Shipper's Export Declaration

Summary of Shipper's Export Declaration

An official document that a U.S. exporter is obliged to submit to Federal authorities whenever merchandise is shipped from the United States to a foreign destination or certain offshore possessions. The primary authority for requiring the filing of the declaration is the Export Administration Act of 1969, as amended; failure to file the declaration or making false statements therein may subject the preparer to civil and/or criminal penalties. The purpose of the declaration is twofold: to permit a pre-export control on shipments of sensitive commodities or general shipments to unfriendly countries, and to permit the gathering of statistical data on exports. For these purposes, the declaration requires, inter alia, a description of the merchandise (including the Schedule B Number [q.v.] for the commodity), value, country of destination, and export license number, where applicable. A shipper's export declaration is required on all commercial shipments valued over $250 and on any shipment, irrespective of value, requiring a validated export license (except those involving shipments of technical data, even where licensed).

For shipments made to foreign destinations (other than Canada) two copies of the declaration are required; only one copy need be filed on shipments to Canada, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Except for exports by mail, the declarations are filed with U.S. customs authorities at the port of exportation. In those cases where exportation is done by mail and a declaration is required, the filing may be made with the postmaster.

Two forms of shipper's export declaration are available for use. Form 7525-V is the older form; form 7525-V-ALT was designed for use with so- called international trade master sets, permitting the simultaneous preparation of several trade documents. Either form is acceptable

(Main Author: William J. Miller)