International Shipping Compliance: Avoid Customs Delays [SAMOS e-commerce LTD](/)Open main menu Search Services Pricing Resources Blog [ Login ](https://connect.samos-e.com/login) ![Illustration of a cargo plane, package, and megaphone announcing a delay, titled Common Compliance Mistakes That Can Delay International Deliveries.](https://fls-a23386ec-a833-4d54-8bab-79a51619651d.laravel.cloud/372/conversions/Main-Graphic-18-main.jpg) International Shipping Compliance: Avoid Customs Delays ======================================================= International shipping delays can be costly, but many are avoidable. Discover the most common customs compliance mistakes e-commerce businesses make, from incorrect HS codes and country of origin to inaccurate product descriptions and customs values. ![Picture of Simon Perkins](https://fls-a23386ec-a833-4d54-8bab-79a51619651d.laravel.cloud/129/conversions/TBA41DHHU-UB8G6TW2C-a6e01c7f48ad-512-main.jpg) Simon Perkins Commercial Director at SAMOS - [Common Compliance Mistakes That Can Delay International Deliveries](#content-common-compliance-mistakes-that-can-delay-international-deliveries) - [1. Incorrect or incomplete customs documentation](#content-1-incorrect-or-incomplete-customs-documentation) - [2. Incorrect HS or commodity codes](#content-2-incorrect-hs-or-commodity-codes) - [3. Incorrect country of origin](#content-3-incorrect-country-of-origin) - [4. Vague or inaccurate product descriptions](#content-4-vague-or-inaccurate-product-descriptions) - [5. Incorrect customs value](#content-5-incorrect-customs-value) 25th September 2026 Share this article - [Share on Facebook]() - [Share on WhatsApp]() - [Share on LinkedIn]() - Copy Link [\#](#content-common-compliance-mistakes-that-can-delay-international-deliveries "Permalink")Common Compliance Mistakes That Can Delay International Deliveries --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you’re a regular international e-commerce shipper, you’ll know there’s nothing more frustrating than a delivery delay. At best, it costs you time and money while you try to find out what’s happened. At worst, it can affect customer experience, damage trust and cost you valuable repeat business. And from a shipping and logistics partner’s perspective, there’s only one thing more frustrating than a costly delay: an unnecessary one. Thankfully, here at [**SAMOS**](https://samos-e.com/), we find that many international shipping delays are avoidable. In our experience, a large proportion of customs and compliance issues come down to one simple problem: the information provided about the shipment doesn’t accurately or consistently describe what is physically being shipped. If customs can’t establish what the goods are, what they’re worth, where they originated, who is importing them or which rules apply, the shipment may need further investigation. And every additional step can add hours or even days – particularly when the shipper, consignee and customs broker are working across different time zones. So, what are the most common international shipping compliance mistakes, and what can you do to avoid them? [\#](#content-1-incorrect-or-incomplete-customs-documentation "Permalink")1. Incorrect or incomplete customs documentation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One of the biggest mistakes we see at SAMOS is assuming that information which has worked in the past will automatically work again. It’s easy to think: “*That product has shipped to the US before and there wasn’t a problem, so the data must be fine*.” In fact, the US is a prime example, with so many [**regulatory changes**](https://samos-e.com/blog/us-shipping/a-guide-to-understanding-us-tariffs-duties-and-documentation-right-now) affecting the import of goods in recent years, it pays to ensure your product data is reviewed and updated regularly. This is particularly important for e-commerce brands shipping a wide range of products internationally. Product descriptions, HS codes, country of origin and other customs information all need to be accurate and consistent for every shipment. Getting these details right before a parcel leaves your warehouse can save a lot of time further down the line. [\#](#content-2-incorrect-hs-or-commodity-codes "Permalink")2. Incorrect HS or commodity codes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [**HS Codes**](https://samos-e.com/resources/what-is-an-hs-code), also known as Harmonised System codes, help customs authorities identify what type of goods are being imported. Getting the code wrong – or providing an incomplete code where a more detailed classification is required – can result in customs querying or reclassifying your goods. Some common mistakes we see made often, include simply copying the HS code supplied by a manufacturer without checking whether it is appropriate for the destination country's tariff system, or failure to include the full code. **Best practice**: Maintain an approved HS/commodity-code database for your products and review classifications periodically, particularly when