Providing value information in the customs declaration

This instruction describes how to provide value information when goods are being released for free circulation and the requested procedure is “40 – Release for free circulation”. If you are submitting a customs declaration with some other requested procedure, always check the webpage for that procedure to see the instructions for providing value information. If there are no specific instructions for the procedure or case in question, you can use the instructions on this page as guidance.

Why must value information be provided in the customs declaration?

  • Import taxes on goods are levied on the basis of value information.
  • Some of the value information provided is transmitted as comparative information to the Finnish Tax Administration.
  • The statistical value provided as value information is transmitted to the Finnish international trade statistics.

Value information to be provided in the customs declaration

Provide the following value information in the customs declaration:

  1. Transaction price paid for the goods
    • The value of free-of-charge goods is determined according to the price at which the goods would be sold to the Union.
  2. Customs value
    • The customs value is not provided with just one value detail. Instead, the value details included in or deducted from the customs value are provided using value adjustment codes. The customs value of the goods is made up of the transaction price and the value adjustment codes.
  3. Statistical value
    • The statistical value is provided as a total amount including the value of the goods as well as the cost of transport and insurance to the first border crossing point at the Finnish border.

If the exemption from customs duty or VAT requires an additional procedure code, this code shall be provided in the customs declaration. Read more about declaring tax exemption on import.

Operators that are not registered for VAT with the Finnish Tax Administration must also provide the items that affect the levy of VAT or the exceptional taxable amount for VAT.

How to provide details affecting the value in the customs declaration

Several details that affect the value of the goods must be provided in the customs declaration. These include the transaction price, the value adjustment codes and the transaction on the basis of which the goods have been brought into the Union. The following shall also be provided: what the valuation of the goods is based on and whether the buyer and seller are mutually dependent on each other.

Nature of transaction and valuation method

The code for nature of transaction indicates the transaction related to the import of the goods provided in the customs declaration, e.g. whether the goods have been sold or whether they are returned to the territory of the EU. Please note that the valuation method must compatible with the nature of transaction.

As a rule, the goods are bought from a seller then brought into the territory of the EU, e.g. into Finland. The seller draws up an invoice for the goods prior to their importation into the EU territory.

When the customs value is based on purchase or sale

When the customs value of the goods is based on purchase or sale, an invoice must be presented for the goods on import, provided under “Additional documents” with the code “N380 – Commercial invoice”. As the nature of transaction, provide the code “11 – Outright purchase/sale” in the customs declaration. The method of customs valuation is the transaction value, provided under “Valuation method” with the code “1 – Transaction value of the imported goods”.

Read more about determining the customs value on the basis of the transaction value.

Goods can be brought into the territory of the EU even when it is not a case of purchase or sale, i.e. when the goods are not sold to the territory of the EU. In that case, the import of the goods does not involve any normal purchase or sale, and there is no invoice for the goods.

When the customs value is not based on purchase or sale

When the customs value of the goods is not based on purchase or sale, provide in the customs declaration an additional document with which you present the basis of the value of the goods or a calculation of the value of the goods to Customs. You can provide the additional document e.g. with the code “1ZZZ – Other document”.

Select the nature of transaction that best describes the transaction. Select e.g.

  • ”22 – Replacement for returned goods”, if you have received goods as replacement for defective goods you have returned.
  • ”34 – Transactions involving transfer of ownership without financial compensation”, if the ownership of the goods has been transferred to you without financial compensation.

Read more about providing the code for nature of transaction.

The method of customs valuation cannot be transaction value, because the value of the goods is not based on purchase or sale. Provide the valuation method you use with one of the following codes:

  • ”2 – Transaction value of identical goods”
  • ”3 – Transaction value of similar goods”
  • ”4 – Deductive value method”
  • ”5 – Deductive value method”
  • ”6 – Value based on the data available (“fall-back” method)”.

Read more about the methods for determining the customs value.


