Accidentally filled out the customs form wrong

[gored_17]

I'm having issues with a buyer being able to pick up their package I sent because I accidentally didn't fill out the items total correctly.  I put the total on the end of the line where it said what each item's amount and not at the bottom of the column.  I ended up leaving that blank and now customs in their country is charging an enormous amount for tax because they saw I listed where it said each item's amount as the total amount I put there.  Please help.  I don't know how to fix this.  

[gracieallen01 · Accepted solution]

Perhaps the best thing to do is tell the buyer to refuse and have the package returned.  Then you can send it again, with the form filled out correctly.  You would want to foot the bill for reshipping since you did the initial error, but sometimes that is how things have to work out.  Their country MAY have a form that could be filled out to correct the situation, but your buyer may not want to go through the hassle.

[nkmipgolf]

Best have it returned as it is a official document and redo it. Funny thing is my PO would have checked to make sure the total was there  for insurance purposes..

[gored_17]

Thanks so much. I feel like an idiot for not catching this error but at least now I have a solution to this problem.

[gracieallen01]

For one reason or another, things like this can happen - and generally do over the course of years - to anyone, over even the most trivial of things.  Best thing to do it to try not to make it a habit or do it too often.  :smile_wink:

[coffeebean832]

When you purchase the shipping label on eBay the system automatically fills out the customs form for you and it prints with the shipping label. That should help you next time you ship overseas.

[pjcdn2005]

Has the buyer tried showing an invoice of what they actually paid to customs?

Some countries may have an appeal process...for example in Canada if I think that I was overcharged on customs On the back of our customs form there is information on how to submit the proof. It is a bit of a hassle but your buyer might be willing to do that.

[city*satins]

Different countries have different procedures for dealing with this kind of problem.

When I lived in Canada I had this exact problem - my seller put the total value of $150 next to each individual $50 item so Canada Customs charged me tax and duties on $450 US.

Before I accepted the package, I got on the phone to Canada Customs and asked how to deal with the problem.  They told me to pay the amount charged, keep the receipt and packaging etc and come to the nearest Customs office (there was one in Vancouver BC) along with the eBay listing page printout, printout of my payment receipt and whatever else documentation I had and present myself in person to appeal the amount of duties and taxes I was charged.

I did this, filled out the paperwork at the counter (at Canada Customs) and about 30 days later I received a check refunding me for the overcharged amount I'd paid.

Your buyer might better try this first, finding out what the procedure is in his or her country for appealing the amount.  This might be better than returning the package, as these have been known to end up in limbo or lost forever and never to return to the sender.