Module

Import and Export

Posted on ecommerce4all

How do I do the right thing when importing an online order?

Everything you need to know about import.

Import is the release of goods into free circulation and it is an action by which the customs authority enables the disposal of the goods for the purposes determined by the customs procedure in which they are placed. The person who carries out the importation is called the importer.

Wondering how your order is arriving from abroad? Follow the whole process.

uvoz ksv

Click here to download the document with the import process in Kosovo.

Place of customs clearance

The ordered shipment arrives at certain places of declaration for the goods and their customs clearance – customs office Post, or if it arrives by air transport – customs office Prishtina Airport.

Customs declaration

The shipment is taken care of by the companies that perform fast or ordinary delivery – based on the declared data in the shipment, it is determined whether the shipment is subject to import customs or is exempt from customs and import duties.

Shipments with a value of 22 euros (including transport costs) are released immediately after the shipment arrives; there is no obligation to submit a customs declaration for them.

For all other shipments that have a value above 22 euros (together with transport costs), there is an obligation to submit a customs declaration in written form.

This declaration can be submitted by the shipment carrier (post or ex-press mail) or another customs agent. It can also be submitted by a natural person who receives the shipment.

This is a matter of choice for the importer (legal or natural person) – he should independently decide who will submit the customs declaration.

One of the easier ways determined by the Customs Administration is the submission of a simplified customs declaration by the importer by fulfilling the following conditions:

  • The value of the shipment (together with the transport costs) should not exceed an amount of 800 euros and a net mass of up to 1,000 kg. This is the simplest way for customs clearance of shipments arriving from import.
  • If these conditions are not met, it is mandatory to submit a customs declaration in a regular customs procedure. This declaration can be submitted by the importer (individual or legal entity), customs agent – freight forwarder, or by post or express mail.

Documentation

Most often, from where the shipment is ordered, they mark it with a declaration that says what it contains, its value, and where it comes from. This declaration is valid evidence describing the goods ordered.

If other documentation is required, the responsible person from the customs office contacts the recipient. If he does not provide the necessary data, the value for which the order should be cleared is calculated by the customs officials.

If he does not agree with the determined value, he has the right to submit an objection to it.

If a shipment is sent from one person to another person, the sender should be careful to indicate the value of the goods, to more easily determine whether it is subject to regular customs clearance and payment of duties.

Additional costs

Costs that are included in the value for which an order should be subject to customs include the costs of postage that occur outside the R.S.M.

This means that if the order is 50 euros, and the postage for it to arrive costs 10 euros, the total value of the order is 60 euros.

The customs value does not include other possible additional costs incurred in our country, which are calculated and charged by Prishtina Airport Costums.

After the customs value of the shipment is determined, the customs officials calculate the additional amount of duties that should be sent.

If the customs value of the shipment is less than 22 euros, it is exempt from customs and VAT. This does not apply if the shipment is an alcoholic beverage, tobacco product, perfume, or toilet water.

If the customs value of the shipment is above 90 euros, then import duties, i.e. customs, and VAT, must be paid. In this case, additional costs for handling and manipulation are paid, which are sent by Prishtina Airport Costums.

These handling and manipulation costs are often charged for shipments that are exempt from paying customs duties and VAT upon importation, and citizens often think they are customs duties.

*This applies only if the shipment is sent by a legal entity, and does not apply if the shipment is received from another natural person.

Arrival of the shipment

At the moment when the shipment arrives on the territory of R.S.M. as long as no treatment is determined with it, it is under customs supervision and is treated as temporarily stored goods in a customs office.

After the completion of the whole process, the shipment arrives at your address!

How do I do the right thing when exporting an online order?

Everything you need to know about export.

With the export procedure, the customs authority approves the export of domestic goods from the customs territory.

Exporting involves the application of export and export formalities and trade policy measures. The seller or shipper of such goods is the exporter.

Wondering how shipping a product outside of your country works? Follow the whole process.

uvoz ksv

Click here to download the document with the export process in North Macedonia.

Preparation

The shipment to be sent outside the borders of our country is prepared in appropriate packaging for international transport.

Documentation

Along with the product, documents are prepared, the most important and mandatory of which is the commercial invoice. In addition to the invoice, depending on the requirements of the importing country, a packing list/delivery note and/or proof of product origin may be required.

The commercial invoice should contain the following information:

  • Name and address of the exporter (legal entity or sole trader)
  • Name and address of the importer (distribution partner, intermediary or end user)
  • Shipping address
  • Net and gross mass, packaging dimensions
  • Accurate description of the goods
  • Quantity of goods, number and type of packages
  • Price
  • Terms of delivery and payment
  • Country of origin

In addition to the invoice, in certain countries of delivery with which Kosovo has concluded agreements on free trade, and for the buyer not to pay customs duty, it is necessary to produce proof that the products are of Kosovo origin.

