How we overturned a $97,400 customs value adjustment
An importer of data-centre components received a customs decision applying the fallback valuation method. Instead of the declared $620,000, customs set the value of the goods at $890,000. The additional duty and VAT came to $97,400. There were 10 working days left to fix the situation.
The client was already prepared to pay so as not to lose the cargo or break its contract with its customer. But the customs decision rested on a formal reference to method 6 — without taking the real terms of the deal into account. We filed an administrative complaint with a full set of evidence: the sale and purchase agreement, SWIFT payment confirmation, the commercial invoice and a detailed analysis of why method 1 (transaction value) was applied correctly. In parallel we requested a meeting with the customs official.
Within 7 days customs revoked its decision in full. The goods were released for free circulation without additional guarantees and without any extra payment.
"We had got used to the idea that you cannot argue with customs. BROER proved otherwise."— Head of procurement
