DHL, FedEx or UPS from the UK to Poland — Which Courier Is Better for Customs?

How Customs Charges Work on UK Deliveries — the Disbursement Mechanism

Before comparing couriers, it is worth understanding the mechanism that means you may receive a bill from the courier for a parcel from the UK — even though you have already paid for the goods. This is the disbursement fee (also called advancement fee or brokerage fee): a charge for the courier having pre-financed the duty and import VAT on your behalf and now requiring reimbursement plus a handling commission.

What is a disbursement fee and why does the courier charge it

When a parcel from the UK enters Poland, the courier's customs agent files a customs declaration and pays the import duty and VAT on your behalf. Polish and EU law requires duty to be paid before goods are released — the courier does this from its own funds because it cannot wait for your bank transfer. It then invoices you for: the duty amount (passed to the customs authority), the import VAT amount (passed to the customs authority), and its own clearance handling charge.

That own charge — is the disbursement fee or brokerage fee. Its level depends on the courier and the shipment value. Legal basis: GOV.UK — Customs Duty on goods sent from abroad (gov.uk/guidance/customs-duty-on-goods-sent-from-abroad) and the relevant Polish customs legislation.

COD vs prepaid customs — two courier models

Couriers generally operate two duty settlement models for imports from the UK:

COD model (Cash on Delivery / payment on receipt): the courier delivers a notification or sends an SMS with the amount due. The recipient pays before or upon receipt — online (card, bank transfer) or in cash to the courier. Delivery only happens after payment. This is the most common model for B2C shipments.

Prepaid Customs model (sender pays upfront): the shop or sender in the UK declares the customs value and pays the duty upfront at the time of dispatch. The recipient in Poland receives the parcel with no additional costs on collection. Large online retailers (Amazon, ASOS, Next) frequently use this model to simplify the shopping experience. If a courier or shop advertises "No hidden customs fees" — this is that model.

DHL, FedEx, UPS and DPD — Comparison of Customs Procedures

Each of the major couriers has a slightly different customs handling system for shipments from the UK to Poland. The procedures below are based on publicly available information. We do not quote specific fee amounts — these change too frequently and vary depending on the tariff, shipment value and the sender's contract. Always check current prices and terms directly with the courier.

DHL Express and DHL Parcel — how DHL handles customs

DHL offers two channels: DHL Express (business shipments, fast clearance, higher fees) and DHL Parcel (consumer e-commerce shipments). When importing from the UK to Poland, DHL generally pre-finances duty and VAT and then issues the recipient with a debit note. The recipient is notified by email or SMS with a payment link. The parcel is held until payment is made, unless the DHL Account Holder has an active Duty and Tax deferment arrangement.

DHL uses a "Duty and Tax" invoice — a separate invoice for duty (passed to the authority) and its own administrative charge. For shipments above €150 (the de minimis threshold for duty) the recipient must pay both items. Detailed procedures: dhl.com (not a government source — treat as context, not a formal citation).

FedEx — Duty and Taxes Payor model

FedEx uses the Duty and Taxes Payor system, which specifies upfront who pays the duty: the sender (Shipper Pays) or the recipient (Recipient Pays). If the sender in the UK did not select Shipper Pays at dispatch — the recipient receives a FedEx Delivery Manager notification with the amount due before delivery. FedEx also applies an advancement charge for pre-financing the duty — the amount is shown in the notification before payment.

For B2C shipments from the UK FedEx typically operates on a Recipient Pays basis, unless the online shop has agreed a DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) arrangement with FedEx. It is worth asking the shop before purchasing whether they use DDP — this eliminates surprises on collection.

UPS — advancement fee and UPS My Choice

UPS uses the term advancement fee for the duty pre-financing charge. When importing from the UK to Poland, UPS charges an advancement fee as either a percentage of the duty value or a fixed fee — depending on the shipment value and the sender's contract type. The recipient is notified via UPS My Choice, where they can check the clearance status and pay the required amount online.

UPS also offers the option to pay by card to the driver on delivery — but this depends on the region and driver. In practice most recipients in Poland settle amounts online via a link in an email notification. Recommendation: register with UPS My Choice before an expected delivery — it gives access to clearance details and management options.

DPD — own B2C clearance model

DPD (part of the Geopost group) has its own customs clearance system and uses a model similar to DHL: DPD pre-finances duty, notifies the recipient with the amount and a payment link. DPD is popular for shipments from British e-commerce shops, as it often has better rates for lower-value shipments than DHL Express or FedEx.

