India to U.S. parcel customs duty may be collected differently depending on whether a shipment travels through FedEx, UPS, DHL or the postal network. CBP determines applicable government charges, while carriers may collect them and add separate clearance or advancement fees.
When a parcel arrives in the United States from India, the delivery company may ask for payment of customs charges. That does not mean the carrier created the tariff. U.S. Customs and Border Protection administers applicable import requirements, while carriers can handle clearance, advance payments and collection.
FedEx may invoice the recipient
FedEx says the shipper can designate the shipper, recipient or a third party to pay duties and taxes. If nobody is selected on the shipping label, the recipient generally becomes responsible. Recipients can receive an invoice and pay outstanding charges through FedEx payment systems.
That means a FedEx customs bill may arrive separately from the original shipping payment.
UPS can charge the shipper or receiver
UPS says either the shipper or receiver can be responsible for duties, taxes and fees. A shipment sent Delivery Duty Paid places the obligation on the shipper, while Delivery Duty Unpaid normally leaves the receiver responsible.
UPS can also charge brokerage or disbursement fees for customs-clearance services and for advancing funds to customs authorities. Those charges are separate from the government duty itself.
DHL typically collects from the receiver
DHL says duties and taxes are typically the receiver's responsibility unless the shipper chooses to cover them. DHL may advance the amount to customs and then collect it from the receiver, generally before or at delivery.
Additional customs-related or advance-payment charges may also apply.
USPS handles international postal parcels differently
A parcel mailed through India Post can enter the U.S. postal network and be presented to CBP for examination. CBP determines whether duty and fees are owed.
When duty is assessed on a mailed package, CBP says USPS generally collects the amount from the addressee, along with applicable postal handling charges. Duty and processing fees are typically paid through the local post office.
Since August 29, 2025, the broad $800 de minimis duty-free treatment has no longer been available for most qualifying imports, including international mail, making the payment arrangement on India-to-U.S. shipments increasingly important.
Before sending a parcel, both parties should confirm whether the shipment is shipper-paid or recipient-paid and whether separate brokerage, advancement or handling fees can apply. Knowing the delivery method beforehand can prevent confusion when a customs payment request appears.
