How Do I Pay the Customs Tax on Returned Packages Sent to China?

In normal, once you receive a message showing 'Users have to pay for taxes', you need to contact the receiver in China to cooperate to pay for you. 

If the recipient is willing to cooperate, they can complete the tax payment on the aforementioned platform. 

 

Online tax payment is the most convenient option.

 

WeChat Mini Program: Search for 'ems 邮件代理报关''EMS mail agent customs declaration', then, click  'Pay taxes' '缴纳税款'; Search for and enter “掌上海关”"Customs Mobile" or “掌上单一窗口”"Single Window Mobile".

 

Mobile App: Download “掌上海关”"Customs Mobile" or “掌上单一窗口”"Single Window Mobile."

 

Computer Website: Visit the “中国国际贸易单一窗口”"China International Trade Single Window" or the government services page of the General Administration of Customs website.

 

Alipay: Search for the “个人物品税款支付”"Personal Goods Tax Payment" function within Alipay.

 

UnionPay QuickPass: Search for the relevant function within the UnionPay QuickPass app.

 

After logging into the platform, select "One-Stop Processing for Inbound and Outbound Mail Clearance" to find packages requiring tax payment online and pay the tax using WeChat, Alipay, or other methods. Typically, the package will be released and continue delivery within 1-2 business days after tax payment.

 

An even easier option: Tax payment via courier

 

The receiver can choose a courier company's tax payment service. After receiving the tax payment notice, simply follow the instructions in the SMS or app to pay the tax. The courier company will pay the tax to customs on your behalf, usually charging a small service fee.

According to China's Customs Law, the recipient (your buyer) is the legal taxpayer of customs duties. As the shipper, you do not have the authority to directly log into the Chinese customs system to pay the taxes on behalf of the recipient after the package arrives in China.

 

However, because the recipient refuses to pay the taxes, you, as the shipper, are forced to become the de facto "payer." Almost all international courier companies' shipping terms include this provision: if the recipient refuses to pay customs duties, the courier company has the right to charge the sender (you) this fee. Moreover, they generally adopt a "deliver first, settle later" model; the tax invoice is only issued to the recipient after the package is delivered. If the recipient does not pay, the taxes and other miscellaneous fees will "reverse" back to the sender.

 

Therefore, your current situation is: although you cannot directly log into the platform to pay the taxes, you can authorize and bear this fee through the courier company. Here are some specific solutions:

 

Option One: Contact the courier company to handle

 

This is currently the most direct and reliable solution.

 

Procedure:

 

Immediately contact the customer service of the courier company you used to ship the goods (DHL, FedEx, UPS, EMS, etc.), provide the tracking number, and clearly state that the recipient refuses to pay taxes, and you, as the sender, are willing to bear all customs duties and related costs.

 

The courier company's customer service will handle the process for you, transferring the tax bill to your account.

 

Afterwards, you can complete the payment through the payment link or account system provided by the courier company.

 

Official contact information and payment policies for each courier company:

 

EMS: Customer Service Hotline (11183); If the recipient has not processed the shipment, contact customer service to apply for transfer to the sender, but the process is slow.

 

DHL: Customer Service Hotline (95380); The sender must have a DHL account. After contacting customer service, you can apply to have the tax transferred to the sender's bill.

 

FedEx: Customer Service Hotline (95323); Default terms: If the recipient refuses to pay, the cost is automatically transferred to the sender.

 

UPS: Customer Service Hotline (95382); Default terms: If the recipient refuses to pay, the cost is automatically transferred to the sender.

 

Option Two: Apply for Package Return (To Avoid Greater Losses)

 

If the customs duties are too high and you are unwilling to bear them, you can contact the courier company as soon as possible to apply for a return shipment.

 

Key Points to Note:

 

You will bear the return shipping costs, including return shipping fees and demurrage fees. The return cost may exceed the value of the goods; you need to weigh whether it is worthwhile.

 

If the package remains unprocessed for more than 3 months, customs has the right to sell the goods according to law.

 

The earlier you apply, the better. The longer the package remains, the higher the storage fees will be, and the more complicated the package's status may become.

 

Option Three: Abandon the Goods

 

If the package value is low, and the return shipping costs even exceed the value of the goods themselves, you can consider submitting a written declaration of abandonment. The courier company will submit an abandonment declaration to customs, which will then review the declaration and auction the package publicly (with the proceeds going to the national treasury) or destroy it. The advantage of this method is that you do not need to bear the return shipping costs and demurrage fees, but the recipient will completely lose ownership of the goods.

 

Time Reminder
 

Generally, packages will be returned to the sender after a 7-15 day holding period.

 

If the goods remain unprocessed for more than three months, customs has the right to sell them in accordance with the law.

 

Please act as soon as possible; delays will only increase storage fees and late payment charges.