Import Shipper Asking for SSN and/or Other Private Info

April 05, 2025, 01:47 PM

I purchased a reloading press from Germany; I got several customs notifications from DHL (all containing the correct company name and place of origin in Germany), including one that states:

quote:
Dear XXXX,

Your shipment XXXXXXX has been placed on hold temporarily, as additional information is required to complete the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Customs clearance process.

Please click here to review your pending items and submit any outstanding information/documentation needed to help us expedite your delivery.

We thank you for your assistance and appreciate you choosing DHL

I verified the link before clicking on it; it appears legit.

It takes me to an address through sdus.dhl.com/, which I also verified. Here it states:

quote:
Importer Number (EIN) or Social Security Number (SSN)

Any shipment with contents originating from China or Hong Kong and valued over $800 or otherwise requiring a formal entry with U.S. Customs, must have an Importer Number associated with it. This means you will be required to provide your company's EIN (Employer Identification Number) if you are importing for a U.S.-based business or your SSN (Social Security Number) if you are importing as yourself for personal consumption. As required by US Customs regulation [19 CFR §111.24], such information is kept confidential by DHL Express and must not be shared with any party other than US Customs and Border Protection.

All the following elements are required for entry:

• Federal Tax ID/EIN or Social Security Number for the US Based Importer

• Legal name associated with Tax ID/EIN OR Social Security Number

• Proof of IRS to match the EIN or SSN entered (See attached list for acceptable IRS Proof)

• Address associated with EIN OR SSN

• Type of Address - residential, office building, warehouse, etc.

• Name, title, phone number and email of contact person

I haven't imported something directly in years, but this immediately raised some red flags. For one thing, the requirement refers to China and Hong Kong, my shipment is coming from Germany.

Is this all complete BS or some new equivalently BS requirement?

If it's a scam, they get props for effort on this one.

April 05, 2025, 01:53 PM

Ozarkwoods

quote:
Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:
I purchased a reloading press from Germany; I got several customs notifications from DHL, including one that states:

quote:
Dear XXXX,

Your shipment XXXXXXX has been placed on hold temporarily, as additional information is required to complete the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Customs clearance process.

Please click here to review your pending items and submit any outstanding information/documentation needed to help us expedite your delivery.

We thank you for your assistance and appreciate you choosing DHL

I verified the link before clicking on it; it appears legit.

It takes me to an address through sdus.dhl.com/, which I also verified. Here it states:

quote:
Importer Number (EIN) or Social Security Number (SSN)

Any shipment with contents originating from China or Hong Kong and valued over $800 or otherwise requiring a formal entry with U.S. Customs, must have an Importer Number associated with it. This means you will be required to provide your company's EIN (Employer Identification Number) if you are importing for a U.S.-based business or your SSN (Social Security Number) if you are importing as yourself for personal consumption. As required by US Customs regulation [19 CFR §111.24], such information is kept confidential by DHL Express and must not be shared with any party other than US Customs and Border Protection.

All the following elements are required for entry:

• Federal Tax ID/EIN or Social Security Number for the US Based Importer

• Legal name associated with Tax ID/EIN OR Social Security Number

• Proof of IRS to match the EIN or SSN entered (See attached list for acceptable IRS Proof)

• Address associated with EIN OR SSN

• Type of Address - residential, office building, warehouse, etc.

• Name, title, phone number and email of contact person

I haven't imported something directly in years, but this immediately raised some red flags. For one thing, the requirement refer to China and Hong Kong, my shipment is coming from Germany.

Is this all complete BS or some new equivalently BS requirement?

If it's a scam, they get props for effort on this one.

Have you contacted DHL not using any of the links in the notifications? That would be my next move.

April 05, 2025, 01:53 PM

flesheatingvirus

Already sent them a WTF message. I figured others here may have some direct experience similar to this.

April 05, 2025, 01:55 PM

parabellum

Nope

April 05, 2025, 02:02 PM

flesheatingvirus

^^ Exactly my first instinct.

April 05, 2025, 03:25 PM

Anush

That is a common message that I have received when DHL was used. I purchased Beretta parts from an Italian retail outlet & my wife has purchased clothing including a $2500 coat from England. We have also have shipped from Russia to the US & from the US to Russia, Armenia, Norway & Ukraine. The only delay has been to Armenia.

April 05, 2025, 03:48 PM

flesheatingvirus

So how did you handle it? Did you ignore it?

April 05, 2025, 04:53 PM

Anush

Ignored it as the items showed up in a couple of days. I think it is just DHL incompetance. In Armenia my Russian niece had to go to a DHL distribution center & pick it up.

April 05, 2025, 05:18 PM

nhtagmember

nope - why would the Germans need your SSN?

April 05, 2025, 05:24 PM

Sig2340

Since you don’t have to be a citizen or lawful permanent resident to import legal items for personal use, and those folks don’t have an EIN or SSN (

) I’d be on my way to DHL for a conversation.

April 05, 2025, 05:39 PM

400m

123-45-6789
Wile E. Coyote

April 05, 2025, 06:13 PM

.38supersig

No.

I have bought several complete firearms from Europe (mostly Italy) and haven't had anything like that happen.

Exporter, originating government, importer, shipper, U.S. Customs, engraver, FFL, etc... never made such request.

It is good that your item arrived as it should.

April 06, 2025, 03:07 AM

flesheatingvirus

I'm also leaning towards completely ignoring this and seeing what happens.

I was tempted to put in some BS number, but don't want to take any possible legal risk.

We'll see what DHL says on Monday.

April 06, 2025, 07:45 AM

Ox190

It's US Customs that need your EIN or SSN to assess duties and tax for your import as you are the Importer of Record.

April 06, 2025, 08:11 AM

irreverent

I’ve imported artwork and clothing (not guns) and I ignore those messages from DHL. My stuff has always shown up. Haven’t imported this year though.
I’d be curious to see what they have to say when you speak with them.

April 06, 2025, 08:28 AM

urbanwarrior238

Many years ago, so things may have changed, I attended an LEO school and learned social security numbers were for TAX purposes ONLY. Yet we all see and have been obliged to give our SSN of many things. I don't divulge mine unless absolutely made too regarding what it is I am doing and never if questionable.

April 06, 2025, 08:43 AM

ScreamingCockatoo

I regularly ship machine parts back and forth between the US, Israel, Japan and Denmark.

I have to have EVERYTHING taken care of on my end before the carrier can even take it.

WE have to take care of all the import duties and declarations first, not to the receiver.

That is a scam.

April 12, 2025, 12:12 PM

flesheatingvirus

Still no reply from DHS. I get daily update emails on “clearance event” status updates that don’t really say anything discernible. No additional requests for personal formation, either.

I’m going to wait and see what happens to the shipment.

April 12, 2025, 01:19 PM

flesheatingvirus

Update: I just received another email from DHL asking for an import duty payment of $393.46.

Ah ha.

April 12, 2025, 03:33 PM

V-Tail

quote:
Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:

Update: I just received another email from DHL asking for an import duty payment of $393.46.

Is this due to the new tariff?