How the 9810 export declaration mode works for overseas-warehouse sellers, how it differs from 9610/9710 and 0110, and what registration and documentation it requires.
If your goods sail to an overseas warehouse — Amazon FBA, a third-party warehouse, your own independent-store stock — the export declaration mode you choose affects VAT treatment, compliance exposure and even whether a returned shipment is taxed twice. For China-based cross-border e-commerce sellers, mode 9810 is the designation built for exactly this flow. AUASIAN completed the first 9810 customs declaration in the Xiamen customs district in 2020, and this guide summarizes the essentials we walk through with sellers every week.
The Three E-Commerce Export Modes at a Glance
- 9610 — small-parcel e-commerce export. Fits postal and courier shipments fulfilled order by order.
- 9710 — cross-border e-commerce B2B direct export, for goods shipped directly to overseas enterprises, such as Alibaba International transactions.
- 9810 — cross-border e-commerce export to overseas warehouses: goods are exported in bulk, stocked abroad, then sold and delivered locally.
For imports, 0110 general trade remains the standard mode with 13% VAT plus duty; 4561 (returned goods) and 1300 (repair goods) handle re-imports and can waive import VAT and duty when the applicable conditions are met.
Why 9810 Matters for Warehouse Sellers
Under 9810, freight can be included in the declared value under C&F terms, which reduces the friction of splitting logistics costs out of the declaration. Goods exported under 9810 that are returned to China within one year can be exempted from duty under applicable rules — a meaningful safeguard when listings are cancelled or labels need rework. And because the mode is tied to overseas-warehouse stocking, it aligns the declaration with how the goods are actually sold.
Policy timeline: the customs authorities launched 9810 pilot supervision in July 2020 and rolled it out nationwide from July 2021. The first 9810 declaration in the Xiamen customs district was completed by AUASIAN.
What Registration Involves
- Register the cross-border e-commerce enterprise and, in most setups, prepare two linked entities (an export entity and a domestic sales entity) so the declaration flow matches your accounting.
- Complete overseas-warehouse filing for warehouses that store 9810 goods. Filing is not required for 9610/9710 flows, and our overseas-warehouse information can be used as the filing subject.
- Apply through the e-commerce service platform for the client key and install the client tool.
Documents You Will Need per Shipment
- Commercial invoice and packing list with SKU-level detail.
- Export contract or sales agreement matching the declaration entity.
- Correct HS classification per SKU — misdeclared codes are the most common source of inspection delays.
- MSDS and sea transport appraisal for battery SKUs.
Common Questions We Field
- Can freight be declared with the goods? Yes — under C&F terms the freight can be included in the 9810 declaration.
- What if inventory comes back? Goods returned within one year can be exempted from duty under applicable rules; work with your broker to prepare the return declaration.
- We also sell via 1688 domestically — which mode applies? Domestic wholesale is not an export flow; use 9810 for the overseas-warehouse leg and handle domestic sales under your domestic invoicing.
Compliance is easier when your forwarder and your broker are the same company. If you want your next batch declared under 9810, our in-house brokerage can review your entity setup and document set before the container is stuffed.