How to set up DHL Express for International shipping (Customs, Duties) [Step-by-Step guide]

When setting up a DHL Express account for international shipping, you will have to state in which way the Customs, Export and Duties are to be used and set up.

This article is supplementary to the regular setup detailed in the How to add and set up a DHL Express Billing Account [Step-by-Step guide] and it considers that the account has already been set up and created for domestic shipments. 

Feel free to follow the step-by-step guide written below or the video guide, as you prefer:

To configure Export and Customs you will have to:

1. Access Clients under the Maintenance menu

2. Click on the client related to the order

3. Edit the Billing Account (Carrier) related to the order and error

4. Select the Carrier Options tab and define:

5. Enter the Basic Duties information

• Is dutiable: If checked, indicates that shipments processed through the account are dutiable 
• Calculate insured value: If checked, it calculates the insured value from the SKU lines
• Calculate invoice gross weight: If checked, it calculates the invoice gross weight from the packages

6. Enter the Specific Duties information whenever applicable

• Duty Account number: Specify the account number that will pay for duties
• Shipper EORI Number: Specify the EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number according to the case
• Shipper Tax Number: Specify the Tax number according to the case
• Shipper IOSS Number: Specify the IOSS (Import One Stop Shop) number according to the case
  
  

For EORI, Tax and IOSS numbers, at least one is required, but depending on destination you may need different ones. If you're not sure which one you should use, consult with your DHL representative based on the good, origin and destinations you'll be shipping, from and to.

7. Default Package description: Complete with the description of your carton type (Box, Envelope, etc.)  

8. Enter the Shipper and Export information based on the type of business

9. Enter the Trade Documents  information

• Skip Trade Documents: If checked, trade documents will not be generated, and nullifies the Paperless Trade option if checked
  
• Paperless Trade: If checked, enables the usage of the ETD, if not checked, it switches to Paper Customs Invoices provided by DHL
• Terms of Trade: Select, depending on the case, typically DDP or DDU, but select according to your business scenario
• Commercial invoice template: Select the Commercial Invoice template (model) you'd like to use from the dropdown
• Default Place of Incoterm: Could be fixed (e.g. Germany), or use a variable from the Order level (e.g. {City})

OPTIONAL

A. Importer/Exporter address override: Check to enable fields if you need to complete and display an Importer and/or Exporter different address.

10. Press Save to apply the changes

If the rest of the order information is correct, you will be able to Process or Process and Print.