Providing the transaction price

The value of the goods must always be provided in the customs declaration. The value of the goods must always be provided regardless of whether the goods are subject to a charge or free of charge. The value of the goods shall be provided

  • in the Customs Clearance Service under “Transaction price”
  • via message exchange as value information at declaration header level

When purchasing goods, use the commercial invoice or commercial contract as the basis for the value of the goods and provide it as the value of the goods in the customs declaration. Read more about when to use the transaction value as the basis for the customs value.

  • If the value of the goods on the commercial invoice is indicated in a currency other than the euro, provide the value in the invoice currency.
  • If more than one currency has been used on the commercial invoice or if the commercial invoice for the goods consist of several invoices in different currencies, always provide the euro as the currency in the customs declaration.
  • If you have to convert the transaction price into euros, always use the conversion rates determined by Customs. Read more about currency conversion rates.

You can provide 0 euros as the value of the goods in the case of free-of-charge repair, e.g. repair under guarantee (warranty), diplomatic goods/mail or a funerary urn containing ashes or a coffin containing a body.


In some cases, the commercial invoice cannot be used as the basis for the customs value. An example of this is the relationship between the seller and the buyer. Relationship refers e.g. to an economic dependence between the seller and the buyer. The relationship may have a bearing on whether the transaction value can be used as a basis for the customs value. In such situations, you should contact Customs Business Information, who will find out if the transaction value can be accepted as a basis for the customs value in your case. Read more about the effect of the relationship between the buyer and seller on the customs value.

When the customs value exceeds 20 000 euros, you pay customs duty and the import is commercial, you must always provide the valuation indicators in the customs declaration. The valuation indicators are provided by answering questions.

There are four questions concerning the valuation indicator:

  • Does a relationship exist between the parties, regardless of whether it has influenced the price?
    • If the buyer and seller are not related, answer the first question by selecting the option button “No” in the Customs Clearance Service or by providing the code “0” in message exchange. Then you can proceed with the declaration
    • If the buyer and seller are related, answer the first question by selecting the option button “Yes” in the Customs Clearance Service or by providing the code “1” in message exchange. You must also answer three additional questions.
  • Are there any restrictions as to the disposal or use of the goods by the buyer in accordance with point (a) of Article 70(3) of the Union Customs Code?
  • Is the sale or price subject to some condition or consideration in accordance with point (b) of Article 70(3) of the Union Customs Code?
  • Is the sale subject to an arrangement where a part of the proceeds of any subsequent resale, disposal or use of the goods will accrue directly or indirectly to the seller?

Example: The imported goods involve a relationship between the parties but no situation according to the second, third or fourth question. You have answered the first valuation indicator question “Yes” (Customs Clearance Service) or “1” (message exchange) and the other questions “No” or “0”. In message exchange and in the Customs Clearance Service, the code combination “1000” will be displayed.


Providing the customs value using value type codes

In the customs declaration, the customs value is made up of the transaction price and the details provided with the value adjustment codes. Customs value refers to the value of the goods, where the following has been taken into account upon import: the additional costs occurring outside the territory of the EU, such as freight and insurance costs, as well as, where applicable, free deliveries not included in the price up to the place where the goods are brought into the customs territory of the EU. The customs value does not include taxes levied in Finland such as customs duties, VAT, excise duty, import costs and other taxes and export refunds with similar effect. Read more about customs value.

You can check the customs value of the goods item based on the value information provided in the customs declaration under "Taxable amount" in the customs clearance decision. On the same row, you can also check the tax rate and the amount of tax according to the commodity code.

In the customs declaration, items to be added to the transaction price are provided using value type codes, if these items are not already included in the transaction price. If the transaction price includes items that are not part of the customs value and can be itemised, they can be deducted from the customs value using value type codes that reduce the transaction price. The terms of delivery usually affects the use of value type codes. The terms of delivery determine whether the seller or the buyer is responsible e.g. for the transport costs, i.e. whether these costs are already included in the transaction price.

