If you’ve seen the status of your package and it shows “clearing customs”, but you’re uncertain what it means, this guide is for you.
What does Clearing Customs Mean in AliExpress?
Seeing the phrase “clearing customs” in your parcel status, it implies that customs clearance is completed and your delivery is sent to your country. Don’t be alarmed; this is something that is completely normal.
It’s critical to comprehend the flow of events from package shipping to delivery in order to comprehend the meaning of this message. To this end, we have listed in a later part of this guide the procedures the AliExpress package must follow and how customs clearance affects your orders.
Clearing Customs Statuses on Aliexpress
Three situations can be found under “clearing customs”: Clearing customs: started customs clearance process, Clearing customs: import clearance failure, and Clearing customs: customs cleared. Let’s explain what they all stand for.
- Started customs clearance process
Customs clearance is required for all orders entering your country. This does not mean that your shipment will be kept by customs officials. It’s rare for customs to hold your order in the majority of nations, especially if it’s a small, light shipment. Although this likelihood considerably increases for large and hefty items, bear that in mind.
Customs officials randomly inspect packages at sea and airports. The government uses these customs checks as a means of preventing the entry of illegal items and fakes, as well as to make sure that you have paid the corresponding taxes to your country.
You would be informed if your delivery is under customs control because the order’s status would read “held by customs.” Each country has its own set of customs laws that specify how much or how much weight must be settled as import duties.
- Import clearance failure
Your shipment has likely been scrutinized during customs clearance if you receive the notification “import clearance failure.” But this is uncommon. If the relevant taxes for your nation have already been paid, there is no need for you to worry or take any action because customs will soon let go of the item and the order status will be changed to “customs cleared”.
Customs will get in touch with you if the package is held up to let you know what paperwork you need to produce. The best course of action is to trace your package through a global tracking website that will show you exactly what happened with your parcel via your tracking number.
- Cleared Сustoms
AliExpress cleared customs is the term for the procedure that all orders entering a country must undergo. If your order status shows “customs cleared,” you can be sure that the shipment has made it through this check successfully and will be delivered to your location soon.
This means that the product has already passed customs inspection and is on its way to you through a courier company. Unless you’ve selected standard delivery by a private courier like UPS, DHL, or EMS, AliExpress delivers letters and small packages in the majority of countries by partnering with the local carriers.
How do I know if I have to pay for customs clearance?
Please take note of the following to prevent any unpleasant surprises: If there are any additional import taxes, levies, or other fees associated with customs, make sure to ask the vendor. To learn more about the taxes and fees levied by your nation’s customs service, get in touch with the local post office or customs office.
However, when your parcel arrives to your country, your customs officials will inspect the parcel in the same airport or seaport. Right now, there is no quick way to learn without first waiting for the custom agents to finish their inspections.
This is due to the fact that customs cannot determine for each individual what the shipment contains before determining whether or not you must pay a fee. Before the package arrives your house, you will need to wait for a few more days. And perhaps you’ll be able to get it after that without paying an additional cost.
When you pay the customs clearance fee for a package from AliExpress
You can find out ahead of time if a customs clearance cost is associated with your AliExpress order for your upcoming shipping. The following information can help you:
- To reduce the overall cost of a purchase, place as many orders as you can from multiple vendors or have the packages transported separately through different shipping methods.
- Ordering fraudulent goods from AliExpress is not advised, so avoid buying anything that is obviously fake. Branded apparel, shoes, and other things that are obviously counterfeit are a few examples. At customs, these are frequently halted and inspected.
- Some vendors mark down the price of the package to give the impression that it is worth a lower price. Of course, doing this is against the law, but some AliExpress vendors employ this tactic to win over satisfied clients.
- In order not to pay VAT of 21% in the European Union, keep your package’s price under €22. Other sums are applicable to the US.
- Keep your spending to a maximum of €150 to avoid paying import taxes into the EU. Other amounts apply to the US.
Lastly, you are not instantly aware if you can obtain your package for free when you see “customs cleared.” The only thing you can do is check to see if you ordered less than the maximum quantity you can without paying extra or if you might have bought fake goods.
Objection to customs clearance fees
Furthermore, customs clearance fees may be contested. Suppose, for instance, that you don’t agree with the customs duty payment. Occasionally, the costs can be turned around. It is possible to object, based on our experience working with AliExpress users.
The objection may also be lodged with customs or the mail order business that arrives to collect the payment. You can likely find a comprehensive page regarding the chance for reimbursement of your customs clearance fees on the website of your local Tax and Customs Authorities.
