Required documents

Correctly executed documents help to quickly transport cargo across the border:

• Invoice (invoice). The document confirming payment for the cargo must contain the name, quantitative data, cost per unit. and the result, details of the seller and buyer;
• Packing list confirming the physical data of the cargo (gross and net weight, number of units, weight of each and total);
• Certificate of quality;
• Certificate of origin;
• Transport document depending on the method of transportation (CMR, bill of lading, waybill depending on the method of transportation).

To import goods into the Russian Federation, a number of mandatory documents are required. This:

• Foreign economic contract containing information about the full name of the cargo, its type and value. Terms of delivery of this cargo, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the goods. Degree of responsibility of the importer and recipient, duration of the contract.
• Transaction passport containing information about the participants in the transaction (details of the counterparty from Russia and the foreign supplier, bank details, contract data).
• Invoice containing information about the type of invoice, its number, cargo data, Incoterms delivery conditions.
• Packing list with information about the contract number, invoice, detailed data on the cargo.
• Bill of lading (for sea shipment)
• Railway invoice (for delivery by railway transport)
• Certificate of origin of cargo

Other documents may also be required. Statutory and accounting documents, waybills, customs declarations, insurance, etc.

Using «gray» schemes, the importer optimizes costs, but does not violate the law. In this case, the role of importer-buyer is not the customer, but the logistics company. When the cargo passes the customs inspection procedure and is delivered to the territory of the country, the customer receives the goods on the basis of a delivery agreement concluded between compatriot companies.

Documents for importing goods include in their list declarations, which are most often used to implement «gray» schemes, indicating in them the undervalued value of the cargo. This move allows you to reduce the cost of paying customs duties.

The meaning of the «gray» scheme is that documents for importing goods are issued while safely optimizing costs. This technique is most often used by entrepreneurs in order to maintain competitive prices for their goods.

The most popular are «gray» customs clearance schemes. Analysts have different opinions on this matter, but most of them agree that 70–80% of Chinese products imported to Russia are imported under «gray» schemes. In this case, documents for importing goods are prepared by the logistics company and the customer does not waste time and effort on this. Delay of cargo at customs, fines and other troubles for the parties to the transaction will not arise, because the goods are imported legally. In addition, as a rule, there are no problems with the tax authorities, since the customer receives both a copy of the declaration and closing documents.

Despite the fact that «white» schemes are the safest, their popularity is quite low for two reasons:

The cost of goods increases greatly. Quite often, budding entrepreneurs and small firms facing financial difficulties are simply unable to pay customs duties and other payments related to paperwork in full.

During customs clearance, it is necessary to overcome many bureaucratic «obstacles». In order for cargo to cross the border, documents for importing goods must include statutory, tax, banking and foreign trade documents, specifications, invoices, technical descriptions of products, certificates, etc.

Competent execution of such a volume of documentation can only be done by a professional who knows all the nuances of foreign trade. Naturally, the customer of the cargo is forced to turn to such specialists, and their services are not cheap.

That is why the «white» scheme is most often used by large and medium-sized companies that have achieved financial stability. In addition, companies that have entered into agreements with large «network operators» or operate on the basis of a concluded government contract operate under «white» schemes.