Stated value for item

[bigdeals.etc]

What do you include in the value for your item when filling out customs declaration for...?

1) An item that sold for $30 plus $20 shipping (postage costs you $17)?

2) The same exact item that sold for $50 with free shipping (postage still costs you $17)?

[downunder-61]

When I sold internatioinally I only declared the value of the item (buyer cost), that is all most countries charge import duty on.

[bigdeals.etc]

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@downunder-61 wrote:

When I sold internatioinally I only declared the value of the item (buyer cost), that is all most countries charge import duty on.

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Yea but what is that number exactly in my two scenarios?

[wastingtime101]

eBay always pre-fills the forms with the declared value being the item cost sans shipping.

1. $30

2. $50

That's what my original post said, then I decided to look this up. I'm finding mixed answers. Some sites are saying shipping should be included while others are saying that it shouldn't.

[chapeau-noir]

If it's free shipping you'll have to declare the entire value - customs isn't going to parse shipping from the item price if they don't have the breakdown. 

ETA:  Big reason I never offered free intl shipping.

[bigdeals.etc]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

eBay always pre-fills the forms with the declared value being the item cost sans shipping.

1. $30

2. $50

That's what my original post said, then I decided to look this up. I'm finding mixed answers. Some sites are saying shipping should be included while others are saying that it shouldn't.

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Yea, then there's the ones who pad their shipping prices to cover the FVFs paid on the charge. That's why I said in my OP as $20 shipping charged, but postage was $17.

[wastingtime101]

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@bigdeals.etc wrote:

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Yea, then there's the ones who pad their shipping prices to cover the FVFs paid on the charge. That's why I said in my OP as $20 shipping charged, but postage was $17.

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Actual ship cost is irrelevant. If you were including shipping, you would include the full $20 because it would be based on what the buyer paid to receive the item. The question is whether or not to include shipping cost as the buyer saw it - not whether or not shipping is padded.

[wastingtime101]

Wondering what @richard1rst has to say on this.

[mod-designs4u]

Ebay self populates the item value based on the sales price (not including the shipping cost) and the country of manufacture on the customs form when you print out the shipping label. If the country of manufacture or country of origin is not included in the eBay listing you will have to manually type it on the form before printing. Customs and Duty fees are based on the value and country of manufacture of the item. Items manufactured in the country the item is being shipped to or all items older than 100 years (antiques) are not subject to Customs and Duty fees. For example, if a U.S. eBay user sells an item made in Canada to a Canadian address the buyer won't have a Customs and Duty fee. Be sure to verify the description of the item on the Customs Form before printing. Ebay also self populates this info from the Title text in the listing which may be truncated (only a limited number of characters are allowed in this field) and need to be cleaned up.    

[richard1rst]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

Wondering what @richard1rst has to say on this.

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Well, since you asked. (Nice to know my opinion is valued)

$30.00 plus $20.00 shipping would get $30.00 as the declared value. Shipping is a separate expense.

$50.00 with free shipping makes the item $50.00. Although we all know that there is no such thing as “free shipping” if it is not stated separately then it is non-existent. And customs will not argue with you as the higher the value the higher the VAT. So you are not doing your buyer any favors.

Most of the customs regs I have seen “require” (although I suspect most people ignore it) a Bill of Sale or Invoice included with the package. Mostly, I guess, to avoid the old trick of $1.00 plus $49.00 shipping to avoid the VAT.

Then it is up to customs to make the final decision based on that paperwork.

Just my opinion.

[chapeau-noir]

A couple of country customs (Germany is one, Singapore another IIRC) require the bill of sale/invoice to be included on the outside of the package.  When I shipped internationally I simply included the invoice in the declarations pouch routinely. 

[a_c_green]

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@bigdeals.etc wrote:

What do you include in the value for your item when filling out customs declaration for...?

1) An item that sold for $30 plus $20 shipping (postage costs you $17)?

2) The same exact item that sold for $50 with free shipping (postage still costs you $17)?

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$30 and $50 respectively. The item's value is what the item itself sold for, exclusive of any other expenses.