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Under French law, your goods may only be released once you have paid the applicable duties and taxes to the District Customs Collector ("receveur régional").

But, if you are a regular importer, immediate payment of duties and taxes may prove inconvenient. That is why payment facilities have been made available.

The Deferred Payment ("crédit d’enlèvement")

The period for which the payment is deferred is 30 days. If you are using simplified clearance procedures, payment will be made on the 16th day of the month following the month when you imported the goods liable to duties and taxes.

The Bonded Credit ("crédit des droits et taxes")

You may pay with a 120-day Treasury Bill ("obligation cautionnée"), i.e. 120 days later (150 days if you have also been granted the Deferred Payment facility).

In order to benefit from those facilities, you will have to pay a fee ("remise") for the Deferred Payment, and a fee as well as interests, for the Bonded Credit. And you must provide a security.

Payment facilities are granted by the District Customs Collector having jurisdiction on the local Customs Office where you elect to clear your goods (see list). He has exclusive responsibility to grant the facilities and to determine the amount of duty and tax in respect of which the facility will be granted.