entering new markets or launching new products. [\#](#content-3-incorrect-country-of-origin "Permalink")3. Incorrect country of origin -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [**Country of Origin**](https://samos-e.com/resources/what-is-meant-by-country-of-origin) is another area that can easily cause confusion. Importantly, the country of origin isn't necessarily the country the goods were shipped from. For example, goods manufactured in China and then stored in a warehouse in Germany don't automatically have Germany as their country of origin. Incorrect origin information can affect: - Duty rates - Trade agreement preferences - Tariff measures - Import restrictions - Origin documentation requirements As international trade regulations continue to evolve, accurate country-of-origin information is becoming increasingly important for e-commerce businesses shipping across borders. **Best practice**: Keep your product master data up to date with the correct country of origin and make sure this information is consistently included wherever it is required for an international shipment. [\#](#content-4-vague-or-inaccurate-product-descriptions "Permalink")4. Vague or inaccurate product descriptions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Getting your product description right is just as important as getting the commodity code right. A useful product description should explain what the item is, what it is made from and, where relevant, what it is used for. For example: Not so helpful: “Machine parts” Better: “Stainless-steel hydraulic fittings for industrial machinery” Vague descriptions can result in customs queries, additional checks or manual inspection, all of which can slow down your shipment. **Best practice**: Keep a central product database or spreadsheet containing approved descriptions for your products. That way, your shipping team can consistently use accurate descriptions rather than creating them from scratch for every shipment. [\#](#content-5-incorrect-customs-value "Permalink")5. Incorrect customs value ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Declared value is another area where mistakes can create unnecessary delays. Under-declaring goods or incorrectly calculating their customs value can result in customs stopping the shipment while they verify the transaction. Common issues can include: - Declaring manufacturing cost when the applicable valuation method requires transaction value - Forgetting relevant freight or insurance components - Incorrectly handling discounts - Declaring replacement goods as having zero value - Failing to account for certain assists or royalties where applicable Customs valuation rules vary between jurisdictions, so there isn’t always a one-size-fits-all approach. **Best practice**: Make sure your declared value is calculated in accordance with the destination country's customs valuation rules, and review your process when you begin shipping to a new market. The [**SAMOS Smart Parcel**](https://samos-e.com/resources/duties-and-taxes) calculator enables you to estimate duties and taxes in advance and provide a more accurate value. **Why you should review international shipping compliance before peak season** This probably goes without saying, but peak season is the worst possible time to discover a problem with your customs process. When order volumes increase, your warehouse is busier, your customer service team has more enquiries and your shipping partners are dealing with increased network volumes. The last thing you need is a customs delay on top of everything else. That’s why reviewing your international shipping compliance before peak season can make a real difference. Take the time now to check your: - HS and commodity codes - Country-of-origin information - Product descriptions - Customs values - Commercial invoices - Packing lists - Destination-country requirements - Restricted and controlled product information A little preparation now can mean significantly fewer headaches when order volumes start to climb. **Are your shipping compliance processes ready for peak season?** Getting your core product and customs data right is one thing. Staying on top of changing international shipping regulations is another. Unless you have someone actively monitoring changes across all the countries you ship to, it’s surprisingly easy for an important regulatory update to pass you by. And you might not realise there’s a problem until a shipment is sitting in customs. So, what can you do? You could allocate someone within your business to monitor regulatory and customs changes. You can make sure your shipping team regularly reviews product and customs data. Or, you can work with a shipping partner that makes staying on top of these changes part of the service. **How SAMOS can help** We work with a lot of founder-led, scaling e-commerce businesses. These are ambitious companies focused on growth, new markets and keeping their customers happy. They don’t necessarily have the time or resources to monitor every change to international