What to Do If You Disagree With a Customs Valuation

It can be unsettling to see customs assess a higher value than what you actually paid your supplier. Before assuming you have no choice but to accept it, it helps to know that there is a process for raising a genuine disagreement.

Gather Your Supporting Evidence First

Payment records, the original supplier invoice, bank transfer confirmations, and any written correspondence showing the agreed price are your strongest evidence that your declared value is accurate. Assemble these before raising the issue, not after.

Raise the Issue Through the Proper Channel

Valuation disagreements are typically raised through your C&F agent, who can present your supporting documents to the assessing officer and request a review. This is a normal part of the clearance process, not an adversarial escalation, and most disputes are resolved at this stage.

When to Get Additional Help

If a dispute isn’t resolved through your agent’s initial request, there are further review and appeal mechanisms within the customs process, though these take more time. It’s worth weighing the cost of a prolonged dispute against the value gap in question. See our related piece on why customs may assess a different value or contact our team if you’re currently facing a valuation disagreement.