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Have you ever wondered why some people can ship furniture internationally with zero customs duties, while you end up paying hefty fees? Don’t worry! Today, I’m going to share some expert tips on how to ship furniture tax-free, potentially saving you thousands!

1. Understanding Customs Duty

First, let’s quickly define customs duty. It’s a tax imposed on goods when they cross a country’s border. For example, if you’re shipping furniture from China to another country, customs duties will likely apply. However, if you meet the conditions for tax exemption, you can significantly reduce or even eliminate these costs!

2. Conditions for Tax Exemption

Different countries have different rules for tax exemption, but the general criteria include:

  • Holding a long-term visa or permanent residency in the destination country.
  • The furniture has been in use for over one year.

Save Thousands with 3 Tips on How to Ship Furniture

3. Tip #1: Make New Furniture Look Old

If you’re shipping new furniture, don’t worry—you can apply a “make-it-look-old” trick to qualify for tax exemption. Here’s how:

  • Change the packaging: Have your shipping company replace the original packaging with international shipping materials.
  • Remove labels: Take off any logos, brand labels, manuals, certificates, and manufacturing dates.
  • Split shipments: Send smaller items to your home first, remove the packaging, and combine them with larger items. Have the larger furniture pieces shipped in altered packaging.

By doing this, your new furniture can be treated as used furniture, allowing you to benefit from the tax-free policy. If the furniture is clearly new and cannot pass as used, you can declare it as new, but request the seller to provide a low-value invoice, ensuring that even if taxes are applied, the amount will be minimal.

4. Tip #2: Ship New and Old Furniture Together

Another way to avoid triggering customs inspections is to ship both new and old furniture in the same container. Customs typically inspect items based on their packaging and accessories, so the key here is to replace original packaging and separate documents like manuals and certificates.

When new items are mixed with old furniture, even if customs inspects them, they’re more likely to overlook charging additional duties on the new pieces.

5. Tip #3: Declare Furniture as Personal Items

A huge money-saving trick is to declare your furniture as personal items rather than commercial goods. Here are the benefits of doing so:

  • Save on fees: Most developed countries have favorable tax policies for personal belongings, often offering tax exemptions.
  • Simpler customs clearance: You’ll only need standard documents such as your passport or visa.
  • Lower risk: Even if customs checks your shipment, there’s less risk when you declare it as personal belongings.
  • Ship multiple items: You can include not only furniture but also electronics and household goods.

Important Note: To qualify for the tax exemption, you need to have the right residency status (such as a long-term visa or passport from the destination country), and the items should have been used for at least 12 months.