International Salons
International Salons โ€” Guide for Photographers Who Deserve Their Awards Without the Hassle.

A Contest Medal
Is a Gift, Not a Product

Challenge wrongful customs charges on photography awards โ€” with ready-to-use letters in 6 languages and printable stickers for organisers.

Start here โ†“

Photographers worldwide are being incorrectly taxed when receiving contest awards in the mail.

A medal sent as a gift with a declared value of 1 EUR, clearly marked "Contest Award โ€” No Commercial Value", should attract zero import duties. Yet many recipients receive unexpected customs bills โ€” and most pay without knowing they can appeal and get a full refund.

1 EUR
Declared value โ€” contest award medal
โ‚ฌ0
Commercial value of an award

Tips on how the correct customs declaration might look like

A sample CN22 customs form. These four elements, when filled out correctly, give you the strongest grounds to contest any wrongful charge.

CN 22 โ€” Customs Declaration Ukrposhta ยท Ukraine โ†’ Austria ยท LT 063 847 058 UA
Send From
Maria Kovalenko
Shevchenka 12, Kyiv 01001
Ukraine (ะฃะšะ ะะ‡ะะ)
Send To
Thomas Bergmann
Hauptstrasse 8
Wien 1010
Austria (ะะ’ะกะขะ ะ†ะฏ)
Content type
โœ“ Gift Documents Sale of goods Commercial sample
1
Description of contents Net weight Value HS tariff Origin
1 Medal made from base metal
3
0.09 kg 1 EUR
2
8306290000 Ukraine
Total 0.09 kg 1 EUR
Outer package marking: "Contest Award โ€” No Commercial Value"  ยท  Date: 05.02.2026
4
1
Category: Gift, not a sale
2
Value declared: 1 EUR
3
Description: medal, base metal
4
Label: no commercial value
Key point: All four highlighted elements together prove this is a non-commercial gift. If customs charged you despite these markings, you have strong grounds for a full refund.

Appeal letter to customs

First choose your situation, then select the language. Click directly in the letter to edit โ€” replace all highlighted fields before downloading.

