Seeking advice from customs when importing products is the best way to prepare an international commercial operation. Good planning in this field will help to ensure compliance with customs requirements, avoiding breaches that can cause sanctions and cause delays in the estimated deadlines.
Training and experience play an important role when carrying out customs processing. From both sources you can extract the following three tips of customs to import products. They can help you avoid lots of unpleasant consequences.
#1: Have the support of a customs agent
The customs processes applicable to imports and their liquidation procedure can be different in each country. In some countries, the customs service does not require the importer to have a license or permit, so that anyone can make their own customs clearance of the imported goods. But this is not always the case, that is why it is important to hire the services of an authorized customs broker like Clearit USA, who deals with:
- Personarse in the port of destination air/sea, which is usually the gateway on behalf of the company when no other qualified person can be there to prepare and submit your ticket.
- Act as the agent of the company, picking up and delivering the shipment to your door.
#2: Know the necessary documentation for customs clearance in your own country
In all destinations, three customs clearance documents are required:
- Bill of lading (air waybill or billing lading).
- Commercial invoice.
- Content list (packing list)
However, depending on the type of imported merchandise, other documents may also be necessary, such as the certificate of origin, the proforma invoice, the sales contract, the insurance certificate or the import permit, among others.
It is essential to find out which ones should accompany the merchandise, and this is one of the customs councils to import more important products.
#3: Be informed of the arrival date of the goods
The customs service does not notify the reception of the shipments. This must be ordered by the carrier. Verifying this date with the transport company ensures that it will arrive on time to make the arrangements. The customs services in most countries establish that all declared goods must be unloaded and processed within 7 to 15 days after the arrival of the importing vessel. If not, the goods will be transferred to a general customs warehouse where they will be registered as “not claimed”, the company being obliged to pay the storage costs incurred when they are going to be removed.
Also, we must bear in mind that if the merchandise remains without claiming for a certain term, which usually ranges between 3 and 6 months, will be sold by auction. Finally, do not forget about the fees to be paid, the last of the Customs advice when importing products, whose value should be clear to avoid surprises when making the overall balance of the operation.
