FAQs – imports

We know you’ve got questions… that’s why we’ve got the answers!

Below you’ll find the most frequently asked questions we receive and the answers to them.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us via our contact page. Thanks!.

What are the requirements/duties for my products?

A complete description and origin of the products will assist in determining what duties, fees or taxes are applicable, import requirements, restrictions or special handling requirements.

A commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin are usually required for importation. In addition, a Customs Power of Attorney and Tax ID are needed which gives us authorization to handle customs business on your behalf

Our pricing usually is based on several factors including the complexity of your shipment, other government agencies involved, volume or amount of shipments per month and whether you need additional services such as foreign brokerage, warehousing, distribution or freights. Our services include consultation, classification, preparation and coordination of all customs documents involved, release & dispatch and re-forwarding which includes follow up with foreign brokers and carriers on both sides of the border.

It’ s the government’ s insurance policy! – Customs requires that all importations be covered by a bond to ensure all duties, fees, taxes or penalties which may accrue be covered, usually by a resident US Surety company. There are two options, one is a Single Entry Bond, which covers one shipment and has a cost based on shipment value and is calculated on a per thousand basis with a minimum fee. The other, a continuous annual bond, is an annual policy one time premium which covers shipments for a period of up to one year. Our recommendation – if you plan on importing more than 5 times in one year, a continuous bond is the best route.

Usually, Customs intensive examinations are performed periodically to guard against contraband, terrorism and verify compliance. This is done in several methods including x-ray imaging, spot checks and unloading of merchandise. When this happens, our assigned stevedore company unloads your product depending on the amount of examination and percentage of unloading customs requires. For rail shipment, local rail switch charges apply in addition to the stevedore charges. In both cases, the importer assumes all costs involved.

This is one of the most frequently asked questions and depends on your terms of sale. If the cost is incurred by our customer, we recommend that we provide this service as a complete package for better coordination and to guard against confusion or unnecessary delays. With our own in house Mexico broker, we let our customers take advantage of volume discount rates and special attention through our integrated service.

This is needed only if you request this service for shipping at a later date or if FDA or Customs puts a hold for any reason on your shipment. Otherwise, all shipments with pre determined freight arrangements are sent directly to the carrier of your choice or one provided by our service.

Definitely, as Customs brokers, we are “in the trenches” and are first to take advantage of current market situations on northbound or southbound freight. In addition, we are offered high discount or volume rates with several carriers which we pass forward to our customers.

To protect our Borders and guard against terrorism

Protecting the revenue by assessing and collecting duties, fees and taxes incident to international traffic and trade, Controlling, regulating and facilitating the movement of carriers, people and commodities between the United States and other nations

Protecting the American consumer and environment against the introduction of hazardous or noxious products into the United States

Protecting the Domestic Industry and labor against unfair foreign competition

Detecting, Interdicting and investigating smuggling and other illegal practices aimed at illegally entering narcotics, drugs, contraband and other prohibited articles into the United States

Detecting, Interdicting and investigating fraudulent activities intended to avoid the payment of duties, fees and taxes or activities meant to evade the legal requirements of international traffic and trade

Detecting, Interdicting and investigating illegal international trafficking in arms, munitions, currency and acts of terrorism at US Ports of Entry

A US Customs Broker is an individual or company licensed by the government to enter and clear goods through Customs. The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection defines a Customs Broker as any person who is licensed in accordance with Part 111 of Title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to transact Customs business on behalf of others. Customs business means activities concerning the entry, admissibility, its classification and valuation, the payment of duties, taxes or other charges assessed or collected by Customs on merchandise by reason of its importation and the refund, rebate or drawback on those duties, taxes or other charges.

This also includes the preparation and activities of documents in any format and the electronic transmission of documents in whole or part intended to be filed to Customs in furtherance of any other customs business activity.

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