English โ€” Customs Appeal LetterClick to edit directly
[Your Full Name] [Your Address, City, Postal Code, Country] [Your Email / Phone] [Date] To: The Customs Authority [Name and Address of Customs Office from your notice] Re: Request for Refund of Incorrectly Applied Import Duty Tracking / Reference number: [Parcel Tracking Number] Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to formally contest an import duty charge applied to a parcel I recently received, and to request a full refund. The parcel contains a photography contest award โ€” specifically, one medal made from base metal โ€” sent to me by the competition organisers free of charge as recognition of my achievement. This item has no commercial value and cannot be purchased or resold. I draw your attention to the following facts documented in the enclosed CN22 customs declaration: 1. Category: declared as Gift โ€” not a sale of goods. 2. Declared value: 1 EUR (total value: 1 EUR). 3. Description: "1 medal made from base metal." 4. Outer packaging: marked "Contest Award โ€” No Commercial Value." Gifts sent between private individuals with no commercial value are not subject to import duties. A contest award โ€” an honorary item that cannot be purchased or resold โ€” does not constitute a commercial import. The import duty of [Amount + Currency] charged on [Date of Charge] was therefore applied in error. I kindly request that this charge be reviewed and fully refunded. I am happy to provide any additional documentation required. Enclosed: โ€” Copy of CN22 customs declaration โ€” Proof of duty payment โ€” Supporting letter from competition organiser โ€” Photographs of package markings Yours faithfully, [Signature] [Printed Name]
Franรงais โ€” Lettre de contestation douaniรจreCliquez pour modifier
[Vos nom et prรฉnom] [Votre adresse complรจte, code postal, pays] [Votre e-mail / tรฉlรฉphone] [Date] ร€ l'attention du Service des Douanes [Nom et adresse du bureau des douanes indiquรฉs sur votre avis] Objet : Demande de remboursement de droits de douane indรปment perรงus Numรฉro de suivi / rรฉfรฉrence : [Numรฉro de suivi du colis] Madame, Monsieur, Je me permets de vous contacter afin de contester formellement la perception de droits d'importation sur un colis que j'ai rรฉcemment reรงu et de solliciter un remboursement intรฉgral. Ce colis contient une rรฉcompense de concours photographique โ€” plus prรฉcisรฉment une mรฉdaille en mรฉtal commun โ€” envoyรฉe ร  titre gracieux par les organisateurs du concours en reconnaissance de mes rรฉsultats. Cet objet n'a aucune valeur commerciale et ne peut รชtre ni achetรฉ ni revendu. Je souhaite attirer votre attention sur les รฉlรฉments suivants, figurant dans la dรฉclaration en douane CN22 ci-jointe : 1. Nature de l'envoi : dรฉclarรฉ comme Cadeau โ€” non comme vente de marchandises. 2. Valeur dรฉclarรฉe : 1 EUR (valeur totale : 1 EUR). 3. Description : ยซ 1 mรฉdaille en mรฉtal commun ยป. 4. Marquage extรฉrieur du colis : ยซ Contest Award โ€” No Commercial Value ยป. Les cadeaux envoyรฉs entre particuliers sans valeur commerciale ne sont pas soumis aux droits d'importation. Une rรฉcompense de concours โ€” un objet honorifique qui ne peut รชtre achetรฉ ni revendu โ€” ne constitue pas une importation commerciale. La perception de [Montant + Devise] en date du [Date de la perception] est donc entachรฉe d'erreur. Je vous prie de bien vouloir rรฉexaminer cette dรฉcision et procรฉder au remboursement intรฉgral. Je reste ร  votre disposition pour tout document complรฉmentaire. Piรจces jointes : โ€” Copie de la dรฉclaration en douane CN22 โ€” Justificatif de paiement des droits โ€” Lettre de l'organisateur du concours โ€” Photographies du marquage extรฉrieur du colis Veuillez agrรฉer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes salutations distinguรฉes, [Signature] [Nom en lettres capitales]
Deutsch โ€” Einspruch gegen ZollbescheidDirekt bearbeiten