shipping requirements, for every destination. And honestly, we don’t expect them to. That’s where we come in. International shipping is what we do every day. We keep an eye on the complexities of cross-border shipping and help our customers navigate them. If something changes, we’ll let you know. If you’re unsure what information is needed for a particular destination, we’ll help you work it out. And if something doesn’t look right with your shipment data, we’ll help you identify it before it becomes a bigger problem. For us, that’s simply part of being a good shipping partner. Because international shipping doesn’t need to be complicated, and customs delays don’t have to be an unavoidable part of growing an e-commerce business. Want to make sure your shipping compliance processes are ready for peak season? Get in touch with SAMOS and let’s review them together. ![Picture of Simon Perkins](https://fls-a23386ec-a833-4d54-8bab-79a51619651d.laravel.cloud/129/conversions/TBA41DHHU-UB8G6TW2C-a6e01c7f48ad-512-main.jpg) Simon Perkins Commercial Director at SAMOS - [Common Compliance Mistakes That Can Delay International Deliveries](#content-common-compliance-mistakes-that-can-delay-international-deliveries) - [1. Incorrect or incomplete customs documentation](#content-1-incorrect-or-incomplete-customs-documentation) - [2. Incorrect HS or commodity codes](#content-2-incorrect-hs-or-commodity-codes) - [3. Incorrect country of origin](#content-3-incorrect-country-of-origin) - [4. Vague or inaccurate product descriptions](#content-4-vague-or-inaccurate-product-descriptions) - [5. Incorrect customs value](#content-5-incorrect-customs-value) 25th September 2026 Share this article - [Share on Facebook]() - [Share on WhatsApp]() - [Share on LinkedIn]() - Copy Link Who is SAMOS? ------------- SAMOS is parcel logistics company based in London, specialising in creating and engineering customer-focussed e-commerce parcel delivery and returns solutions. [Find out more about SAMOS ](/about-samos) What our customers are saying ------------------------------ SAMOS customers had difficulties shipping into the EU and beyond - until they found SAMOS. [Read more about our customers ](/customer-stories) How to contact SAMOS -------------------- Need more help or do you have any questions for us? Talk to us Why not try shipping with SAMOS? -------------------------------- Request a demo to learn more about how SAMOS can help you ship directly to your customers. [Request a demo ](/request-a-demo) Join our newsletter ------------------- Get the latest e-commerce shipping news and tips straight to your inbox. Sign up ### Related Articles [![Peak Season Shipping: 5 Things Ecommerce Brands Can Do Now](https://fls-a23386ec-a833-4d54-8bab-79a51619651d.laravel.cloud/369/conversions/Thumbnail--Graphic-15-main.jpg)](/blog/e-commerce/peak-season-shipping-5-things-ecommerce-brands-can-do-now)11th September 2026[E-commerce](/blog/e-commerce) ### [ Peak Season Shipping: 5 Things Ecommerce Brands Can Do Now](/blog/e-commerce/peak-season-shipping-5-things-ecommerce-brands-can-do-now) Black Friday and Christmas will be here before you know it. 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We look at why flexibility — not simply the cheapest shipping rate — is becoming a smarter way to support international growth. ![Picture of Simon Perkins](https://fls-a23386ec-a833-4d54-8bab-79a51619651d.laravel.cloud/129/conversions/TBA41DHHU-UB8G6TW2C-a6e01c7f48ad-512-main.jpg) Simon Perkins Commercial Director at SAMOS Footer ------ ### Services - [Parcel Delivery ](/services/parcel-delivery) - [Parcel Returns ](/services/parcel-returns) - [All Integrations ](/services/integrations) - [Parcel Tracking ](/services/parcel-tracking) - [Shipping to the EU](/services/parcel-delivery/europe) - [Shipping fragrances & cosmetics to the EU](/blog/eu-shipping/problems-shipping-cosmetics-and-fragrances-across-the-eu-your-solution) - [Learn about IOSS for EU Shipping ](/blog/ioss) ### Integrations - [Shopify](/services/integrations/shopify) - [Shipstation](/services/integrations/shipstation) - [Linnworks](/services/integrations/linnworks) - [Mintsoft](/services/integrations/mintsoft) - [WooCommerce](/services/integrations/woocommerce) - [Shiptheory](/services/integrations/shiptheory) - [Despatch Cloud](/services/integrations/despatch-cloud) - [Magento](/services/integrations/magento) - [Pimento](/services/integrations/pimento) ### Company - [About SAMOS ](/about-samos) - [Customer Stories ](/customer-stories) - [Shipping Rates ](/pricing/samos-shipping-rates) - [Return Rates ](/pricing/samos-return-rates) - [Request a Demo ](/request-a-demo) - [Sustainability ](/resources/sustainability) - [Resources ](/resources) - [Contact Us ](/contact-us) ### Terms & Conditions - [Website T&Cs ](/website-terms-and-conditions) - [Privacy & Cookies ](/privacy-and-cookie-policy) - [Shipping T&Cs ](/shipping-terms-and-conditions) ### Subscribe to our newsletter The latest e-commerce shipping news and tips, sent to your inbox. 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