ad valorem

The abbreviation “ad. val.”, derived from the Latin term “according to value”, is an assessment basis for various charges such as taxes, customs duties or (sea) freight. This form of taxation is calculated as a percentage of the value of the goods and plays a decisive role in international trade.

“Ad valorem taxes offer a flexible method of taxation as they are based directly on the value of a product. This allows taxation to scale automatically with changes in the value of goods. In practice, this type of taxation is often applied to the import of goods, particularly luxury goods.

The accurate calculation of ad valorem duties requires a precise valuation of the imported goods. This accuracy is crucial to ensure fair trade practices while protecting the financial interests of the parties involved.

In the context of international business, an understanding of ad valorem is essential. Companies involved in global trade need to understand the various calculation methods and regulatory requirements in order to correctly assess their financial obligations.