Sending packaging abroad - no charge

viscalana

Hi, 

I've been struggling to find an answer. Hope someone can help!

I use a factory abroad - India & Belgium, who makes product for me. I do send them packaging free of charge. - They do not pay me for it, but apply it to the goods I order. 
I would pay for the packaging delivered to me and I would send it when needed. Example - security tags made in China or cardboard wraps made in UK.

What am I supposed to put on the parcel info / invoice as it keeps getting stuck in customs ? I would say it is a sample / gift at a value of £1, but it doesn't have any commercial value for the recipients.


Cheers,
Visca

k3lvc

Not surprised it's being stopped if you're putting it as samples/gifts with a nominal value.

In the simplest sense why aren't you replicating the info that's used as it's sent to you from your supplier ? Or is it sent to you marked as samples/gifts ?

viscalana

Hi, 

It's sent to me with an invoice, as I do not receive these for free. I do pay for the goods. 

My factory though, receives this from me free of charge. The customs have always asked for the invoice, but I do not charge the factory for it, so what am I supposed to provide? They then ask for the invoice that I received from the manufactured of packaging for the goods and for some reason decide the duty value of that. Which means I pay for it twice.. 

MattMattMattUK

viscalana said:

Hi, 

It's sent to me with an invoice, as I do not receive these for free. I do pay for the goods. 

My factory though, receives this from me free of charge. The customs have always asked for the invoice, but I do not charge the factory for it, so what am I supposed to provide?

Customs will not care that you are supplying the goods to them free of charge, duties and taxes are charged on the value of goods (as well as insurance and freight), not on what you charge the recipient. 

viscalana said:

They then ask for the invoice that I received from the manufactured of packaging for the goods and for some reason decide the duty value of that. Which means I pay for it twice.. 

In theory you could complete an export declaration for those goods and reclaim any import duties and taxes you would have paid, if you are paying import duties when you first receive the packaging.