Taiwan Customs Auction Guide 2026

How to bid on confiscated goods and overdue cargo from Keelung, Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung Customs.

Short answer: how do you buy from a customs auction?

Taiwan customs auctions sell confiscated private goods and overdue import cargo. Companies and individuals can bid. Download the auction list, deposit table and bidding instructions from the relevant customs office website, pay the bid deposit and inspect goods on the viewing day, then submit a registered postal bid that arrives before 12:30 on bid-opening day. The highest bid above the reserve price wins.

Updated: 2026-05-23 · HowBridge Logistics Editorial Team · Reviewed by AEO-certified customs broker partner

1. What are Taiwan customs auctions?

Customs auctions are not regular retail sales. The goods mainly come from confiscated shipments and imported cargo left undeclared beyond the legal period.

TypeLegal statusCommon goods
Confiscated private goodsSmuggled or non-compliant imports confiscated after customs enforcement decisions.Clothing, underwear, polo shirts, bedding, fabric, fasteners, screws, e-bikes, furniture, tiles, luggage and hand tools.
Overdue undeclared import cargoImports not declared on time and still undeclared after 20 days of late-declaration fees, sold under Customs Act Article 73.E-scooters, smart toilets, slabs, mirrors, aluminum foil, bedding sets and industrial parts.
Common search mistake: The central Customs Administration auction page often lists scrapped public assets. For confiscated or overdue cargo auctions, check the individual websites of Keelung, Taipei, Taichung or Kaohsiung Customs.

2. Legal basis

The auction system mainly depends on the Customs Act, Customs Anti-smuggling Act and the customs disposal procedure for goods and transport vehicles.

Customs Act Article 73

When imported goods are not declared within the time limit, late-declaration fees accrue from the next day. If goods remain undeclared after 20 days of late fees, customs may sell them. Any balance after duties and necessary expenses may be kept for the owner to claim within 5 years.

Customs Anti-smuggling Act Article 50

For confirmed confiscation cases, disposal should be by auction or bidding, with notice to the punished party before auction.

Customs disposal procedure
  • Reserve price: taxable goods are roughly 50% of assessed customs value plus all taxes; duty-free goods are roughly 40% of customs or FOB value. The customs director may adjust within plus or minus 30%.
  • Frequency: regular auctions should be held at least once every 2 months.
  • Announcement: one week before bid opening, information is published in the Government Procurement Gazette and on official websites or notice boards.
  • No-bid handling: at least 3 bidders are usually needed for opening; after repeated unsuccessful auctions, price comparison, negotiation or destruction may apply.

3. Eight-step bidding process

1Announcement: One week before opening, customs publishes the auction list, deposit table and bidding instructions on official channels.
2Viewing: On the stated viewing day, first pay the deposit and receive the bid form plus viewing pass, usually at the legal enforcement unit of the customs office.
3Viewing locations: Goods may be at customs warehouses, container yards or express cargo areas. Sales are as-is, so inspect carefully.
4Bid deposit: Pay according to the deposit table, usually by cashier check or bank check payable to the relevant customs office; small deposits may be accepted in cash.
5Postal bidding: Use the official bid form and send it by registered express mail so it arrives before 12:30 on bid-opening day.
6Public opening: Bids are opened publicly at the customs office, with accounting or supervisory staff present.
7Award: The highest bid above the reserve price wins. If tied, bidders present may be asked to bid again.
8Payment and pickup: The balance after deposit must be paid within 3 working days from the day after award, then goods are collected after signing required documents.

4. Where to find auction lists

The most complete source is the public information or auction notice section on the relevant customs office website.

ChannelNotes / links
Customs office auction pagesKeelung, Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung Customs each maintain auction notices, usually under public information or auction notices.
Government Procurement GazetteSearch web.pcc.gov.tw by the relevant customs office name to find postal bidding cases.
Customs office news pagesOffices often publish news releases with viewing dates and list downloads.
On-site or by phoneYou can contact or visit the legal enforcement unit of the relevant customs office for paper bidding instructions and lists.
Practical workflow: Download the latest auction list and deposit table, choose target lots, bring ID on the viewing day, pay the deposit, inspect goods and then submit the postal bid.

