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Shipping Free Domicile (Duties & Taxes Prepaid)

Shipping Free Domicile is an international shipping option that allows the shipper to assume all transportation charges, duties, and other fees until the shipment reaches the customer — in other words, the shipment is delivered duty and tax prepaid (DDP).

This means your customer receives their order with no surprise fees at delivery. All costs are paid upfront by the shipper and billed directly to them instead of the receiver. Offering Free Domicile shipping can create a more streamlined and transparent experience for your customers. However, it’s important to note that this option also increases the total shipping cost for the shipper, since you’re covering all customs-related expenses.

How Duty Prepaid (Free Domicile) Works

When you choose to ship using the Free Domicile method, all associated duties, taxes, and brokerage fees are billed to the shipper. This is commonly used for business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments where the goal is to make the delivery process as frictionless as possible for the end customer.

To use Free Domicile shipping through ShipNerd, you’ll need to have a UPS account number on file. This allows UPS to bill all customs-related charges directly to your account.

Adding Your UPS Account Number on ShipNerd

To ship with Free Domicile (Duty Prepaid):

Make sure you have an active UPS account number.
Log in to your ShipNerd account.
Add your UPS account number by clicking on “Add Account” – screenshot below) when generating your commercial invoice. You’ll need your UPS account number, the postal code associated with your account and the name on the account — all 3 need to match exactly with how your account is set up with UPS.

Once added, any brokerage-related fees — including duties and taxes — will be billed directly to your UPS account if “DPP” or “Free Domicile” is selected.

Why ShipNerd Requires Your Own UPS Account Number

At ShipNerd, transparency is key. We purposely require you to use your own UPS account number for duty and tax billing so that you have full visibility and control over these charges.

We might be the experts in shipping, but you’re the expert in your field — and only you know if your goods are being correctly rated by customs. If something seems off, you’ll have the ability to dispute any charges directly with UPS.