DPD uses the term "customs and clearance fee" in its notifications — this covers both the duty and VAT passed to the authority and DPD's own clearance commission. Before accepting payment, always check the breakdown: (1) duty/VAT passed to the authority and (2) DPD's handling charge — these are two separate items.

How to Check Customs Clearance Status and What to Do When a Parcel Is Stuck

Customs clearance with couriers is generally faster than with postal services — DHL Express, FedEx and UPS have their own customs departments (brokerage teams) and software for mass clearances. But when something goes wrong — an error in the declaration, missing documents, a controlled commodity — a parcel can get stuck. Below we describe how to check the status and what to do.

How to check the customs clearance status of your parcel

Each courier has an online tracking system showing the clearance stage. Look for statuses such as: "Customs clearance in progress", "Awaiting customs release", "Documents required", "In customs" or local-language equivalents. If the status has not changed for more than 5 working days — call the courier's customs department directly (not the general customer service line).

To speak to the courier's customs department, prepare: shipment tracking number, purchase invoice or confirmation, description and value of the goods. The courier may be able to explain the reason for the hold and advise what documents are needed. If the parcel contains a regulated item or one requiring an import permit — contact a customs broker.

Complaints and the right to refuse delivery

You are entitled to a detailed breakdown of every customs charge: the courier must show how much went to the customs authority (duty + VAT) and how much is its own fee. If you believe the customs value declared by the sender was incorrect or inflated — you can submit a request for customs value correction through a customs broker. Legal basis on the Polish side: Act of 19 March 2004 — Customs Law (Journal of Laws 2004 No. 68, item 622).

If you do not wish to pay the required duty — you can refuse delivery. Consequence: the goods are returned to the sender or treated as abandoned by the customs authority. This is not a recommended solution — it is better to contact the sender and jointly submit a customs value correction. This article reflects the legal position as at 2026-04-18. Contact a customs broker before taking action.

What the current rules say

DHL, FedEx, UPS and DPD use a similar customs mechanism for deliveries from the UK to Poland: the courier pre-finances duty and VAT, and the recipient pays back the amount plus a handling fee (disbursement, advancement fee or brokerage fee) before the parcel is delivered. We do not quote specific fee amounts — these change too frequently. The difference between couriers lies mainly in the payment interface, clearance speed and the option of prepaid customs on the sender's side. If a parcel is stuck at clearance, call the courier's customs department with the tracking number and purchase invoice. This article reflects the legal position as at 2026-04-18.

FAQ — frequently asked questions

Which courier from the UK to Poland has lower customs fees — DHL, FedEx or UPS?

We do not quote specific amounts — disbursement and brokerage fees change regularly. The mechanism is similar for all: the courier pre-finances duty and VAT, and the recipient reimburses the amount plus a handling fee. Compare current tariffs directly on the DHL, FedEx and UPS websites, or ask the sender whether they use a DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) model.

What is a disbursement fee and why does the courier charge it?

A disbursement fee (or advancement fee, brokerage fee) is the courier's charge for pre-financing the duty and import VAT on your behalf. The law requires duty to be paid before goods are released — the courier pays upfront and then invoices you. On top of the duty and VAT (passed to the authority) comes the courier's own commission for the service.

How do I work out how much duty I will pay for a parcel from the UK?

Duty = goods value × duty rate (depends on the HS code of the product — check HMRC Trade Tariff). Plus VAT 23% (or reduced rate) on goods value + duty + shipping costs. Below €150 goods value: no duty, but VAT still applies. Check the calculator at podatki.gov.pl/clo.

Can the shop pay the duty on my behalf upfront?

Yes. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) means the sender/shop in the UK covers duty and VAT upfront. The recipient receives the parcel with no additional payments. Large retailers such as Amazon often use DDP. Ask the shop before purchasing: "Do you ship DDP to Poland?" or check the shipping policy on the shop's website.

What should I do if a parcel from the UK is stuck at customs clearance with the courier?

Check tracking — if the status has not changed for 5+ working days, call the courier's customs department (not the general customer service line). Provide the tracking number and purchase invoice. If the customs authority has requested additional documents — check the email from the courier. Article on a parcel stuck at clearance: easyclearance.pl/articles/paczka-uk-utknela-w-odprawie-co-robic-jak-dlugo.html

Official sources

• Customs duty on goods sent from abroad — GOV.UK
• Pay Customs Duty — HMRC — GOV.UK
• podatki.gov.pl — import of goods and VAT — Ministry of Finance (PL)
• PUESC — import customs declarations — PUESC
• National Revenue Administration (KAS) — customs and taxes — KAS