This can be easily done by filling in a declaration of origin in the commercial invoice, which can be made by any exporter for goods whose value does not exceed the amount of 6,000 euros per individual shipment.

Customs declaration

For the shipment to leave the customs area of Kosovo, a customs declaration should be submitted.

The customs declaration can be submitted by the e-merchant, but it can also be submitted by a customs agent – freight forwarder, or by the sender.

Also, the customs declaration can be submitted in a regular or simplified customs procedure.

Regular or simplified customs procedure

In the regular customs procedure, the export customs declaration has to be submitted for each shipment at the time of dispatch/export of the shipment, which considering the speed and costs is not advisable for e-merchants.

In simplified customs procedures, the e-merchant can submit one customs declaration for all shipments sent during one day, regardless of the number of shipments and the number of buyers. For something like this, approval from the Customs Administration is required. This procedure is recommended for e-merchants who have a higher volume of work..

If the regular export customs procedure is chosen, a SAD customs declaration is submitted in electronic form. Shipment can only be exported if:

  • The declaration is signed with a digital certificate
  • It contains all the necessary data
  • The e-merchant has attached all the necessary documents
  • The goods have been submitted for inspection by the customs authority

If the shipment is exported by mail, the customs authority at the exit is the one in which the shipment is taken over under a transport contract for transport to another country by the postal services.

Sending of the shipment 

Approval for simplified customs procedures, and the whole work can be completed in any branch of the Kosovo Post on the territory of the country. The forwarding agency of the Kosovo Post should be contacted beforehand. They can take over the shipment or it can be taken to any branch of the post office and be cleared for export by the kosovo Post upon its receipt.

The shipment can also be handed over to express mail companies, which can perform export customs clearance of the shipment at any time.

If the e-merchant wants to send the shipment independently, he should independently submit an electronic customs declaration. This declaration is submitted to the competent customs office for export – it is the customs office Posta Prishtina, based on the receipt of the shipment for export issued at the counters of Kosovo Post. This declaration is submitted through the Merchant Export Portal, and a Movement Reference Number is used to identify the export operation.

The e-merchant has the right to choose whether he wants to use a regular export customs procedure or a simplified export customs procedure – but one thing is mandatory – to submit a customs declaration.

After completing the whole process, your shipment arrives at the end buyer!

E-payment processing

Posted on ecommerce4all

Click here to download the guide: “E-payment”

 

5 entities participate in the processing of the online transaction:

  • E-merchant (seller),
  • Buyer (the end user who performs the transaction),
  • Accepting bank, i.e. “acquirer” (a bank with which the e-merchant cooperates),
  • Card organization (Mastercard, Visa, Diners, etc.) and
  • Issuing bank, i.e. “issuer” (the bank – the issuer of the end buyer’s card)

For the accepting bank to process the online transaction, a payment gateway and a payment processor are required.

The payment gateway is the portal through which the accepting bank (merchant’s bank) receives the customer’s card data for further processing.

The payment processoris a technical tool that is an intermediary between the banks and the international card organization (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) to carry out online transactions. The payment processor can be owned by the bank (in-house) or the bank can use an external payment processor. The processor sends clearing data to card organizations to settle funds from card transactions.

Important notice

The e-merchant does not have any insight into the data from the buyer’s payment card. The same is transmitted through the payment gateway directly to the accepting bank – the merchant’s bank, which then through the payment processor (own or external) transmits the information to the card organization that communicates with the customer’s card issuing bank.

Click here to download the guide: “E-payment”

 

Online transaction clearing and settlement

Clearing is the exchange of transaction information between the merchant’s bank and the card-issuing bank, through the card organization’s Visa or MasterCard.

Settlement is the process of exchanging funds between the card issuer and the merchant’s bank to complete the transaction.

Card transaction clearing and settlement is facilitated through the Transaction Data Exchange, which is the electronic infrastructure that Visa and MasterCard have put in place to process financial transactions between their member banks. Clearing and settlement of the transaction occurs subsequently.