In most cases, the terms of delivery affect the use of value type codes. The terms of delivery alone are not sufficient to determine whether the seller or the buyer is responsible e.g. for the transport costs, i.e. whether these costs are already included in the transaction price. The items in the transaction price must be clearly distinguishable and identified based on the documents submitted.

Provide the items to be added to the transaction price with a value type code beginning with A. Select e.g.

  • “AK – Transport costs, loading and handling charges and insurance costs up to the place of introduction in the European Union”, if you have received a separate freight bill up to the first point of entry into the territory of the EU.
  • ”AD – Packaging”, if you have received a separate invoice for the packaging of the goods for transport.

Provide the items to be deducted from the transaction price with value type codes beginning with B. For example, select “BA – Costs of transport after arrival at the place of introduction”, if the transport costs outside the EU and within the EU are itemised in the freight bill.

Example 1: You are importing goods whose transaction price is 300 euros. The delivery terms are “EXW Delhi”, so you have agreed with the seller that you will pay all transport costs for the goods from Delhi to Helsinki.

  • The transaction price of the goods is 300 euros, but you have received a freight bill indicating that you must pay 400 euros in freight costs, loading charges and insurance costs. Provide 300 euros as the transaction price of the goods and, using the value type code “AK”, provide the transport costs, 400 euros, that you have paid.

Example 2: You are importing goods whose invoice amount is 1 500 euros. The term of delivery is “DAP Helsinki.” Please note that the term of delivery “DAP,” mentioned in the invoice, does not automatically entitle you to deduct all transport costs. Documentary evidence of the inclusion of freight costs and other costs in the transaction price, and the amount of the freight costs, must be verifiable. If the different items are not clearly separated e.g. in the invoice, you can deduct from the customs value the items that clearly are included in the transaction price, and which incurred after the arrival in the EU.

In the trade agreement, you have agreed with the seller that the seller will pay the freight costs that incur from the transport of the goods, e.g. to the port of Helsinki and the unloading of these goods. The transport costs as well as the costs of unloading the goods, are specified in the invoice. The warehousing and forwarding costs as well as the costs of moving the goods to the company’s own warehouse, are not included in the transaction price, instead you will receive a separate invoice for them. 

  • The price of the goods in the invoice is 1 000 euros. In the invoice, the freight costs are specified as follows: The share of the freight costs outside the EU is 400 euros, and the share of the costs inside the EU is 100 euros. In addition, you have received a separate freight invoice in which the freight forwarder has charged you 300 euros for storing, forwarding and moving the goods. In the customs declaration, enter
    • 1 500 euros as the transaction price
    • as value adjustment item, the freight and unloading costs inside the EU, i.e. 100 euros, with the value type code “BA – Costs of transport after arrival at the place of introduction”
  • Please note that when you calculate the statistical value of the example case, you need to include the whole amount of freight in the statistical value, i.e. 500 euros. The statistical value of example 2 would be 1 500 euros. 
  • If you are an operator not registered for VAT, provide the share of the costs for warehousing, forwarding and moving the goods for the calculation of the taxable amount of VAT, i.e. 300 euros, with code ”3A – The costs for transport, loading, unloading, insurance as well as other costs related to the importation to the first place of destination in Finland specified in the transport contract.”

Read more about the items to be added to or deducted from the customs value. You will find the codes beginning with A and B used in customs declarations in code list NLC123 – Value adjustment.

Providing the delivery terms

The most common delivery terms are Incoterms, which are commercial terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The delivery terms can also be based on other than Incoterms. The delivery terms define the responsibilities of the buyer and the seller regarding the delivery, goods and costs. In the customs declaration, provide the delivery terms agreed between the buyer and the seller. Read more about Incoterms.


