Customs Clearance

Customs Clearance Solutions

Customs clearance is crucial in ensuring items entering or leaving a country follow legal regulations. This includes the submission of necessary documents, paying duties and taxes, as well as legal compliance. A linchpin of international trade, efficient customs clearance minimizes delays and costs. Familiarizing themselves with this smoothens the complexities of global commerce for importers and exporters alike.

What Do Customs Clearance Brokers Do?

Customs brokers streamline international trade by managing regulatory compliance, document filings, and securing customs bonds. They also assist in obtaining binding classification rulings for goods, ensuring efficiency and compliance for businesses engaged in global trade.

LIAISING WITH MULTIPLE AGENCIES

Goods, especially perishables like food, require clearance from relevant agencies before entering the country. For example, in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the importation of food products, ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards. Customs brokers ensure goods meet all rules and regulations before entry into the US market.

SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS

Before goods cross borders by sea, land, or air, detailed information must be provided for customs clearance. For instance, the US Importer Security Filing rule mandates submission of specific data elements 24 hours before loading onto vessels. Customs brokers, experienced in such filings, ensure timely submission to US Customs and Border Protection.

ASSISTING WITH CUSTOMS BONDS

If goods’ net worth exceeds a certain value, a customs broker acts as guarantor to ensure timely payment of taxes, duties, and fees to the government. By securing a broker’s bond, provided by customs clearance service providers, transactions are expedited.

OBTAINING BINDING CLASSIFICATION RULINGS

Customs brokers help obtain binding classification rulings for goods, a complex process determining specific tariff classifications. This ensures consistent duty rates, regardless of the port of entry chosen, easing long-term cost projection and reducing hassle for businesses.

Our Customs Clearance Services

IMPORT & EXPORT CLEARANCE

Expert freight forwarders handle all customs clearance matters for both imported and exported goods, including preparing and submitting the necessary customs documents. Our team ensures that your goods comply with the laws and regulations of the destination country, allowing them to pass through customs quickly to avoid unnecessary delays and costs.

TARIFF CLASSIFICATION

We provide accurate tariff classification services, ensuring that your goods are correctly classified according to international and regional standards. This not only ensures that you pay the correct amount of customs duties but also helps avoid penalties and additional costs caused by incorrect classification.

CARGO VALUATION & DUTY PAYMENT

We assist you in efficiently managing the valuation process of your goods, ensuring accurate calculations and timely payment of customs duties and other related taxes. Our expertise helps you optimize costs and reduce trade expenses.

LEGAL COMPLIANCE

We closely monitor the latest customs laws and regulations to ensure your goods are fully compliant throughout the customs clearance process. We review all documents and procedures to prevent any compliance issues, safeguarding your trade activities from legal risks.

CARGO INSPECTION & HANDLING

We coordinate the inspection and handling procedures of goods to ensure they pass through customs checks without delays. Our team is responsible for managing the loading, unloading, and storage of goods, ensuring their safety and integrity throughout the customs clearance process.

ONE-STOP LOGISTICS

In addition to customs clearance services, freight forwarders also offers other logistics services, such as cold chain logistics, warehousing, cargo insurance and more, providing customers with a one-stop logistics solution.

Should I Engage Freight Forwarders For Customs Clearance Services?

Consider engaging freight forwarders for customs clearance services for long-term cost savings, expedited shipments, and expert guidance through complex procedures. Their expertise streamlines operations and frees you to focus on core business activities.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS?

If you expect to consistently ship cargo across borders, it’s wise to engage these customs clearance services. In the long run, the cost of contracting customs brokers will be lower than unnecessary spending on taxes and fees. Additionally, with binding classification rulings, you can project long-term tax costs, allowing for more effective resource budgeting.

ARE YOUR SHIPMENTS TIME-SENSITIVE?

If your shipments are extremely time-sensitive, such as perishables, consulting a customs clearance service provider is wise. The significant reduction in time spent on paperwork and administrative clearances across borders allows you to get your goods across as quickly as possible.

DO YOU KNOW THE CORRECT PROCEDURES?

