Recently, I shipped several of my sold paintings internationally, and wondered why my packages were always held by customs even on expedited shipments.
Perhaps you’ve had this experience–buyers, and you the artist, scrambling to get the details on how to get your art released from customs. Phone calls trying to discover why the shipment was held up. Wondering what additional information they require. What can I do next time to avoid all this? Is there a protocol for sending artwork to buyers outside of the country you are based?
It can be quite a complicated puzzle with a simple goal of delivery to your buyer. Then I learned that I can avoid customs hold-ups by apply a trade tariff code to the outside of my shipping box.
The trade tariff codes starting with number ’97’ alerts customs worldwide to the fact that the item is an original work of art and is therefore exempt from import duties.
For instance, if you are based in the UK and are sending overseas please mark your package clearly with Export code: 97011000
If you are based outside of the UK and are sending your artwork to a customer within the UK mark your parcel: Commodity Code: 9701100000.
Any other variables – say you are sending from USA to Finland or between any other countries then mark you parcel: Export code: 970110
It is really important to use these codes, otherwise items can get stuck in customs!
Artist Marketing Resources 
Do these codes only apply for shipping work that will stay in the country you are sending it to? or do they work when you are sending work to exhibit in a foreign country as well? Do these numbers work in Asia as well or only Europe?
LikeLike
I will use these codes whenever I ship internationally. Sold work requires invoices.
LikeLike
Marie,
WOW! Thank you so much. This is the most helpful piece of information I have received in my email from anyone in weeks.
Thank you for always sending superb information. I so appreciate your support of other artists. And your art work really speaks to me.
So now I am being a gushing fan, yes.
Many thanks and wishes for a Happy New Year. Amantha http://www.amanthatsaros.com/
>
LikeLike
Thanks Amantha
Best Wishes and Happy New Year!
LikeLike
Aha! Just discovered while working thru FedEx’s International shipping online process that these codes are the same as Harmonized Codes!!
LikeLike
HI Mary
Do you have the definition of Harmonized Codes? Is that a FedEX description only?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Harmonized codes work for all shippers and all countries
LikeLike
Plz define “harmonized codes”?
LikeLike
Be sure to also create a commercial invoice for each shipment – you can find examples online or get them from your shipper but I always include the medium, the fact that the work is one of a kind, the name of the artist and the country of origin of the work. As an example: Contains one original 80cm x 80cm oil painting by Vietnamese artist Nguyen Thanh Binh. You also need to include a value. Original artwork being shipped into the US is generally exempt from duties but there have been times when my clients in New York and California have been presented with duties later after the fact. When shipping art valued at over 2,500 US dollars, it is best to include the receivers EIN / SSN or locally required TAX ID number – this speeds things through the customs process as well.
LikeLike
Pingback: ARTISTS LINKS FOR SHIPPING | Otto Rapp's Blog