[Ihr vollstรคndiger Name] [Ihre vollstรคndige Adresse, Postleitzahl, Land] [Ihre E-Mail / Telefon] [Datum] An das Hauptzollamt [Name und Adresse der Zollbehรถrde aus Ihrem Bescheid] Betreff: Antrag auf Erstattung zu Unrecht erhobener Einfuhrabgaben Sendungsnummer / Aktenzeichen: [Sendungsnummer] Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, hiermit lege ich formellen Einspruch gegen die Erhebung von Einfuhrabgaben fรผr eine bei mir eingegangene Postsendung ein und beantrage die vollstรคndige Rรผckerstattung der gezahlten Betrรคge. Die Sendung enthรคlt eine Auszeichnung fรผr einen Fotowettbewerb โ€” konkret eine Medaille aus unedlem Metall โ€” die mir von den Veranstaltern des Wettbewerbs kostenlos als Anerkennung meiner Leistung รผbersandt wurde. Dieser Gegenstand hat keinerlei kommerziellen Wert und kann weder gekauft noch weiterverkauft werden. Ich mรถchte Ihre Aufmerksamkeit auf folgende, in der beigefรผgten CN22-Zollerklรคrung dokumentierte Sachverhalte lenken: 1. Sendungsart: als Geschenk deklariert โ€” nicht als Warenverkauf. 2. Deklarierter Wert: 1 EUR (Gesamtwert: 1 EUR). 3. Inhaltsbeschreibung: โ€ž1 Medaille aus unedlem Metall". 4. AuรŸenaufschrift des Pakets: โ€žContest Award โ€” No Commercial Value". Geschenke zwischen Privatpersonen ohne kommerziellen Wert unterliegen keiner Einfuhrabgabenpflicht. Eine Wettbewerbsauszeichnung โ€” ein Ehrenartikel, der weder gekauft noch weiterverkauft werden kann โ€” stellt keine kommerzielle Einfuhr dar. Die am [Datum des Bescheids] erhobene Abgabe in Hรถhe von [Betrag + Wรคhrung] wurde daher zu Unrecht erhoben. Ich bitte hรถflich um รœberprรผfung dieses Bescheids und vollstรคndige Erstattung der gezahlten Abgaben. Fรผr weitere Unterlagen stehe ich gerne zur Verfรผgung. Anlagen: โ€” Kopie der Zollerklรคrung CN22 โ€” Zahlungsbeleg fรผr die Einfuhrabgabe โ€” Bestรคtigungsschreiben des Wettbewerbsveranstalters โ€” Fotografien der AuรŸenbeschriftung des Pakets Mit freundlichen GrรผรŸen, [Unterschrift] [Name in Druckbuchstaben]
Italiano โ€” Ricorso avverso accertamento doganaleClicca per modificare
[Nome e Cognome] [Indirizzo completo, CAP, Paese] [E-mail / Telefono] [Data] All'Ufficio delle Dogane [Nome e indirizzo dell'Ufficio delle Dogane indicati sull'avviso] Oggetto: Richiesta di rimborso di dazi doganali erroneamente applicati Numero di tracciamento / riferimento: [Numero di tracciamento] Gentili Signore/Signori, con la presente intendo contestare formalmente l'applicazione di dazi doganali su un pacco da me recentemente ricevuto e richiederne il rimborso integrale. Il pacco contiene un premio di un concorso fotografico โ€” precisamente una medaglia in metallo comune โ€” inviatami gratuitamente dagli organizzatori del concorso come riconoscimento del mio risultato. Tale oggetto non ha alcun valore commerciale e non puรฒ essere acquistato nรฉ rivenduto. Richiamo la Vostra attenzione sui seguenti elementi, documentati nella dichiarazione doganale CN22 allegata: 1. Natura della spedizione: dichiarata come Dono โ€” non come vendita di merci. 2. Valore dichiarato: 1 EUR (valore totale: 1 EUR). 3. Descrizione: "1 medaglia in metallo comune". 4. Contrassegno esterno: "Contest Award โ€” No Commercial Value". I doni tra privati privi di valore commerciale non sono soggetti a dazi all'importazione. Un premio di concorso โ€” un oggetto onorifico che non puรฒ essere acquistato nรฉ rivenduto โ€” non costituisce un'importazione commerciale. Il dazio di [Importo + Valuta], applicato in data [Data], รจ stato quindi imposto erroneamente. Si richiede la revisione del provvedimento e il rimborso integrale delle somme versate. Resto a disposizione per ulteriore documentazione. Documenti allegati: โ€” Copia della dichiarazione doganale CN22 โ€” Ricevuta del pagamento del dazio โ€” Lettera dell'organizzatore del concorso โ€” Fotografie del contrassegno esterno del pacco Distinti saluti, [Firma] [Nome in stampatello]
Espaรฑol โ€” Recurso contra liquidaciรณn aduaneraHaga clic para editar
