In this article, Weefreight will share the cross-border customs clearance policies and key points for efficient customs clearance for Amazon FBA in some major countries.
United States
Policy Requirements:
US Customs requires importers to purchase bonds. Bonds are divided into annual bonds and single bonds. The annual bond is suitable for merchants with frequent imports, while the single bond is deducted at 0.85% of the declared value each time, and there is also a single ISF bond fee. Sellers can purchase a single bond online when creating a shipment on Amazon Seller Central, at a cost of approximately US$140 to US$150 per transaction.
Sellers must notify customs authorities of the authorized customs brokerage agency, which is known as obtaining a Power of Attorney (POA).
For certain categories, such as maternity and baby products and beauty products, Amazon US may require sellers to hold a US business license.
Key points for customs clearance: It’s crucial to accurately determine the product’s HS code, as this is the basis for customs to determine the applicable tax rate. Additionally, you can work with an experienced customs clearance agent to assist with bond purchases, POA processing, and cargo declarations, ensuring a smooth customs clearance process.
Europe
Policy Requirements:
Sellers must prepare their VAT and EORI numbers. VAT is the tax identification number used for tax payments, while the EORI is required for customs clearance within the EU. A single EORI number can be used for customs clearance in all EU member states.
The Irish marketplace requires VAT registration for remote sales exceeding €10,000 or for using a local FBA warehouse. Non-EU businesses selling through Amazon in Italy are also required to register on their own.
Key points for customs clearance:
Since the EU has eliminated the low-value duty-free threshold for goods, it’s crucial to declare the value of goods appropriately. To avoid being deemed undervalued by customs, it’s generally recommended to declare a value of 50% to 70% of the sales price.
During transportation, ensure that information such as the VAT number and EORI number are accurate and associated with the goods. For small quantities, express delivery using DDP terms can be used. For large quantities shipped by air or sea, schedule a check-in time with the FBA warehouse in advance. Ensure that the outer packaging labeling meets the requirements. For example, German warehouses will strictly check whether the outer packaging contains information such as “Made in China” and the FNSKU code.
Japan
Policy Requirements:
You must provide the Japanese importer. Without the importer’s cooperation, customs clearance is virtually impossible. Customs will also confirm the local tax number by phone.
Nearly 80% to 90% of most goods imported into Japan are duty-free. However, if the freight plus the value of the goods exceeds 10,000 yen, an 8% consumption tax is applicable. A small number of products, such as plastics and aluminum products, have an average tax rate of 3% to 5%. However, if the freight plus the value of the goods is less than 10,000 yen, no consumption tax is imposed. Customs regulations are strict for high-end products like textiles. Knitwear with a combined shipping cost of more than 1,000 yen is subject to an import tariff of approximately 10% plus an 8% consumption tax.
Key points for customs clearance: The shipping invoice must clearly indicate the importer’s company name, address, contact person, and contact information. Outer packaging must be neat and substantial, free of brand name logos. Product and shipping labels must be affixed as required.
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