Providing the statistical value

In the customs declaration, the statistical value shall always be provided as a total amount in euros. When calculating the statistical value, the transaction price shall be taken into account plus, for imports, the additional costs, such as freight and insurance costs, occurring outside the Finnish borders as well as, where applicable, free deliveries not included in the price, if they are not included in the transaction price. The statistical value does not include taxes levied in Finland such as customs duties, VAT, excise duty, import costs and other taxes with similar effect. In the statistical value, remember to take into account the freight inside the EU. If you e.g. have deducted the air transport costs in accordance with the percentage table, you still have to take into account the air transport cost all the way to Finland in the statistical value. 

You are importing goods whose transaction price is 400 euros. The delivery terms are “FCA Rotterdam”, so you have agreed with the seller that the seller will pay the freight bill to Rotterdam and you will pay the transport costs for the goods from Rotterdam to Helsinki.

  • The transaction price of the goods is 400 euros, but you have received a freight bill indicating that you must pay 200 euros in freight costs, loading charges and insurance costs for the delivery to Helsinki. Enter 400 euros as the transaction price of the goods. In the customs declaration, under “Statistical value”, provide 600 euros as the statistical value of the goods (transaction price 400 euros + transport costs 200).

How can the freight bill be split?

In some cases, the freight bill can be split in the customs declaration, even if the quantities of freight have not been itemised in the bill. This can be done e.g. when the goods arrive in one transport unit containing several goods items. Please note that the percentage table for air transport costs is used when declaring air cargo.

The freight bill you have received may cover the whole consignment even if the consignment contains several goods items. In such case, the freight bill must be split between the goods items. The freight bill may be split according to value or weight.

Example of splitting the freight bill between the goods items according to weight:

The total freight costs are 300 euros and the total weight is 150 kg.

Goods item 1 weighs 100 kg –> The freight costs for goods item 1 are (300/150*100) = 200 euros

Goods item 2 weighs 50 kg –> The freight costs for goods item 2 are (300/150*50) = 100 euros


Annex 23-01 of the Implementing Regulation of the Union Customs Code contains a table determining the percentages of air transport costs to be added to the customs value. In column 1 of the table, check the airport of departure and in column 2, the percentage of total air transport costs to be included in the customs value. Please note that there are separate rules regarding the French overseas departments. Read more in the Commission Implementing Regulation.

Examples on how to use the percentage table

Example 1: You are importing goods whose invoice amount is 1 000 euros, from New York to Helsinki. The delivery term is “DAP Helsinki”, so you and the seller have agreed that the seller will pay the transport costs for the goods all the way to Helsinki. On the invoice, the seller has specified the amount of airfreight as 500 euros.

  • The transaction price of the goods is 500 euros. The share of the freight is 500 euros, of which the share of freight outside the EU is included in the customs value is 70% in accordance with the percentage table. The share of freight included in the customs values is €500 x 70% = 350 euros. In the customs declaration, enter
    • 1 000 euros as the transaction price
    • the share of the freight inside the EU (500–350 = 150 euros) as value adjustment item with the value type code “BA – Costs of transport after arrival at the place of introduction” 
  • Please note that when you calculate the statistical value of the example case, you need to include the whole amount of freight in the statistical value, i.e. 500 euros. The statistical value of example 1 would be 1 000 euros.

Example 2: You are importing goods whose invoice amount is 1 000 euros. The delivery term is “FCA New York”, and you have agreed with the seller that you will pay all transport costs for the goods from New York to Helsinki.

  • The transaction price of the goods is 1 000 euros. You have received a freight bill indicating that you must pay 500 euros in freight costs as well as loading charges and insurance costs for the air transport to Helsinki. Enter 1 000 euros as the transaction price of the goods. In addition, enter as customs value the share of freight outside the EU. The amount is 70% in accordance with the percentage table. The share of freight included in the customs values is €500 x 70% = 350 euros. In the customs declaration, enter
    • 1 000 euros as the sales price
    • the share of freight outside the EU, 350 euros, as value adjustment item with value type code “AK – Transport costs, loading and handling charges and insurance costs up to the place of introduction in the European Union”.
  • Please note that when you calculate the statistical value of the example case, you need to include the whole amount of freight in the statistical value, i.e. 500 euros. The statistical value of example 2 would be 1 500 euros.
  • If you are an operator not registered for VAT, provide the freight costs within the EU, 150 euros, for the calculation of the taxable amount of VAT as well as other costs to be includes in the taxable amount of VAT with code ”3A – The costs for transport, loading, unloading, insurance as well as other costs related to the importation to the first place of destination in Finland specified in the transport contract.”

