Since August 21, 2024, the Turkish Ministry of Finance has made adjustments to the customs duty thresholds for business-to-consumer (B2C) imports and the Shipment VAT rate entering Turkey from the EU* and other parts of the world.
1. The tariff threshold for business-to-consumer (B2C) import shipments has been reduced from 150 euros to 30 euros
2. The tariff rate (%) for imported shipments from the following countries will be adjusted as follows:
· EU Member States: The tariff rate will increase from 20% to 30%
· Rest of the world: The tariff rate will increase from 30% to 60%
DHL reminds you:
· For medicines imported into Turkey, a different threshold applies: €1,500.
· For shipments with a value over €30: official confirmation from the recipient is required for customs clearance and customs clearance fees may apply.
How can shippers from around the world to Turkey avoid shipment delays?
· Provide accurate and complete shipment details, including the correct value of the shipment.
· Provide complete and accurate commercial invoices electronically through DHL Express electronic shipping solutions , such as product description, itemized value, country of origin, etc.
· When setting up a business-to-consumer (B2C) shipment with DHL, please provide the mobile phone number and email of the individual recipient in Turkey – DHL can contact the recipient if required for customs clearance.
· If the sender does not wish DHL to contact the recipient (for example, in the case of DTP billing services), the sender should provide DHL with an alternative contact email.
· Inform your customers of potential customs clearance fees . Shipments can only be delivered once customs duties are paid.
How can recipients located in Turkey avoid shipment delays?
· Recipients will receive a notification from DHL, and they need to choose DHL as their customs broker or provide an alternative customs broker for clearance. DHL will send a notification for each shipment, as customs broker information is not stored in the customer's master file.
· It is crucial that recipients promptly contact DHL and provide their instructions.
· Customs clearance can only proceed once the recipient authorizes DHL to clear the shipment or provides an alternative customs broker.
· If DHL is not authorized to act as the customs broker or no alternative broker is provided for each shipment, the package may be held at Turkish Customs. If the recipient does not provide the required information to DHL within 20 days of the shipment’s arrival, the package will be returned to the sender.
The correct declaration of piece and weight information on waybill is crucial. In case of manifest and reality discrepancies about the number of pieces, Turkish Customs require a letter from DHL at the origin country. This letter must be original, copy is not accepted Otherwise, All duty & tax & additional tax on CIF value of the goods should be payed as a penalty. individuals are allowed to receive 5 shipments within the same month under simplified procedure with tax payment. Above this limit, formal customs clearance is required by authorizing aprivate customs broker. The exceeding amount is notallowed to be transferred to the next month and it must be issued with formal customs clearance.
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Some policy references before August 21：
Formal imports are subject to additional Special Clearance Service charges (bonded warehouse fee,brokerage fee,.document handling,etc.).Duty&Tax depend on commodity code.
As per Customs simplified procedure limits, "i.e., BGB, B2C shipments up to 30 € goods value & max. 30 kg. weight to private individuals can be cleared by operators (such aslogistics). Limits also apply for the sum of multiple waybills from the same shipper to the same receiver on the same arrival day. The receiver must be a private individual, and the content & amount must be limited to personal usage & not restricted items. Fix duty rates apply 30% for EUmember state origins as of 6-May 2024 & 60% for non-EU member state origins
Values up to EUR 150
Additional delay 1-3 days(s). Below 30 Eur & below 30 kg, WPX to Private Individuals only High quantity/nonpersonal use may not be permitted by Customs. Cnee must authorize DHL for clearance. Additional delay up to customer instruction.Turkish lD nr required for clearance.
Values Up to Unlimited
Additional delay 1-3 days(s). Depends on customer instruction. Cat.4: Shpt held by customs for formal clearance: Cnee will be notified for clearance instructions, must authorize private broker by PoA.
For more information, please refer to the official website of the Turkish Ministry of Finance .
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Key Customs Regulations in Turkey:
Strict Trade Policies – Turkey has strict, protectionist trade policies designed to promote local consumption and discourage purchases from overseas merchants. This includes bans on the importation of certain products, such as cosmetics and nutritional supplements, along with restrictions on many others.
