Overcharged on U.S. Customs Duty? How Personal Shoppers Can Dispute High Fees and Get a Refund

When shopping internationally, it’s not uncommon to face unexpectedly high customs duties or service fees. Many personal importers wonder: Can I request a refund if I was overcharged? Do I have to pay high duties right away?

Below is a practical guide for DHL, FedEx, and USPS shipments.

DHL and FedEx: How to Request a Refund for Excess Duties and Fees

 

 

 

If you believe you were charged too much in duties or customs processing fees:

・Point of Contact: Always start with DHL Customer Service or FedEx Duty & Tax Dispute Desk. Both companies act as intermediaries because they advance duties and fees on your behalf.
・Required Documents: Provide your invoice, order confirmation, and proof of the correct item value or classification (HS code if available).
・Process: DHL or FedEx will review your claim and, if necessary, file a correction request with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
・*Refunds: If CBP accepts the correction, the carrier will issue a refund. This process can take several weeks or even months.

https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/customer-service.html

https://www.fedex.com/en-us/customer-support.html

USPS: How to Request a Refund for Excess Duties and Fees

For packages shipped through USPS (often handed over by Japan Post or other postal services in the origin country):

・Point of Contact: USPS does not directly handle customs corrections. You must request a refund through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) using CBP Form 19 (Protest Form) within 180 days of payment.
・Submission: File the form with supporting documents such as the purchase receipt and tracking information.
・Refunds: If CBP agrees that you were overcharged, they will arrange a refund directly.

DHL and FedEx: Do You Have to Pay High Duties Immediately?

Yes, in most cases.

・DHL and FedEx usually require duties and fees to be paid before delivery or at the time of delivery.
・If you refuse to pay, your package may be held for a short period, then returned to the sender.
・Important: Carriers often have strict deadlines for payment, sometimes only a few days. If you plan to dispute the charge, it is usually faster to pay first, then file a refund claim through the carrier.

USPS: Do You Have to Pay High Duties Immediately?

For USPS deliveries (often connected with Japan Post or other foreign postal services):

・Duties are usually collected at the time of delivery by your local post office or mail carrier.
・ If you disagree with the charge, you generally still need to pay to receive your package.
・However, unlike DHL/FedEx, USPS (working with Japan Post for inbound shipments) often allows a longer holding period—sometimes up to about 30 days.
・This means you could attempt to file a dispute with CBP before paying, but in practice, most people pay upon delivery and then request a refund afterward.

→Download the PDF (CBP Form 19) from the Forms section of the CBP official website.

→CBP “Protests” Guidance on the form's purpose, submission deadlines, and submission methods can be found here.

Key Takeaways

・DHL/FedEx → Pay first, then file a dispute with the carrier (strict deadlines).
・USPS → Pay at delivery, then file a protest with CBP; longer storage times may allow more flexibility.
・Always keep your invoice, order confirmation, and tracking number for refund claims.

 

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