8.7. Total payment

8. Method I: Transaction value

“Total payment” is everything the buyer pays as a condition of the sale, directly or indirectly, now or in advance, whether it goes to the seller or to a third party on the seller’s instruction.

✔ Counts as total payment	✘ Not part of it
· Total payment made or to be made as a condition of sale · All payments by the buyer to the seller · Payments to third parties as a condition of sale · Indirect payments · Advance payments · Any other payments tied to the sale	· Fees for transferring money · Letters of credit · Negotiable instruments · Settlement of the buyer’s own debts

✔ Counts as total payment

✘ Not part of it

· Total payment made or to be made as a condition of sale

· All payments by the buyer to the seller

· Payments to third parties as a condition of sale

· Indirect payments

· Advance payments

· Any other payments tied to the sale

· Fees for transferring money

· Letters of credit

· Negotiable instruments

· Settlement of the buyer’s own debts

Key point:

These payments are a direct condition of the sale of the imported goods, so the total payment may differ from the invoice value of the goods. Any payment made by the buyer to the seller or to another party as a requirement imposed by the seller is part of the price actually paid or payable for the imported goods.