When shipping internationally with forward2me, you must provide a "declared value" for your items. This page explains what declared value is, how to calculate it, and why accuracy is critical.
What Is Declared Value?
The declared value is the total worth of the goods you are shipping, as stated to customs. In almost all cases, this is the transaction value—the actual price you paid for the items.
The destination country's customs authority uses this value to clear your goods and calculate any import duties and taxes owed.
- Example: If you are shipping two watches that cost $160 each, your total declared value is $320.
How to Determine Your Declared Value
Always declare the exact price you paid and be ready to prove it with a purchase receipt or invoice.
- Discounts and Sales: If you bought an item on sale, declare the discounted price you actually paid, not the full retail price. Your declared value must match an evidence-based transaction.
- Second-Hand Items: If you bought a used item, declare the actual amount paid. If the item was a gift or no purchase took place, declare a reasonable, current market value based on the item's condition.
- Shipping Costs: Whether shipping costs are included in the declared value depends entirely on the destination country's customs rules. If required, customs will automatically include shipping costs when calculating your total duties and taxes.
Retail vs. Wholesale Value
Customs authorities categorize values based on the type of transaction. For forward2me customers, the following rules apply:
- Commercial (Retail) Value: The price an end buyer pays for a product. For personal online shopping, this is your declared value.
- Wholesale Value: The price paid per item when buying in bulk. If you are a business purchasing stock at wholesale prices, your wholesale purchase price is your declared value.
Why the Declared Value Matters
An accurate declared value serves two vital purposes:
- Customs Clearance: Customs uses it to calculate duties and taxes. To learn how these charges are calculated, see [How are duties and taxes applied?].
- Protect+ Guarantee: The declared value forms the basis of your protection coverage. If you purchase our Protect+ Guarantee, any approved compensation will be paid out as the lesser of the original purchase cost, the market value (if the goods are not new), or the declared value for customs purposes. It is vital that your declared value is correct before shipping to ensure your goods are protected to their real worth. See our Protect+ guarantee page for full details.
How Customs Checks Your Value
Most customs authorities follow standard global valuation methods. If they question your declaration, they will demand proof of payment—such as a receipt, order confirmation, or bank statement.
At forward2me, you provide this proof by uploading your purchase invoice directly to your account dashboard. See [How to upload your invoice] for step-by-step instructions.
What Happens If You Declare the Wrong Value
Declaring a value lower than what you actually paid—known as undervaluation—is illegal and taken very seriously by global customs authorities. It can result in:
- Heavy financial fines and penalties
- Total seizure or confiscation of your shipment
- Extensive customs clearance delays
Customs authorities routinely inspect packages and independently re-value goods based on market rates. An accurate declaration is always required to protect your shipment.
Note: Depending on your shipping destination and service choice, you may have the option to prepay these fees. See Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) with forward2me.
Still Have Questions?
If you are unsure how to value an unusual item, our Customer Experience team is happy to assist before you submit your shipment details.