Lowered Simplified Clearance Threshold – Effective August 21, 2024, shipments over €30 will be subject to the same import requirements as high-value B2B shipments. This means customers may now be required to provide import licenses, certificates, permits, or other documentation for their orders to clear customs.
Increased Duty Rate – The duty rate for shipments under €30 has increased to 60%, making shipments to Turkey more costly. Shipments over €30 will incur the same 60% tariff but require formal import clearance.
Consumer Consent Required – Customs brokers may require consent from consumers to clear shipments. Providing detailed customer contact information, such as a valid phone number and email, is essential to reduce the likelihood of customs holds.
Additional Fees – Turkish customs may impose additional, unpredictable fees on various commodities, which can be difficult to anticipate at the point of sale.
Implications for Your Shipments: Shipments valued over €30 are subject to the same strict requirements as B2B imports. Turkish Customs may ask customers for documentation like licenses and permits, which often results in customs holds and could lead to shipment refusals.
Recommendations to Navigate These Changes:
Consider restricting your shipments to orders under €30 to avoid complex clearance processes.
Ensure that your products have accurate HS codes and acceptable good descriptions.
Obtain a Free Sale Certificate if applicable to your products.
Include the customer's email and phone number to facilitate customs clearance.
Using a Priority DDU service level could offer a better chance of clearing through the Postal network. However, be aware that customers will be responsible for any duties and taxes upon delivery.
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Step 1: We will take care of Export Customs Clearance
We will guide the shipment through export customs clearance. We will only contact you if there is missing or incomplete paperwork.
Good to Know: It’s rare to encounter any export customs delay.
Step 2: We will take care of your shipment in transit
We will take care of your shipment in transit.
Step 3: We will take care of Import Customs Clearance
We will guide the shipment through import customs clearance.
We will contact the recipient if shipment is held in customs and requires formal clearance. If any duty and tax is incurred for FedEx's simplified clearance, we will contact the recipient before final delivery.
Expert tip: The recipient needs to respond to any import issues quickly to ensure a timely delivery of the shipment.
What is a Power of Attorney?
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a written authorization to represent or act on another's behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter.
In this case, the POA is the importer’s or exporter’s authorization for FedEx to perform customs clearance on their behalf.
Why is it needed?
Having a POA is a legal requirement and that customs can always request the evidence of the POA.
In this article we explain a power of attorney’s role in shipping.
What’s a power of attorney?
Let’s start with the basics: What exactly is a power of attorney?
A power of attorney, or POA, is a written authorization to represent or act on someone else’s behalf in business, private affairs or other legal matters.
In shipping, a power of attorney is often needed during the clearance process for imports and exports. A sender or receiver fills in a power of attorney to authorize their carrier to act on their behalf when dealing with customs clearance.
Why do I need to give authorization to my carrier?
Importing and exporting goods between countries can be complicated. It's hard for buyers and sellers to fully understand all customs requirements and international trade laws. This is where a carrier can step in to help.
By giving your carrier authorization, they can check and submit documents, and pay duties and taxes on your behalf to get your goods cleared. Customs authorities can request proof of a power of attorney during the clearance process. In most countries it's even a legal requirement.
A power of attorney alone won't speed up the clearance process, but frequent shippers can have a 'permanent power of attorney' in place with their carrier to save some time.
How to draw up a power of attorney
Getting a power of attorney isn’t too difficult. You should be able to get a template from your carrier to complete and sign.
But since you’re here, let’s cover the basic information that needs to be on a power of attorney.
Bear in mind that the style, language or requirements of a power of attorney may differ by country depending on local laws and regulations. Some countries, for example, may want you to include a copy of the Chamber of Commerce extract, while others won’t.
How to avoid making mistakes on a power of attorney
To make sure everything runs smoothly at customs, here are three things to remember when filling out a power of attorney:
If you keep these three things in mind, your form should be good to go.