If you’re new to customs clearance for goods, it’s best to engage their services. The complications of clearances are extremely tedious, and any errors could lead to legal issues. Having them onboard not only provides peace of mind but also allows you to focus your resources and efforts on your business’s core activities.

WHY CHOOSE EXPRESS FREIGHT MANAGEMENT?

Express Freight Management prioritizes customer service, striving to exceed your expectations at every turn. Our dedicated team is committed to providing tailored solutions to meet your specific needs, going above and beyond to ensure your satisfaction. With our licensed customs brokers, who are well-versed in tariffs and customs laws, you can trust that your customs clearance process will be handled with expertise and efficiency.

We understand the importance of timely and seamless transportation of your goods across the globe, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Choose Express Freight Management as your preferred service provider and experience the difference in our commitment to excellence.

GET QUOTE

Express Freight Management

Express Freight Management is your one-stop shipping solutions provider. With a global reach and a commitment to customer satisfaction, we ensure smooth and efficient shipping from start to finish.

Customer Satisfaction

We are committed to providing exceptional customer service and ensuring your complete satisfaction with our shipping solutions. Our dedicated team goes above and beyond to address your needs, resolve any issues promptly, and ensure a smooth shipping experience from start to finish.

Global Reach

By being located in one of the world’s busiest port-of-call with free-trade zone benefits, we have served a multitude of clients from around the world. To do so, we have partnered with many companies worldwide such as sea carriers like NVOCCs and VOCCs. This ensures that you get the most efficient routes at the most competitive prices.

Personalized Experience

We understand that each of our clients needs is unique. Hence, you will be assigned a personal consultant who will assist you with all your shipping enquiries. The consultant will keep you up to date on the status of your shipments and ensure that your goods arrive at your destination safely and promptly.

FAQs About Customs Clearance Services

What Is Customs Clearance?

Customs clearance is the process of obtaining approval from customs authorities to allow goods to enter or exit a country. It involves submitting required documentation, paying applicable duties and taxes, and ensuring the goods comply with import/export regulations before they can be legally transported across borders.

How Long Does Customs Clearance Usually Take?

The duration of customs clearance varies depending on factors such as the type of goods, the country of origin or destination, and the efficiency of customs procedures. While some shipments may clear customs quickly, others may experience delays due to inspections, documentation errors, or regulatory issues.

What Does It Mean If My Package Is In Customs Clearance?

When your package is in “customs clearance,” it means that it is being processed by the customs authorities of the country it is entering. During this time, customs officials check the contents of the package to ensure it complies with the country’s import regulations, including verifying the value, classification, and legality of the items.

This process can involve:

Document Review: Ensuring all required paperwork (like invoices, import permits, etc.) is in order.
Inspection: Physically inspecting the goods, if necessary, to verify they match the description and classification.
Duty and Tax Assessment: Determining if any customs duties or taxes need to be paid.

The process can take anywhere from a few hours to several days, depending on the complexity of the shipment. If everything is in order, your package will be cleared and continue its journey to the destination. However, if there are issues (missing documents, incorrect information, or issues with the items), there could be delays or additional costs to resolve the matter.

What Does It Mean When A Shipment Is Held For Customs Clearance?

When a shipment is “held for customs clearance,” it means that the package is being temporarily held by customs authorities for inspection or further processing. This typically happens when customs officials need to verify the contents, paperwork, or ensure compliance with import regulations before the shipment can be released for delivery.

The shipment may be held for various reasons, including:

Incomplete or Incorrect Documentation: Missing or inaccurate paperwork, such as invoices, import permits, or customs declarations.
Customs Duties or Taxes: The customs authorities may need to assess and collect any applicable import duties, taxes, or fees.
Inspection of Goods: Customs may physically inspect the items to confirm they match the description, classification, and value provided.
Prohibited or Restricted Items: If the shipment contains goods that are not allowed to be imported or are subject to specific restrictions.
Random Checks: Sometimes, shipments are held as part of routine or random checks conducted by customs.

Once the necessary checks are completed and any issues are resolved, the shipment will be released and continue to its destination. If there are problems, customs may contact the sender or recipient for clarification or further documentation.