Why do I need to provide a Tax ID?

When you send goods abroad, the customs authority in the destination country may ask for a Tax ID for either:

• The sender (exporter)

• The recipient (importer), or

• Both parties

This helps customs officials:

• Confirm the identities of those involved in the shipment

• Correctly charge and record any import taxes or duties

• Reduce delays and prevent fraudulent imports

We automatically check whether your destination country requires a Tax ID and will prompt you to enter it during booking if necessary.

Examples of Tax ID formats

UK VAT number: GB123456789

EU VAT or EORI number: IE1234567A / DE123456789

US EIN or TIN: 12-3456789

Australia ABN (Australian Business Number): 12 345 678 901

Brazil CPF (Individual) / CNPJ (Business): 123.456.789-09 / 12.345.678/0001-00

China Unified Social Credit Code: 18 characters (letters & numbers)

These formats vary by country, but they all serve the same purpose: identifying the person or organisation responsible for the goods.