How do you declare the value for customs?
do-GA-na — three syllables; stress on the second. 'Do' has an open 'o', not closed.
Use this when sending a parcel to a non-EU country and you are unsure how to complete the customs form. The clerk will guide you through the CN23 form.
'Si dichiara' is the impersonal si construction: 'one declares' / 'you declare'. 'Valore doganale' = customs value (the commercial value of the goods). For gifts, you can declare the gift value. Underdeclaring is technically illegal but common — overly high values may trigger customs duties for the recipient.
Devo pagare io la tassa doganale o la paga il destinatario?
Do I pay the customs tax or does the recipient?
Customs duties are paid by the recipient in the destination country, not the sender
Posso scrivere 'regalo' sul pacco?
Can I write 'gift' on the parcel?
Writing 'gift' may reduce or eliminate customs duties in some countries
Cosa succede se la dogana blocca il pacco?
What happens if customs holds the parcel?
Asking about the procedure if the parcel is seized by customs
International customs regulations vary enormously. The EU imports threshold for duty-free goods is €150 (gifts €45 from certain countries). Italian post office clerks are generally well-informed about common destination countries' requirements. Accurate declaration protects both sender and recipient from legal complications.