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“Duty Paid” Does Not Mean Safe: 6 Questions to Ask Before You Pay for DDP From China
The PFC Royal Logistics team, Shenzhen, since 2010 · Facts checked
DDP sounds perfect: one price, no bill at the door. For many buyers it is. But a few questions decide whether it protects you, or only looks like it does.
"When I asked for customs documents (like CBP Form 7501 or proof of duties paid), they said they can't provide them because all goods are cleared together in bulk. And they won't provide the agent's contact info."
A US importer on a DDP forwarder, Reddit, April 2025. Read the postThat importer paid for "duty paid". Then he could not see proof. And he worried the duty was never really paid.
Another importer, this time in the UK, wrote: "I didn't receive any paperwork for the entry in to the UK, nothing to show any VAT/Import duty was paid."
Their price looked fine. Their paperwork did not.
Picture the day after delivery
The goods arrive. No bill at the door. You are happy.
Three months later, your accountant asks for proof of the import VAT. Or customs asks a question about a shipment. Or a tariff changes, and your next DDP price jumps.
Now you need answers. Who was the importer? Where are the papers? Who pays if something was wrong?
If you asked 6 simple questions before you booked, you already know.
What you will learn on this page
- What DDP really covers, and what it leaves open.
- Why the name on the customs form matters in the US and the UK.
- When DDP is a great choice, and when another term fits better.
- 6 questions to ask any shipper, including us.
DDP in one minute
| DDP | DAP | |
|---|---|---|
| Who pays duty and tax | The shipper, up front | You, on arrival |
| Bill at the door | None | Possible |
| You deal with customs | No | You, or your broker |
| Whose name is on the entry | Usually the shipper's | Yours |
The last row is the one that matters most. The importer is the one customs holds responsible.
In the US, Customs and Border Protection says the importer of record is ultimately responsible for the correctness of the entry and for all duties, taxes and fees, even when a broker files it.
That is good news when the shipper is the importer, and the shipper does the job well. It is bad news when you do not know who the importer is.
The 6 questions
1Who is the importer on the customs form?
This one name decides who is responsible, and in the UK, whose record the VAT goes on.
Ask: "Whose name is on the customs entry for my shipment?"
Red flag: "Don't worry, it is handled."
Our answer: on our DDP shipments, PFC is the importer on the customs form.
2Can I get the customs papers?
In the US, the entry summary is CBP Form 7501. Customs says that after release, the importer pays the estimated duties within 10 days. The UK has its own records. You may never need them. But if you do, you need to know they exist.
Ask: "Can I get a copy of the customs entry and the proof of duty and VAT paid?"
Red flag: "We clear everything together, so we can't share it."
Our answer: yes, on request.
3Is the price truly all-in?
Ask: "Does the price include duty, tax, clearance, fees and delivery to my door? Is anything extra?"
Red flag: a per-kilo price with no word on duty or tax.
DDP is on offer for express, special lines, air freight and sea freight with us. Postal packets go without DDP.
4Will the declared value match my invoice?
Some sellers under-declare to make the duty look small. It looks like a saving. If customs checks, the importer carries the risk.
Ask: "Will you declare the true value and the right tariff code? Who pays if customs corrects it?"
Red flag: "We can make the invoice smaller."
5If I am VAT-registered in the UK, can I reclaim the import VAT?
This is the one that surprises UK businesses.
HMRC says import VAT is recorded against the EORI number on the customs declaration. It also says that if someone imports for you, you must tell them in writing how you want to account for the VAT, and give them your EORI number.
If the shipper is the importer, the VAT sits on the shipper's record, not yours. That is why one UK importer wrote: "DDP is simple but I am missing the VAT invoices and it is VAT I will never be able to claim back if I become vat registered."
Ask: "I am VAT-registered. Can the import VAT go on my record?"
Red flag: a vague "yes", with nothing in writing.
Our answer: no. On our DDP shipments PFC is the importer, so the VAT is on our record. If you are VAT-registered and need to reclaim it, choose customs clearance instead, where you or your broker are the importer.
If you are not VAT-registered, this question does not apply to you.
6What happens to my price if the rules change?
