Which account should the agency import customs declaration service fee be recorded in?
Our company has an agency import business and has incurred customs declaration service fees. We are not quite sure which account this expense should be recorded in. We are a general commercial enterprise and have not encountered a similar situation before. We want to know in accounting, which account should this agency import customs declaration service fee actually belong to? Should it be recorded in the relevant accounts of inventory goods like the procurement cost, or are there other appropriate accounts? We hope to get an accurate and easy-to-understand answer.
Professional consultant answers
Michelle ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Business coordination consultantConsult
The agency import customs declaration service fee can usually be recorded in the corresponding account according to different situations. If the fee is directly related to the imported goods and can be clearly distinguished to specific goods, it is generally recorded in the cost of the imported goods, that is, the inventory goods account. This is because the customs declaration service fee is a necessary expenditure to make the goods reach a salable state.
If it cannot be directly corresponding to specific goods, or the enterprise simplifies the accounting, it can also be recorded in the "Selling Expenses" account. Because the customs declaration service is an indirect expense incurred to promote the sale of goods.
In addition, if the enterprise regards it as an expenditure of a management activity, it can also be recorded in the "Administrative Expenses". However, generally, the first two treatment methods are, and it is more appropriate to record it in the cost of inventory goods or selling expenses, which can more accurately reflect the cost and expense structure of the enterprise.
William YangYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
International logistics consultantConsult
Generally speaking, if it is directly linked to the imported goods, it is better to record it in the cost of inventory goods, so that the cost accounting is more accurate. If it is not clear which specific goods it corresponds to, the selling expenses are also okay.
Jennifer WangYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Market development consultantConsult
Actually, you can also look at the company's past habits of dealing with similar expenses. If the relevant expenses were previously all put in the administrative expenses, it is not impossible to put the customs declaration service fee in the administrative expenses.
Emily LiuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Settlement and payment expertConsult
From the perspective of the actual business logic, if the customs declaration service is mainly for the sales link, it is relatively reasonable to record it in the selling expenses. After all, it is closely related to sales.
Robert ChenYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customer service consultantConsult
If the value of the goods itself is high and the proportion of the customs declaration service fee is small, for the sake of simplifying the accounting, it is more convenient to record it in the selling expenses. There is no need to be too obsessed with accurately recording it in the cost.
David LiYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior customs declaration consultantConsult
If the company's finance pays more attention to the accuracy of cost accounting, regardless of the size of the expense, it is recommended to record it in the cost of inventory goods, so that the real cost of the goods can be clearly reflected.
Amanda YangYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cost control consultantConsult
If the enterprise's business is mainly trade, in order to highlight the importance of the sales link, putting the customs declaration service fee in the selling expenses can better reflect the focus of operation.
Elizabeth LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Compliance and risk managerConsult
When it is difficult to judge the specific attribution of the customs declaration service fee, consult a professional accountant. They can give accurate suggestions based on the actual situation of the company.
James LiuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Foreign trade tax refund consultantConsult
Some enterprises will consider according to the nature of the expense. The customs declaration service belongs to the logistics auxiliary category. If the company has a collection account for logistics expenses, it can also consider putting it in a similar account.