.
📌 Important notes:
DDP charges are non-refundable - Even if customs waives duties or charges less, no refund will be issued.
If customs charges more than quoted, JustShip will cover the difference, as long as the shipment was accurately declared.
Misdeclared or under-declared shipments are not covered — any shortfall will be the sender’s responsibility.
Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU):
If you're confident your items won't incur duties, or you’ve arranged for the recipient to handle any applicable charges, you can opt for DDU. This means no upfront payment is required from you for duties and taxes — the recipient will be contacted by customs (or the courier) to settle any fees before the shipment is delivered.
If there are any duties and taxes incurred for your shipment, it will be billed to your recipient directly after parcel arrives at the destination country. Package will be released for delivery after payment of the charges.
❗Please note that JustShip will not manage this process. We:
Don’t know in advance how much the duties will be
Cannot assist with payment or resolution if the recipient refuses to pay
Are not liable for any delays, rejections, or return charges that result
What happens if my recipient does not pay for the import charges billed to him/her?
For the latter, that package will only be released for delivery after payment is made by the recipient.
Be aware that failure to pay any import charges by the deadline may result in the package being returned to Singapore at the shipper's cost.
To avoid getting into such a situation, opt for DDP (delivered duty paid) where a fixed upfront charge is quoted to you as the shipper and paid for, even before the parcel is shipped out of Singapore.
JustShip's Commitment - Your Choice, Our Support
Duties and taxes need not be a maze. With JustShip, you get transparent options that align with your needs. Whether you choose the convenience of DDP or the flexibility of DDU, our experts are here to guide you through the process. Questions? Contact us via WhatsApp, and we'll simplify your shipping journey.
Updated on: 18/06/2025
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