[Nombre y apellidos] [Direcciรณn completa, cรณdigo postal, paรญs] [Correo electrรณnico / Telรฉfono] [Fecha] A la Agencia Tributaria โ€” Servicio de Aduanas [Nombre y direcciรณn de la oficina indicada en su notificaciรณn] Asunto: Solicitud de devoluciรณn de derechos de importaciรณn aplicados incorrectamente Nรบmero de seguimiento / referencia: [Nรบmero de seguimiento] Estimados Seรฑores: Por medio de la presente, manifiesto formalmente mi disconformidad con la aplicaciรณn de derechos de importaciรณn sobre un paquete que he recibido recientemente y solicito la devoluciรณn รญntegra de los importes abonados. El paquete contiene un premio de un concurso fotogrรกfico โ€” concretamente una medalla de metal comรบn โ€” enviada gratuitamente por los organizadores como reconocimiento de mi participaciรณn. Dicho objeto carece de valor comercial y no puede comprarse ni revenderse. Deseo llamar su atenciรณn sobre los siguientes hechos, documentados en la declaraciรณn aduanera CN22 adjunta: 1. Tipo de envรญo: declarado como Regalo โ€” no como venta de mercancรญas. 2. Valor declarado: 1 EUR (valor total: 1 EUR). 3. Descripciรณn: "1 medalla de metal comรบn". 4. Marcado exterior: "Contest Award โ€” No Commercial Value". Los regalos enviados entre particulares sin valor comercial no estรกn sujetos a derechos de importaciรณn. Un premio de concurso โ€” un objeto honorรญfico que no puede comprarse ni revenderse โ€” no constituye una importaciรณn comercial. Los derechos de [Importe + Divisa], aplicados el [Fecha], fueron por tanto aplicados de forma errรณnea. Le ruego proceda a la revisiรณn y a la devoluciรณn รญntegra de los importes cobrados. Quedo a su disposiciรณn para cualquier documentaciรณn adicional. Documentos adjuntos: โ€” Copia de la declaraciรณn aduanera CN22 โ€” Justificante de pago de los derechos โ€” Carta del organizador del concurso โ€” Fotografรญas del marcado exterior del paquete Atentamente, [Firma] [Nombre en mayรบsculas]
Tรผrkรงe โ€” Gรผmrรผk ฤฐtiraz DilekรงesiDรผzenlemek iรงin tฤฑklayฤฑn
[Adฤฑnฤฑz Soyadฤฑnฤฑz] [Tam adresiniz, posta kodu, รผlke] [E-posta / Telefon] [Tarih] Gรผmrรผk MรผdรผrlรผฤŸรผ'ne [Bildiriminizdeki gรผmrรผk ofisinin adฤฑ ve adresi] Konu: Hatalฤฑ Uygulanan ฤฐthalat Vergisinin ฤฐadesi Talebi Takip / Referans numarasฤฑ: [Kargo Takip Numarasฤฑ] Sayฤฑn Yetkili, Yakฤฑn zamanda tarafฤฑma ulaลŸan bir kargoya hatalฤฑ biรงimde uygulanan ithalat vergisini resmi olarak itiraz etmek ve รถdenen tutarฤฑn tamamฤฑnฤฑn iade edilmesini talep etmek amacฤฑyla bu dilekรงeyi sunuyorum. Sรถz konusu kargo, bir fotoฤŸraf yarฤฑลŸmasฤฑna ait รถdรผlรผ iรงermektedir. Bu รถdรผl, baลŸarฤฑmฤฑn tanฤฑnmasฤฑ amacฤฑyla yarฤฑลŸma organizatรถrleri tarafฤฑndan bedelsiz olarak gรถnderilen adi metalden yapฤฑlmฤฑลŸ bir madalyadฤฑr. Bahse konu nesnenin herhangi bir ticari deฤŸeri bulunmamakta olup satฤฑn alฤฑnamaz ya da yeniden satฤฑlamaz. Ekte sunulan CN22 gรผmrรผk beyannamesiyle belgelenmiลŸ aลŸaฤŸฤฑdaki hususlara dikkatinizi รงekmek istiyorum: 1. Gรถnderi tรผrรผ: Mal satฤฑลŸฤฑ deฤŸil, Hediye olarak beyan edilmiลŸtir. 2. Beyan edilen deฤŸer: 1 EUR (toplam deฤŸer: 1 EUR). 3. Aรงฤฑklama: "1 adi metalden madalya". 4. Kargo dฤฑลŸ paketi รผzerindeki ibare: "Contest Award โ€” No Commercial Value". Ticari deฤŸeri bulunmayan ve bireyler arasฤฑnda gรถnderilen hediyeler ithalat vergisine tabi deฤŸildir. Bir yarฤฑลŸma รถdรผlรผ โ€” satฤฑn alฤฑnamayan veya yeniden satฤฑlamayan onursal bir nesne โ€” ticari bir ithalat niteliฤŸi taลŸฤฑmamaktadฤฑr. [Tarih] tarihinde uygulanan [Tutar + Para Birimi] tutarฤฑndaki ithalat vergisi bu nedenle hatalฤฑ biรงimde tahsil edilmiลŸtir. Sรถz konusu iลŸlemin yeniden deฤŸerlendirilerek รถdenen tutarฤฑn tarafฤฑma iade edilmesini saygฤฑyla talep ediyorum. Ekler: โ€” CN22 gรผmrรผk beyannamesi รถrneฤŸi โ€” Vergi รถdeme makbuzu โ€” Organizatรถrรผn destekleyici yazฤฑsฤฑ โ€” Kargo dฤฑลŸ paketine ait fotoฤŸraflar Saygฤฑlarฤฑmla, [ฤฐmza] [Ad Soyad (bรผyรผk harfle)]
Before sending: Replace all highlighted fields with your own details. For high-value disputes consider consulting a customs specialist.