The settlement process may vary slightly from one processing bank to another, but generally goes through the following stages:

  1. After the end of the business day, the merchant’s bank submits the transaction information to the appropriate card organization (Visa or MasterCard).
  2. The card organization clears and settles and sends the transaction information to the card issuing bank and then settles it by crediting the merchant’s bank account and debiting the card issuer’s account.
    1. The amount credited to the merchant’s bank is equal to the amount of the transaction, minus fees and minus the commission (the fee that Visa and MasterCard charge for processing each card transaction).
    2. The amount debited from the card issuer’s account is equal to the transaction amount, minus chargeback fees determined by Visa and MasterCard.
  3. The merchant’s bank receives its funds, usually within 24 hours of the transaction, and credits the merchant’s account, usually within 48 hours of the transaction. The e-merchant receives an amount equal to the amount credited to the account of the bank processing the transaction, minus payment processing charges (the rates and fees the merchant has agreed to pay for card processing services).
  4. The card issuer informs about the transaction made on the cardholder’s account.

Benefits

Posted on ecommerce4all

Benefits for e-sellers

Having a Trustmark badge for an e-commerce website can bring several benefits. Here are some of the main advantages:

  • Increased Trust and Credibility

    Trustmark badges help build trust and confidence among visitors and potential customers. It assures them that the website has undergone a thorough vetting process and meets certain standards of security, privacy, and reliability.

  • Enhanced Conversion Rates

    Trustmarks can positively impact conversion rates by alleviating doubts or concerns customers may have during the purchasing process. When customers feel confident and secure, they are more likely to complete transactions, leading to increased sales.

  • Security Assurance

    Trustmark badges often indicate that the website has implemented security measures to protect customer data. This provides reassurance to customers that their personal and financial information is safe, which can help minimize the risk of fraud or identity theft.

  • Competitive Advantage

    In a highly competitive e-commerce landscape, displaying regional Trustmark badges can distinguish your website from others. It gives you a competitive edge by highlighting your commitment to secure and trustworthy online transactions.

  • Better Customer Experience

    Trustmarks can contribute to an improved overall customer experience. By prominently displaying trust badges, customers will feel more comfortable and satisfied during their browsing and purchasing journey.

  • Legal Compliance

    Obtaining and maintaining a Trustmark badge requires adherence to specific legal and industry standards. By meeting these requirements, your e-commerce website can ensure compliance with relevant regulations and guidelines.

It’s important to note that customers are becoming more discerning, so it’s crucial to choose reputable trustmark providers that resonate with your target market.

Benefits for e-buyers

Having a regional Trustmark badge for an e-commerce website provides multiple benefits to e-buyers. Here are some of the advantages:

  • Increased Confidence

    The presence of a regional Trustmark badge assures e-buyers that the website has been evaluated and meets specific standards set by trusted authorities in the region. This boosts confidence in the website’s credibility and reduces concerns about scams or fraudulent activities.

  • Authenticity and Legitimacy

    E-buyers often encounter unfamiliar websites while shopping online, especially while shopping from another market. A regional Trustmark badge serves as a signal of authenticity, indicating that the website is genuine and operated by a legitimate business. This helps buyers make informed decisions and reduces the risk of falling for counterfeit or unreliable websites.

  • Protection of Personal Information

    Trustmark badges often indicate that the website adheres to data protection and privacy practices. Knowing their personal information will be handled securely encourages e-buyers to share their data with confidence, leading to a safer online shopping experience.

  • Quality Assurance

    Trustmarks often require adherence to quality standards by the e-commerce website. This can include factors like product authenticity, reliable information, and good customer service. E-buyers benefit from these quality assurance measures as they can expect a certain level of product and service excellence while shopping from a website with a regional Trustmark badge.

  • Enhanced Transparency

    Regional Trustmark badges promote transparency in different aspects of an e-commerce website, such as return and refund procedures, terms and conditions, and customer reviews. This empowers e-buyers with the necessary information to make informed purchasing decisions, fostering a more transparent and trustworthy online marketplace.

  • Improved Customer Experience

    Trustmark badges can enhance the overall customer experience. E-buyers feel more at ease during the shopping process, resulting in increased confidence to make a purchase and a higher likelihood of repeat business.

Overall, Regional Trustmark badges play a crucial role in building trust, instilling confidence, and enhancing the shopping experience for e-buyers when buying cross-border, consequently benefiting both the buyers and the e-commerce website.

The Regional Trustmark badge shows to you as a consumer that:

  • The seller is a registered entity
  • The e-seller provides clear and precise information about his identity and contacts
  • The e-seller provides all information about the price and all related costs before the final step of ordering
  • The e-seller presents all conditions and contractual obligations of the buyer in a clear and understandable manner
  • The e-seller offers a transparent and generally accepted payment method
  • The e-seller offers transparent ways and conditions of delivery
  • All information about the Privacy policy and protection of personal data available for the information of users is available to the customer in an easy and comprehensible way.
  • The e-seller clearly and comprehensibly presents to the buyer all his legal rights and obligations, the right to withdraw from the contract, and a transparent product return policy
  • The seller has cookie policy available at the website.
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2