The following tips will guide you:
- If you disagree with the cost of the customs clearance, you are not required to accept the shipment. Then you won’t have to pay the added fees but you also won’t receive the merchandise. Nevertheless, this may vary depending on the nation in which you reside.
- Evidence is always required. To demonstrate that you stayed within a specified order quantity, look up your order and print out the invoice.
- Two methods exist for objecting; at customs, or through the neighborhood postal service. In the first scenario, you need to learn what procedure the business employs in such circumstances. On the website of your local Tax and Customs Administration, you should be able to discover information about how to file a request to the customs officials.
- If you decide to return the ordered item to China because you are dissatisfied with it, you may be able to get back the customs clearance price you already paid.
Other reasons why Aliexpress package could be blocked
Customs agents are unpredictable most of the time. They may stop or block your package for other factors. We will discuss those reasons shortly.
Price is Lower than the actual value of the products
Some business owners undervalue their products to pay less taxes and take advantage of international agreements. Since no duties are owed on items valued at less than $150, a business owner could claim to have spent $130 while in reality, he had spent $200. Considering that the tariffs are determined by the type of product purchased, this is a significant saving.
Missing documentation
To avoid paying customs duties, it is common practice to designate a package’s contents as a “gift.” The word “gift” is quite ambiguous and adds no specific context to the goods that have been acquired. Additionally, compared to commodities intended for trade, gifts are viewed as items for personal use and may occasionally be subject to additional customs charges.
Сontains goods prohibited by the destination country legislation
A product’s consumption is only assured if it originates from an authorized company because some goods cannot be imported from overseas due to health risks to consumers in most countries.
Medicines, foods, raw ingredients, and semi-finished goods for confectionary, certain drinks, etc. are a few examples. the same is true of medications, exotic creatures, relics discovered in ancient sites, corals, shells, and merchandise made from threatened or endangered species.
Сontains unauthorized merchandise
Despite the fact that some things cannot be imported, they can be bought from overseas with advance permission. This is true for items like explosives, firearms, some plants, chemicals, alcohol, and anything else that requires some sort of permission before it can be sold in that country.
Contains counterfeit goods
As was already noted in this article, most countries have laws against counterfeit products, and people in possession of an industrial patent are able to file complaints. Fake products are prohibited items.
What should I do if the Aliexpress package is blocked?
The best course of action you can take to prevent the AliExpress shipment from getting held up at customs is to abide by the rules, educate yourself on the customs legislation, and only transact business with legitimate shop owners on the AliExpress platform.
Thanks to the reviews left by previous customers on AliExpress, you can instantly tell if a vendor is trustworthy when you visit it. Additionally, AliExpress offers a separate section for instant messaging where you may communicate with the retailer and bargain for all of your orders.
Make sure you don’t purchase any items from AliExpress that are illegal to import into Europe or that require additional importation paperwork or authorisation to avoid having your products held up at customs. Otherwise, learn about the necessary certifications and only deal with specialized Chinese companies if you still want to buy them.
Request that the merchants deliver you the relevant paperwork along with the shipment, detailing the actual value of the items and the cost of the purchase. By avoiding taxes, you won’t gain anything; on the contrary, giving false information would make it take longer to deliver the goods. Make sure to provide your contact information, including a mobile number, so that the local postal service can get in touch with you at any moment if there are any abnormalities.
Conclusion
It’s possible that the customs clearance of goods will consume a significant amount of time for your company. When shipping your package to your country, make sure you follow the appropriate procedures to avoid the headaches that come with customs officers.
FAQs
How long does AliExpress take to deliver after clearing customs?
It depends on the product and what the customs officers intend to do on the product. If the search is completed without wasting so much time, you may pick up your parcel within 3 to 5 days. Otherwise, it may take a few weeks.
Does AliExpress go through customs?
Yes. You purchase from foreign vendors when you shop on AliExpress. You may occasionally be required to pay customs duties and go through the customs clearance process.
What happens after a package is cleared from customs?
Your package has been customs cleared once it has undergone all required inspections and duty fees have been paid and calculated. After then, the foreign shipment can continue on to its final destination without any restrictions.
Why is my AliExpress order stuck in customs?
The most frequent instances of this are when the item you ordered is mixed in with illicit or dangerous goods or when some paperwork is missing.
What to do if a shipment is stuck in customs?
Contact customs to verify if your package is genuinely being held up by them. Express carriers like DHL or FedEx are frequently able to clear customs for your goods. In general, calling carriers is the best way to get in touch with them, but beware—carriers frequently utilize premium-rate lines, which may add up rapidly.
