Merchant destination · Germany
China fulfillment to Germany for e-commerce merchants
Fulfilling German customers from China: how IOSS and import VAT decide who collects, what clearance expects, and how the coordination workflow runs supplier parcels and stocked SKUs into Germany.
Last updated: 2026-07-31 · Tax and customs notes describe mechanisms, not advice; the destination authority prevails. Shipping personal purchases instead? See the personal forwarding page.
VAT, IOSS and clearance into Germany
- Consignments up to €150 can clear under IOSS: VAT (19% standard in Germany) is collected at the point of sale and the parcel carries the IOSS number — customers see no surprise charge at the door.
- Without IOSS, or above €150, import VAT (and duty above €150) is assessed at clearance and collected from the recipient or importer before delivery.
- Whether a shipment uses IOSS changes the surcharge layer applied to it — EU VAT handling and IOSS-clearance fees are structurally different charges, and the routing decision should be explicit per shipment, not assumed.
- German customs (Zoll) and your tax advisor are the authoritative references; thresholds and rates change and this page states mechanisms, not advice.
How the workflow runs into Germany
- Supplier parcels and stocked SKUs route through the same pipeline: receiving with scan and photo evidence, declared VAS, packing, a measured quote from the live rate table, dispatch and one merged tracking timeline.
- Route surcharges (fuel, peak season, destination levies) live in their own fee layer and never hide inside rate cards.
- Duties and taxes are never part of the freight quote; what the quote covers and what clearance may add are always labelled separately.
Common questions
Can WooliiPorter ship DDP into Germany?
The operational question is who collects VAT: IOSS-cleared low-value shipments collect at sale, which functionally gives customers a no-surprise delivery. For arrangements beyond that, the workflow review scopes what the route table currently supports for your pattern — no blanket DDP promise is made here.
Do I need my own IOSS number?
IOSS registration belongs to the seller or the marketplace that collects the VAT. Whether yours applies, and how the parcel is declared, is set explicitly per shipment in the workflow — misdeclaring IOSS status is how customers end up double-charged.
How long does China–Germany fulfillment take?
Transit depends on route, service level and clearance, so this page quotes no fixed days. The route table shows current options at booking time; historical performance for your own shipments accumulates in your order timeline.
Fulfilling Germany customers from China?
A workflow review scopes routes, declarations and the fee structure against your real parcel pattern.