Customs value
Customs value is the basis for calculating import duty and VAT: usually the invoice price plus the cost of delivery to the border of the EAEU.
What is customs value?
Customs value is the basis on which duty and VAT are charged. It is usually the price of the goods on the invoice plus the cost of delivery to the border of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), depending on the Incoterms rule agreed.
Understating it leads to an adjustment by the Russian customs service (FCS) against its reference prices, plus penalties for your customer. Declaring honestly works out cheaper. For you as the supplier, this means your invoice should show the real transaction price.
How it works in practice
All the import charges depend on the customs value. The main method is the transaction value: the invoice price plus the costs up to the EAEU border (carriage, insurance and export clearance, if paid by the buyer), plus any licence fees.
We calculate it at the quotation stage so that the customer sees the final cost of the goods “in a warehouse in Russia”. If the price is below the market average in the FCS databases, we prepare supporting evidence: the contract, payment records, the supplier’s price list and the export declaration — documents you as the supplier can help provide.
Customs value: frequently asked questions
What is included in customs value under FCA and EXW?
The invoice price of the goods plus carriage and insurance to the EAEU border, loading and export clearance paid for by the buyer. Delivery within Russia is not included if it is shown as a separate line.
What is a customs value adjustment?
A decision by the officer to recalculate the value using a different method — usually the price of identical or similar goods — if they doubt the declared value. The result is additional duty and VAT; the decision can be challenged with documents on the transaction.
Can we find out in advance whether the price will raise questions?
Yes: the customs representative checks the declared value against the risk profiles for the HS code and country. If the price is below the reference level, an extended set of supporting documents is attached to the declaration from the start.
Related terms and services
More in this section
Request a quote
Reply within 2 business hours