This article explains what the webshop can (and cannot) tell you about import duties and taxes before you place an order.
Quick answer
We don’t show or calculate the exact amount of customs fees in checkout. Instead, checkout tells you whether import duties & taxes are included in your order total or not included.
| Checkout shows | What happens |
|---|---|
| Duties & taxes: Included |
|
| Duties & taxes: Not included |
|
You’ll see this information after entering your shipping address and before completing payment.
Shipping logistics such as carriers, warehouses, and delivery times are explained separately in our official shipping policy.
What “Duties & taxes: Included” means (DDP)
When checkout shows “Duties & taxes: Included”, import duties and taxes are prepaid as part of your order.
For you this means:
- No customs payment should be required from you
- The carrier should not request import payment
- Delivery proceeds normally without customs handling by the recipient
Customs clearance is handled automatically in the background as part of the shipment process.
When duties are not included
If checkout shows “Duties & taxes: Not included”, import fees are handled locally in your country.
This means:
- Import duties or taxes may apply depending on local regulations
- The shipping carrier will usually request payment via the tracking page before any delivery attempt
- Delivery continues after the payment is completed
This is expected behavior for international shipments and not a problem with your order.
Common destinations where this frequently applies
- Mexico
- Argentina
- El Salvador
- Spain – Canary Islands
Availability may change over time depending on carrier support and local import rules. Always rely on the checkout information for your specific order.
What happens after shipping (non-DDP shipments)
For orders where duties & taxes are not included, the shipment typically follows this process:
- The parcel arrives in your country
- Customs processing begins
- The carrier updates the tracking with a payment request
- You complete the payment using the carrier’s payment page
- The parcel is released and delivery is scheduled
If the payment is not completed, the shipment is returned to us.
Return shipping costs and carrier handling fees may be deducted from the refund once the parcel arrives back at our warehouse.
Price adjustment for non-DDP shipments
If duties cannot be prepaid, the webshop automatically reduces the product price by 20%.
This adjustment exists because import costs vary by country and are determined only by local authorities.
Important:
- The reduction is not an estimate of your customs fees
- The reduction is not a refund
- The reduction does not correspond to the amount you will pay
- Import duties, taxes, and carrier handling fees are not included in the order total
- The final amount is determined solely by your country’s customs authority
EU orders (important clarification)
Orders shipped within the European Union are not DDP shipments because no international import takes place.
They are dispatched from our German warehouse and remain inside the EU customs territory.
For you this means:
- No import duties are charged
- No customs payment is requested by the carrier
- Delivery works like a normal domestic parcel
DDP does not apply because there is no customs border to cross.
Business orders (B2B)
All business-to-business (B2B) orders are shipped as:
DDU — Delivered Duty Unpaid
This applies to all countries and destinations, even where prepaid duties are normally available for private customers.
Business shipments are handled this way because companies typically import goods under their own tax and accounting structure.
What DDU means for B2B customers
For B2B shipments:
- Import duties and taxes are handled by the recipient company
- The carrier or local customs authority may request payment
- BitBox does not prepay import fees for business orders
- Customs processing is outside of BitBox’s control
This allows companies to declare the import correctly for VAT, accounting, and regulatory purposes.
20% price reduction for DDU shipments
For business orders shipped DDU, the webshop automatically reduces the product price by 20%.
This reduction exists because import duties and taxes are handled by the importing company and are determined only by local authorities.
Important:
- The reduction is not related to the actual customs amount
- The reduction is not a refund
- The reduction does not predict or offset the import charges
- Import duties, taxes, and carrier handling fees are paid separately by the recipient company
- The final amount is determined solely by local customs authorities
How to verify before ordering
During checkout, after entering your shipping address, look for the “Duties & taxes” line:
- Included → No customs payment expected
- Not included → Import payment may be required before delivery
This section always reflects the payment responsibility for that specific order.
FAQ
BitBox never sends separate payment links for customs.
Import payments are handled only through the shipping carrier shown in your tracking page.
My tracking says “held in customs”. Is something wrong?
No. This is expected for shipments where duties are not prepaid.
The carrier is waiting for customs processing or payment confirmation before delivery can continue.
What happens if I refuse to pay customs fees?
The shipment is returned to us.
Return shipping costs and carrier handling fees may be deducted from the refund once the parcel arrives back at our warehouse.
Can I avoid import fees by choosing another shipping method?
No. Import duties are determined by local authorities and are independent of the selected shipping service.
How will I know if I need to pay import fees?
During checkout you will see:
This means the carrier may request payment before delivery.
How can I tell DDP applies to my order?
During checkout you will see:
No customs payment should be requested from you.