Four Modes of Cross-border E-commerce Customs Declaration: Detailed Explanation and Selection Guide for 9610/9710/9810/1210

1. Prerequisites for Cross-Border E-Commerce Customs Declaration

1.1 Why is a Specialized Cross-Border E-Commerce Customs Declaration Mode Necessary?

The traditional general trade customs declaration mode (0110) is designed for trade characterized by "large volumes, high values, and individual shipment declarations." Cross-border e-commerce has completely different characteristics:

Using general trade declaration for cross-border e-commerce results in: Declaration cost > Value of goods → Economically unfeasible.

Therefore, since 2014, the General Administration of Customs has successively introduced four supervision codes specifically designed for e-commerce scenarios.

1.2 Overview of the Four Modes

                     ┌─────────────────────────────┐
                     │   Cross-Border E-Commerce Customs Supervision Modes   │
                     ├──────────────────┬──────────────────┤
                     │ Export           │ Import            │
                     ├──────────────────┼──────────────────┤
                     │ 9610             │ 1210 (Bonded Import)   │
                     │ 9710             │                   │
                     │ 9810             │                   │
                     └──────────────────┴──────────────────┘

2. 9610: Cross-Border E-Commerce Retail Export

2.1 Definition and Applicable Scenarios

9610 (Cross-Border E-Commerce Retail Direct Purchase Export) is applicable to models where cross-border e-commerce enterprises retail goods to overseas consumers through e-commerce platforms and logistics enterprises deliver them directly via small parcels.

Typical Scenarios: - Amazon sellers using international small parcels to ship directly to overseas individual buyers - Direct mail orders on platforms like AliExpress/Wish/Shopee - DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) model's international small parcels on independent websites

2.2 Declaration Process

Order created → Triple data matching (Order/Payment/Logistics) → Manifest verification → Consolidated declaration → Release and shipment

2.3 Core Advantages of 9610

2.4 9610 vs. Postal / Courier Small Parcels

Many cross-border e-commerce sellers initially use postal small parcels or courier companies for direct shipping without 9610 declaration. Comparison:

III. 9710: Cross-Border E-Commerce B2B Direct Export

3.1 Definition and Applicable Scenarios

9710 (Cross-Border E-Commerce B2B Direct Export) applies to the model where e-commerce enterprises, after concluding transactions with overseas enterprises through e-commerce platforms, export directly to those overseas enterprises. It was piloted in some customs offices from July 2020 and was fully rolled out in 2021.

Typical Scenarios: - B2B order exports from Alibaba International Station - Order exports after transactions concluded on Made-in-China.com - Order-by-order exports to overseas small B buyers through platforms

3.2 Comparison with General Trade (0110)

3.3 Declaration Process

E-Commerce Platform Order → Data Exchange with Customs → 9710 Declaration → Document Review/Inspection → Release → Shipment → Customs Clearance

Key Declaration Points: - Declare through the "Single Window" cross-border e-commerce module - Order information is automatically pushed by the e-commerce platform or manually entered by the enterprise - Aggregated declaration is supported (same enterprise, same transport mode, same destination country)

IV. 9810: Cross-Border E-Commerce Export via Overseas Warehouse

4.1 Definition and Applicable Scenarios

9810 (Cross-Border E-Commerce Export via Overseas Warehouse) applies to the model where e-commerce enterprises first export goods to overseas warehouses (including Amazon FBA warehouses and third-party overseas warehouses), and then the overseas warehouses deliver the goods to consumers based on orders.

Typical Scenarios: - Amazon FBA first-leg shipments - Third-party overseas warehouse stocking (e.g., Goodcang, Winit, 4PX, etc.) - Self-built overseas warehouse replenishment

4.2 Specifics of 9810

9810 is similar to general trade (0110) in operation — both require normal customs declaration procedures for export — but the core difference lies in the timing:

0110: Sales contract signed → Customs declaration export → Foreign exchange settlement/tax refund (concurrent)
9810: Customs declaration export → Goods arrive at overseas warehouse → End sales → Foreign exchange settlement/tax refund after sales confirmation (spanning months)

4.3 Key Declaration Points

For 9810 declarations, the remarks column of the customs declaration form must indicate "Overseas Warehouse Model" and include the following information:

• Storage address of the exported goods in the overseas warehouse
• E-commerce platform name and store information
• FBA tracking number (if applicable)

Note: The tax refund declaration for 9810 differs from general trade — it is not refunded immediately upon export. Instead, the tax refund can only be processed after the goods are sold through the overseas warehouse, supported by final sales records. This is something cross-border e-commerce sellers must be fully aware of.

