What is customs valuation?
Customs value is the value of the goods imported or exported from the customs territory of the Republic of Moldova, established in order for the Customs Service to collect the customs duties and other taxes.

Laws and Regulation
The customs value declaration procedure is stipulated in the Law on customs tariff nr.1380-XIII as of 20.11.1997 and the Government Decision nr.600 as of 14.05.2002 regarding the approval of the Regulations on the declaration of customs value of goods imported on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.

Customs value of exported goods is determined on the basis of their contractual price taking into consideration the DAF conditions in conformity with INCOTERMS.

Determination of customs base
The methods for determining the customs value of goods are set forth in the Law on customs tariff nr.1380-XIII as of 20.11.1997 (art.10-17) as follows:

1) based on the transaction value of the goods or on the price that was actually paid or is payable.

2) based on the transaction value of identical goods.
In order to apply this method, the transaction value of an identical commodity shall be used as basis. Goods are considered identical when they are similar in all respects to the commodity being evaluated, including physical characteristics, quality of the commodity and its reputation on the market. Unessential exterior differences cannot constitute an obstacle for considering goods as identical, given that they correspond to all the other characteristics of the definition.

3) based on the transaction value of similar goods.
In order to apply this method, the transaction value of a similar commodity shall be used as basis. Goods are considered similar when, despite not being identical, they have similar characteristics and are constituted of similar materials and, thus, can perform the same functions as the evaluated commodity and can be used interchangeably from a commercial point of view. The quality of goods, their reputation and existence of a trademark are the factors that should be taken into consideration when determining the similarity of goods.

4) based on the price per unit of goods.
The determination of the customs value goods using the price per unit method shall be based on the price per unit corresponding to the sale of this commodity or the sale of an identical or similar commodity in the largest shipments, at the same time or nearly the same time when the evaluated commodity is imported by persons who are not interdependent with the seller, and on the condition of deducting the expenses borne on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.

5) based on the calculated value of the goods.
Customs value shall be based on its calculated value, including: the value or price of the materials and manufacturing operations or other work performed to produce the commodity; the volume of profits and general expenses, equal to the one usually included in the sales amount of goods of the same class or same type as the evaluated commodity, manufactured by producers for shipment to the importing country; other expenses as foreseen by law.

6) reserve method.
Customs value is determined on the basis of reasonable means in conformity with the legal provisions.

The methods for determining the customs value are used on a consecutive basis – each of the methods is applied only in case when the customs value of goods cannot be determined using a previous method.

Procedure
Basically, customs value includes the price of goods, transport expenses and insurance costs for goods until their arrival to the customs office of declaration. The customs value declared by the company or customs broker and any additional data should be veridical and confirmed through such papers as the purchase invoice, transport invoice and any other verifiable documents solicited by the Customs Service. The information presented by the company or customs broker when declaring the customs value constitutes commercial secret. In case if there are no data to prove the correctitude of the stated customs value of goods or there are grounds to believe that the data submitted by the declarant are not authentic and/or sufficient, the customs authority has the right to independently determine the customs value of goods, applying on a consecutive basis the methods foreseen by law.

Documents
• Decision of the Government Of the Republic of Moldova no.600 (Methods of declaring the value in customs of the goods);
• The Law on Customs Tariff N 1380-XIII of November the 20th, 1997(Customs value of goods);
• The Law on Customs Tariff N 1380-XIII of November the 20th, 1997 (Methods of determination and application of customs values of goods and procedure of their application);

Relevant institutions
Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova
Address: 30, Columna str., Chisinau, MD-2001, Republic of Moldova
Press Service: + 373 22/ 574-120
Anteroom: + 373 22/ 574-201
Secretariat: + 373 22/ 574-182
E-mail: vama@customs.gov.md
Website: www.customs.gov.md