Your Complete Guide to Customs Declaration for Beginners Using CNFans
How Do I Declare the Value of My Package for Customs?
After shipping hundreds of packages using CNFans, I've learned that customs declaration is where most beginners panic. Let me walk you through everything I wish I knew when starting.
What Exactly Is Customs Declaration?
Think of customs declaration as a legal receipt you provide to authorities showing what's inside your package and its value. Governments use this to determine if they should charge import taxes or if your items comply with regulations.
When I first started using CNFans, I didn't realize how crucial proper declaration was. My second package got held for two weeks because I declared $15 for a pair of designer-inspired sneakers that clearly weren't $15 retail shoes.
How Much Should I Declare?
This is the million-dollar question! Here's what experienced CNFans buyers recommend:
- For most countries: $12-$20 per kilogram
- For the United States: Stay under $800 to avoid duties
- For European countries: €20-€45 depending on your country's thresholds
- For Canada/Australia: $15-25 USD per kg
- Customs officers know approximate market values
- Suspiciously low values suggest smuggling attempts
- You risk package seizure and blacklisting
- Item description: Be generic but accurate ("men's casual shoes" not "designer replica sneakers")
- Quantity: Exact number of each item type
- Value: Your declared amount in USD
- Weight: Your agent will provide this
- EMS lines: More lenient, better for higher declarations
- DHL/FedEx: Stricter, prefer accurate commercial invoices
- Special lines: Some have specific value limits - always check!
I always use the CNFans Spreadsheet to track my actual item costs, then adjust declaration accordingly. The spreadsheet helps me calculate what percentage of real value to declare while staying safe.
What Happens if I Declare Too Low?
Let me share a horror story from my early days: I declared $5 for a package containing a jacket and two shirts. Customs opened it, assessed the real value around $150, and charged me penalties plus full import taxes. The delay cost me three weeks and extra fees.
Low declarations raise red flags because:
Can I Just Declare the Exact CNFans Price?
Technically yes, but you probably shouldn't. The prices you pay on CNFans are often below retail, which customs might find suspicious for brand-name items. I usually declare 20-30% higher than my CNFans cost but still within reasonable ranges for similar legitimate items.
Using the CNFans Spreadsheet, I create a separate column for "suggested declaration value" where I calculate safe amounts for each item based on its type and destination country.
What Information Goes on the Declaration Form?
Your agent will handle the physical paperwork, but you need to provide:
I always review my agent's declaration before they ship. One time they almost listed "luxury handbag" instead of "women's bag" - that could have been disastrous!
Do Different Shipping Lines Have Different Declaration Rules?
Absolutely! Through the CNFans community, I've learned:
The CNFans Spreadsheet has a tab where users share which shipping lines work best for their declaration strategies. This collective knowledge is priceless for beginners.
What About Multiple Items in One Package?
When shipping hauls, I group similar items and declare them together. Instead of listing 10 separate T-shirts at $5 each, I declare "clothing lot - $50." This looks more natural to customs and reduces paperwork.
My pro tip: Use the CNFans Spreadsheet to plan your hauls and pre-calculate optimal declaration values before even ordering.
Real Example From My Last Shipment
My most recent haul contained: 2 pairs of shoes ($45 actual cost), 3 T-shirts ($18 actual), and 1 jacket ($32 actual). Total actual cost: $95. I declared $84 ($12/kg for my 7kg package) and described it as "mixed clothing and footwear." It cleared customs in 2 days with no issues.
What If I'm Still Nervous?
Join the CNFans Discord community! Experienced buyers share their recent declaration successes. I still check there before shipping expensive items. The collective wisdom has saved me countless times.
Remember: Proper declaration isn't about cheating the system - it's about understanding international shipping norms. With the CNFans Spreadsheet and community knowledge, you'll soon declare values like a pro.