Rules are moving. In the US, shipments worth $2,500 or less now pay duty, with a narrow exception for gifts of $100 or less. The UK is reforming how it treats low-value imports.
Ask: "Is my DDP price fixed? What if duty rates change before the goods arrive?"
Red flag: a price with no end date and no mention of changes.
Our answer: our prices are updated every day, because currency and carrier prices change. A DDP price holds for a short window only. We tell you how long your quote is valid, so book inside it.
A good shipper tells you how long a price holds. Ask every one.
When DDP is a great choice
We would not tell you to skip it. One importer put it fairly: "Actually it's fine I do DDP all the time, honestly it's to save on the nightmare of paperwork otherwise… you're going to be running around for days."
- You sell to consumers and want no bill at the door.
- You are new to importing and have no customs broker.
- You are not VAT-registered, so you have no VAT to reclaim.
When another term may fit better
- You are VAT-registered in the UK and want to reclaim the import VAT. With our DDP, the VAT is on our record, so you cannot.
- You want your name on the entry and your own copy of every paper.
- You ship large volumes and want to control your customs costs yourself.
In those cases, customs clearance may suit you better. We prepare the documents, and you or your broker act as the importer.
Where PFC fits
We are PFC Royal Logistics. We work from Shenzhen, and have since 2010.
- We clear export customs in China and import customs at the destination.
- On DDP, PFC is the importer on the customs form, and we pay the duty and tax.
- You pay one price to the door. Nothing is due at delivery.
- Customs papers are available on request.
Cargo cover is not included automatically. We offer it for an extra fee. Ask before you ship.
What happens when you ask for a quote
- You tell us what you ship.The goods, their value, the weight and the delivery address. Say if you are VAT-registered in the UK. If you need to reclaim import VAT, we point you to customs clearance instead.
- We reply within 24 hours.You get a DDP price, the importer named, and how long the price is valid.
- You check it against the 6 questions.Then you choose. A quote is free.
Quick questions
What does DDP mean?
Delivered Duty Paid. The shipper clears customs at both ends and pays the import duty and tax. You pay one price to the door, and nothing at delivery.
Which of your services offer DDP?
Express, special lines, air freight and sea freight. Postal packets go without DDP.
Who is the importer on a DDP shipment with PFC?
PFC is the importer on the customs form. We pay the duty and tax as part of your price.
Can I get the customs papers?
Yes, on request. Ask us when you book, or after delivery.
Who is responsible if the declaration is wrong?
In the US, the importer of record is ultimately responsible for the correctness of the entry and all duties, taxes and fees, even when a broker files it. Ask any shipper who is the importer of record on your shipment, and who carries that risk.
Can I reclaim UK import VAT on a DDP shipment?
No. UK import VAT is recorded against the EORI number on the customs declaration. On our DDP shipments PFC is the importer, so the VAT sits on our record and not yours. If you are VAT-registered and need to reclaim import VAT, DDP with us is not the right term. Use customs clearance, where you or your broker act as the importer.
How long does a DDP price hold?
Not long. Our prices are updated every day, because currency rates and carrier prices change. A DDP price holds for a short window only. Ask us how long your quote is valid, and book inside that window.
Is DDP always the best choice?
No. DDP is simple and removes the surprise bill. But if you are VAT-registered in the UK and want the VAT record in your own name, or you want to control the customs entry yourself, another term may suit you better.
Does a quote cost anything?
No. A quote is free. Tell us what you ship, its value, the weight and the delivery address. We reply within 24 hours.
Where this comes from
- US Customs and Border Protection: tips for new importers (the importer of record is responsible for the entry, even with a broker)
- US Customs and Border Protection: the entry process and CBP Form 7501 (Entry Summary)
- US Customs and Border Protection: low-value shipments, $2,500 or less, now dutiable
- GOV.UK: Check when you can account for import VAT on your VAT Return
- GOV.UK: Get your import VAT certificate (C79)
- A US importer on a DDP forwarder that would not share customs papers, Reddit r/ecommerce, April 2025
- A UK importer on missing VAT invoices after DDP, UK Business Forums, November 2024
Rules change. We checked these on 24 October 2026. Check again before you ship.