V. 1210: Cross-Border E-Commerce Bonded Retail Import

5.1 Definition and Applicable Scenarios

1210 (Cross-Border E-Commerce Bonded Retail Import) applies to the import model where e-commerce enterprises deposit overseas goods on a bonded basis into special customs supervision areas (bonded warehouses). After consumers place orders, the goods are shipped from the bonded warehouse in the form of personal parcels.

Typical Scenarios: - Bonded warehouse delivery orders from Tmall Global, JD Worldwide, Kaola Haigou - Cross-border e-commerce import businesses within comprehensive bonded zones

5.2 Core Advantages

5.3 1210 vs. CC (Postal Parcel) Comparison

VI. Comparative Analysis of the Four Models

6.1 Model Selection by Enterprise Type

Do you do cross-border e-commerce?
├── B2C Retail (small parcel direct delivery) → 9610 (export) / 1210 (import)
├── B2B Online Trade → 9710
├── FBA/Overseas Warehouse Stocking → 9810
└── Bonded Warehouse Delivery Import → 1210

6.2 Core Comparison Table of the Four Models

6.3 Policy Trends (2025-2026)

VII. Practical Guide: How to Start Cross-Border E-Commerce Customs Declaration?

7.1 Basic Requirements

Before starting cross-border e-commerce customs declaration, the following preparations must be completed:

7.2 Service Provider Selection

Most small and medium-sized cross-border e-commerce sellers do not connect directly to the customs system themselves, but use the following service providers to complete their cross-border e-commerce customs declaration:

7.3 Industry Scenarios and Model Recommendations

7.4 Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can 9610 and 9810 be used together? A: Only one model can be selected for the same batch of goods. Different orders from the same enterprise can use different models.

Q: How long does it take to get a tax refund after cross-border e-commerce declaration? A: For 9610/9710, tax refund can be applied for after aggregated declaration (electronic data pushed to the tax system), generally completed within 1-2 months. For 9810, the refund must be declared after final sales are confirmed.

Q: What are the risks of not doing cross-border e-commerce customs declaration? A: From a compliance perspective, small parcel direct mail without 9610 carries declaration omission risks. From a financial perspective, inability to claim tax refunds and settle foreign exchange increases operating costs. From a customs credit perspective, enterprises with no declaration records cannot establish a credit rating.

Q: Is it necessary to use 9610 for small sellers with few orders? A: Even with few orders, 9610 is recommended. Reasons: ① The three-document matching mechanism ensures compliance; ② Customs credit records can be accumulated; ③ Data foundation is already in place when tax refunds are needed.

Bofeng Logistics provides one-stop cross-border e-commerce customs declaration services, covering all four models: 9610/9710/9810/1210. We have established data integration with multiple cross-border e-commerce platforms and logistics service providers, offering full-process support from declaration to release.

📞 Welcome to call 13075678958 or email info@zhbfwl.com for tailored solutions and quotes.

📖 Next: 2.4 Express Customs Clearance Guide: — KJ1/KJ2/KJ3 Classification and Scope of Application

Further Reading: - 2.1 Comparison of Three Declaration Methods - 2.5 How to Choose a Customs Declaration Method (Decision Flowchart) - 3.5 Full Process for Export Tax Rebate (Cross-Border E-Commerce Tax Refund Rules)

Bofeng Logistics specializes in domestic/international container shipping, Hong Kong/Macau logistics services, and value-added services (trucking, customs brokerage, warehousing, insurance).

Customs brokerage service areas: Zhuhai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen.