A deferment fee is a charge applied when a customs broker, logistics provider, carrier, or deferment account holder allows duties, taxes, VAT, or import charges to be paid later instead of immediately at clearance. In international trade, the fee may cover the administrative cost, financing risk, or use of the provider’s deferment facility. Deferment fees are usually separate from the actual duty, VAT, freight, and customs charges owed on the shipment.
A deferment fee is charged by a customs broker or financial institution for advancing duty payments on behalf of an importer and deferring recovery to a later date. It compensates the party that fronts the duty payment for the financing cost.
- Applies when the broker pays duties and recovers from the importer on credit terms
- Separate from the ACH fee charged by CBP for electronic payment processing
- Rate may be expressed as a percentage of the duty amount or as a daily interest charge
- Importers with high duty obligations should evaluate whether obtaining a duty deferment facility is cost-effective
For related logistics context, see glossary entries on ACH Fee, Periodic Monthly Statement (PMS), Customs Bond, and Customs Clearance.
