Exporting Goods Using All Inclusive Agent Service

Hi guys,

This is a genuine question and I would really appreciate some advice from anyone that already has experience of this.

In a nutshell our company is exporting a few hundred products per week (made for us specifically, own brand, nothing at all illegal, restricted or copied etc) out of Thailand. We have used various shipping methods and the regular ones (DHL, FEDEX, EMS) etc are all great and the price is fine but being hit with large amount of import tax once the goods get to Europe is of course a constant consideration. We are not able to "under declare" the goods on the pro rata invoice as the receiver is a genuine LTD company in Europe and therefore must match the amount of customs paid to the amount paid for the goods.

Anyway, we have been recommended by lots of people in our industry to send the goods using an all inclusive shipping service, where we basically pay a flat price and they guarantee that the goods reach the end user with VAT and Duty already paid. I don't know how they do it and to be honest it really isn't my concern.

What I really need to know is that if the European company buys the goods from our offshore company (Hong Kong) and then the goods arrive "Duty Paid" on their doorstep, if this will cause any issue for them accounting/legality wise, or whether it is fine as long as they receive the goods - I assume the onus on paying the correct import duty is on the shipper not the receiver (I will have receipts from the shipment company showing I paid for the service)

Thanks in advance.