Declaring free-of-charge goods

Free-of-charge goods and chargeable goods must be declared via the Customs Clearance Service or via message exchange using separate standard import declarations. Free-of-charge goods can also be declared using a declaration for low value goods. Provide the value under “transaction price” or “value of the goods item”. The SAD form can be used as a fallback procedure.

When declaring free-of-charge goods, the value of the goods must always be provided in the customs declaration. With the nature of transaction, you notify Customs that the goods are free of charge.

Nature of transaction

For free-of charge goods, the nature of transaction can be, for example:

  • 21 – Return of goods
  • 31 – Movements to/from a warehouse (excluding call-off and consignment stock)
  • 34 – Transactions involving transfer of ownership without financial compensation
  • 99 – Other transactions which cannot be classified under other codes.

The value of free-of-charge goods

Provide the value of the free-of-charge goods for each goods item as follows:

  • Provide the value of the goods under “transaction price” or “value of the goods item”.
    • The value of the goods must be their actual value and, as a rule, the value is determined based on purchase or sale. As for goods that are completely or partially free of charge, the value is determined according to what their price would be if they were sold to the Union.
  • Provide the items added to or deducted from the customs value using the appropriate codes. For example, provide
    • “AK – Transport costs, loading and handling charges and insurance costs up to the place of introduction in the European Union”, if the freight of the goods is to be paid for separately.
    • the freight costs under “Transport costs to the destination” in the case of a customs declaration for low value goods.
  • Provide the statistical value in euros.
    • Statistical value refers to the price of the goods, including the additional costs, such as freight and insurance, occurring outside the Finnish borders. The taxes and charges levied in Finland are not included in the statistical value. The statistical value can never be 0.
  • Under “Additional information” provide the additional information code “FIXXX” and the reason why the goods are free of charge.

You can provide the value of free-of-charge goods e.g. with the additional document “N325 – Proforma invoice” or ”1ZZZ – Other document”.

  • If you are a declarant not registered for VAT, provide also the following value information

If you are an operator not registered for VAT, provide the adjustments to the transaction price for the calculation of the taxable amount for VAT. Provide the following details with separate codes:

  • the costs for transport, loading, unloading and insurance as well as other import-related costs up to the first place of destination in Finland specified in the transport contract (code 3A)
  • the costs for transport, loading, unloading and insurance as well as other costs up to another destination in the territory of the Union that are known at the time when the liability to pay VAT arises (code 3D)
  • other taxes and charges, with the exception of VAT, levied by the State or the Union due to the import of the goods in connection with customs clearance (code 3B)
  • any taxes and other charges payable outside Finland (code 3C).

Points to consider

Provide the nature of transaction using codes in code list CL091 (SAD Box 24).

Provide the values of the free-of-charge goods as follows:

  • at declaration header level, the value of the goods as the total price (SAD Box 22)
    • the value cannot be 0 euros
  • at goods item level, the value of the goods as the price of the goods (SAD Box 42)
    • the value cannot be 0 euros
  • at goods item level, the statistical value and currency (SAD Box 46)
    • Statistical value refers to the price of goods, including the additional costs, such as freight and insurance, occurring outside the Finnish borders. The taxes and charges levied in Finland are not included in the statistical value. The statistical value can never be 0.
  • as additional information on the goods item, with the code XXX, the value of the goods and the reason why the goods are free of charge (SAD Box 44).