6. Customs offices and contacts

Bid opening usually takes place at the customs office headquarters. Goods are viewed at warehouses, container yards or express cargo areas.

OfficeAddressMain phoneCoverage
Keelung CustomsNo. 6, Gangxi St., Renai Dist., Keelung 20002-24202951Northern sea freight, Keelung Port and Taipei Port
Taipei CustomsNo. 21, Hangqin N. Rd., Dayuan Dist., Taoyuan 33703-3834265Taoyuan airport cargo
Taichung CustomsNo. 2, Sec. 10, Taiwan Blvd., Wuqi Dist., Taichung 43504-26565101Central Taiwan sea and air freight
Kaohsiung CustomsNo. 3, Jiexing 1st St., Gushan Dist., Kaohsiung 80407-5613251Southern sea and air freight
Customs AdministrationNo. 13, Tacheng St., Datong Dist., Taipei 10302-25505500Central authority

7. Practical notes and differences

  • Goods differ by office: Keelung and Kaohsiung see more sea freight bulk cargo; Taipei often sees air and express cargo; Taichung has mixed central Taiwan cargo.
  • The process is mostly consistent: differences are mainly warehouse locations, opening rooms and contact windows.
  • Tax: reserve prices generally include the tax concept, and the winning price is usually the purchase price without separate import declaration.
  • As-is sale: inspect quantity, specifications and condition carefully; late payment can forfeit the bid deposit.
  • Counterfeit goods are not auctioned: some goods may still need to meet CNS or other standards before circulation.
  • Bargain timing: unpopular lots may become cheaper after unsuccessful rounds.
This guide summarizes public customs information for general reference only. Actual viewing dates, opening times, deposits, goods and reserve prices are controlled by each official auction notice and bidding instruction.

8. FAQ

Q1. Where do customs auction goods come from?

They are mainly confiscated private goods from smuggling or non-compliant imports, plus overdue import cargo left undeclared after late-declaration fees. Customs does not buy goods for resale.

Q2. Can individuals participate?

Yes. Both companies and individuals may bid, and no special qualification is usually required.

Q3. Where can I find auction lists and bidding instructions?

Check the public information or auction notice section of the relevant customs office website. The Government Procurement Gazette and customs news pages may also publish notices.

Q4. What is the bidding process?

Announcement, viewing, deposit payment, postal bidding, public opening, highest bid above reserve wins, payment within 3 working days, then pickup after signing documents.

Q5. How is the bid deposit paid?

It depends on the lot deposit table. Payment is usually by cashier check or bank check payable to the relevant customs office; small deposits may be accepted in cash.

Q6. How is reserve price set? Is import tax paid again?

Taxable goods are roughly priced from 50% of customs value plus taxes; duty-free goods from about 40%. The winning price is generally the purchase price, with no separate import tax declaration.

Q7. Where are the four customs auction offices?

Keelung Customs is in Keelung Renai District; Taipei Customs is in Taoyuan Dayuan District; Taichung Customs is in Taichung Wuqi District; Kaohsiung Customs is in Kaohsiung Gushan District.

Q8. How often are auctions held?

Regular auctions are held at least once every 2 months. Lots with insufficient bids may move to price comparison, negotiation or eventual destruction after repeated failures.

Q9. 各關當期海關拍賣公告、海關標售清單在哪裡查?

直接到對應關區官網的「標售公告」專區看當期通信標售公告與看貨清單:基隆關標售公告台北關標售公告台中關標售公告高雄關標售公告。也可到政府電子採購網 web.pcc.gov.tw,於招標查詢輸入機關「關務署○○關」查通信標售案。

Q10. 「桃園海關拍賣場」是哪一關?要去哪裡查桃園的海關拍賣?

台灣海關沒有獨立的「桃園關」。桃園機場與桃園地區的空運、快遞貨物由台北關管轄(台北關關本部就在桃園市大園區航勤北路 21 號),所以想找「桃園海關拍賣場」「桃園海關標售」,請查台北關標售公告

Main Sources

  • Customs Act Article 73
  • Customs Anti-smuggling Act Article 50
  • Customs disposal procedure for goods and transport vehicles
  • Keelung, Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung Customs auction notice pages
  • Government e-Procurement System web.pcc.gov.tw

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