Select your country

Tap a flag to see the official customs authority, contact details, and appeal deadline for that country.

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡นAustria
Zoll โ€” Bundesministerium fรผr Finanzen (BMF)
Phone+43 50 233 740
Appeal deadline: 1 month from the customs notice. File a written Beschwerde with the issuing customs office (Zollamt). Cite the gift/non-commercial nature of the item and attach all supporting documents.
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ชGermany
Zoll โ€” Generalzolldirektion
Websitezoll.de
Phone+49 351 44834-510 (Zollinfocenter)
Appeal deadline: 1 month from the decision. File an Einspruch with your local Hauptzollamt. For postal items, the Postverzollungsstelle handles initial decisions.
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ทFrance
Direction Gรฉnรฉrale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (DGDDI)
Phone+33 1 72 40 78 00
Appeal deadline: 3 years for overpayment refund claim (Art. 236, EU Customs Code). File a rรฉclamation with the local bureau des douanes or via the online portal.
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡นItaly
Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM)
Websiteadm.gov.it
Phone+39 06 50246100
Appeal deadline: 60 days from the customs notice. File a ricorso with the local Ufficio delle Dogane. A second-level appeal goes to the Commissione Tributaria Provinciale.
๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธSpain
Agencia Tributaria (AEAT) โ€” Departamento de Aduanas
Websiteaeat.es
Phone+34 901 200 345
Appeal deadline: 1 month for recurso de reposiciรณn, or 1 month for reclamaciรณn econรณmico-administrativa to the TEAR. Both routes are free of charge.
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑPoland
Krajowa Administracja Skarbowa (KAS)
Phone+48 22 330 03 30
Appeal deadline: 14 days from the customs decision. File with the local Izba Administracji Skarbowej. Second-level appeal goes to the Naczelny Sฤ…d Administracyjny.
๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑNetherlands
Douane โ€” Belastingdienst
Phone+31 88 1512 222
Appeal deadline: 6 weeks from the customs decision. File a bezwaar with the issuing customs office. If rejected, appeal to the Rechtbank (tax court).
๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ชBelgium
Algemene Administratie der Douane en Accijnzen (AAD&A)
Appeal deadline: 3 months from notification. File a bezwaar/rรฉclamation with the AAD&A. Escalate to the Court of First Instance if rejected.
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟCzech Republic
Celnรญ sprรกva ฤŒeskรฉ republiky
Phone+420 281 004 444
Appeal deadline: 30 days from the customs decision. File an odvolรกnรญ with the local celnรญ รบล™ad. Second-level appeal to the Generรกlnรญ ล™editelstvรญ cel.
๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ทTurkey
Ticaret BakanlฤฑฤŸฤฑ โ€” Gรผmrรผkler Genel MรผdรผrlรผฤŸรผ
Websitegtb.gov.tr
Phone+90 312 449 11 00
Appeal deadline: 15 days. File an itiraz with the issuing gรผmrรผk mรผdรผrlรผฤŸรผ. Second-level appeal to the regional Gรผmrรผk ve DฤฑลŸ Ticaret Bรถlge MรผdรผrlรผฤŸรผ.
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡งUnited Kingdom
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
Phone+44 300 200 3700
Appeal deadline: 30 days from the decision notice. Submit C285 to HMRC. If refused, appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber).
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธUnited States
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Websitecbp.gov
Phone1-877-227-5511
Appeal deadline: 180 days. File a protest using CBP Form 19 at the port of entry that processed the shipment. Submit to the Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE).
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆCanada
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
Appeal deadline: 90 days. Submit a request for re-determination using form BSF715. If refused, appeal to the CBSA Appeals Branch and then to the Federal Court.
๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บAustralia
Australian Border Force (ABF)
Websiteabf.gov.au
Phone+61 2 6275 6666
Appeal deadline: 30 days. Lodge an objection with the ABF. If unsuccessful, appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญSwitzerland
Bundesamt fรผr Zoll und Grenzsicherheit (BAZG)
Phone+41 58 467 15 15
Appeal deadline: 30 days from the customs ruling. File a Beschwerde with the BAZG. If rejected, escalate to the Federal Administrative Court (Bundesverwaltungsgericht).
๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ชSweden
Tullverket
Phone+46 771 520 520
Appeal deadline: 3 years for a refund claim. File omprรถvningsbegรคran directly with Tullverket. If refused, appeal to the Administrative Court (Fรถrvaltningsrรคtten).
Note: Always address your appeal to the specific office on your customs notice first. These contacts are for general enquiries. Deadlines listed are typical โ€” verify with the notice you received.

Printable sticker sheet

14 stickers per A4 page, ready to cut and apply to every package. Each sticker signals to customs that the contents are a non-commercial contest award, helping prevent incorrect duty charges before they happen.

Contest Award Stickers

A4 format ยท 14 stickers per sheet ยท Cut along dashed lines ยท Print on standard paper or self-adhesive label sheets


โ†“ Download Sticker Pack
๐Ÿ… CONTEST AWARD
NO COMMERCIAL VALUE
DECLARED VALUE: 1 EUR
๐Ÿ… CONTEST AWARD
NO COMMERCIAL VALUE
DECLARED VALUE: 1 EUR
ร— 14 per sheet
How to use: Apply one sticker to the outside of every package alongside the CN22 form. For best results, also write "Contest Award โ€” No Commercial Value" directly on the CN22 form in the description field.

Parcel tracking โ€” major postal services

Enter your tracking number below to check status via 17TRACK โ€” works with any carrier worldwide. Or go directly to your postal service's own website using the links below.