Over or Under Declare Your Shipment? Weighing the Upsides and Downsides

Over or Under Declare Your Shipment? Weighing the Upsides and Downsides

by Reigne Vera-Perez on Jun 20, 2024

You're sending a precious package, and now comes the tricky part: declaring its value. Should you over declare or under declare? Let's explore the pros and cons of each choice.

Over Declaring

  • Pros
    • ⬆️Higher potential payout: If something happens (loss, damage), you are more likely to be compensated for the full declared value.
    • 💨 Faster clearance: Some customs authorities prioritize shipments with declared values for security reasons, leading to quicker processing.
  • Cons
    • 💸 Higher shipping cost: The price you pay to ship is partly based on declared value, so overstating it will drive up the cost.
    • 🚨 Risk of scrutiny: Authorities might double-check highly valued shipments, potentially delaying delivery.

Under Declaring

  • Pros
    • ⬇️ Lower shipping cost: A lower declared value means a cheaper shipping price.
    • 💨 Quicker processing: Under the radar, potentially faster customs clearance.
  • Cons
    • 🥲 Limited compensation: If something happens, you'll only be compensated for the declared value, which might not cover the actual cost of your goods.
    • 😵‍💫 Legal trouble: Under Declaring to evade taxes or duties is illegal and can lead to fines, delays, or even seizures.

Choosing the right declaration depends on your priorities. If you value guaranteed high compensation and smooth clearance, consider over declaring. If minimizing shipping cost is your main concern, under-declaring might be tempting, but always be honest and legal to avoid unnecessary trouble. You can also opt to declare the exact value of your shipment.

You can send the ShipIt team a message today to ask about specific regulations and recommendations based on your destination and type of goods.

Reach out to any of the ShipIt team members on Facebook, Instagram, text or email hello@zendease.com to know how we can ship your shipment safely and securely today. 📦🌍


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