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A customs broker is an expert who provides professional services in arranging the customs clearance process for your international shipments. The main specialization of a customs broker is filling out paperwork and ensuring to follow all of the rules and compliances of cross-border trade. A broker can be a private individual, corporation, or entity.

Customs brokerage is a key component in logistics and supply chain management comprised of the processes and documentation required to garner customs clearance for goods entering or leaving a country. Customs brokers are the individuals trained and licensed to facilitate international shipping allowance without a hitch. Potential ‘hitches’ facing importers are both plentiful and costly, so careful consideration regarding who manages customs brokerage for your commodities is critical

Brokerage Processes Overview

Entry: When a shipment arrives in the United States, the customs broker will file entry documents with the port director.

Documents include a release form, purchase order from the buyer, commercial invoice of the supplier, bill of lading (or airway bill), packing list, certificate of origin, and any others required by the importer.

Examination: Upon entry, a shipment is either granted clearance (approval to enter the country), or it does not get approval and must go through examination. Remember: The primary function of Indian Customs

Customs Brokers

To compete in today’s increasingly global marketplace, knowledge and perfection of international trade practices are imperative. In the United States, there are about 11,000 individuals licensed to handle the job.

  1. The scope of duties asked of a customs broker may vary from client to client, and include all or some of the following, on behalf of traders:
  2. Registration of Customers with the Customs department
  3. Import/export customs clearance service
  4. Prepare documents related to release and clearance on behalf of traders.
  5. Customs evaluation of merchandise includes Classification of HS Codes
  6. & Classification of goods
  7. File declarations and other information
  8. Pay duties and taxes (Optional)
  9. Deal with refunds and adjustments
  10. Accounting of goods and entry of goods
  11. Liaise with other government agencies for licenses, permits, and other requirements
  12. Assist in post-clearance audits
  13. Represent client in dispute resolutions.
  14. Provide consultancy/advice to traders to meet various regulatory requirements (packaging, for example)
  15. Take samples before the lodging of a Customs declaration
  16. Import duty & tax assessment.
  17. Customs surveying
  18. Import/export permissions of controlled goods
  19. Import/export record maintenance
  20. Temporary import/export procedures
  21. Permanent import/export procedures
  22. Consultancy services
  23. Registration of Project with Appropriate Authoprities
  24. Bonding and De-bonding documentation
  25. Project reconciliation & closure
  26. Customs bonded carriage
  27. Transit customs handling
  28. Third Country Import & Export for Nepal & Bhutan through Land Border

Expeditious Customs Clearance Experts

  1. The traditional role of a customs broker is merely to collect information about a shipment (country of origin, tariff classifications, destination, supplier, intended use, etc.) to expedite the processes necessary for the shipment’s release at a port of entry. The role of the broker has evolved considerably. Many are collaborating with importers in a more consultation-heavy capacity to inform strategic business decisions, such as product development, new market exploration, and cost-cutting.
  2. The role of freight forwarders has expanded, too.

 

Cal Cox Syndicate Pvt Ltd a Group Company of Oceanic Express LLP  – a leading licensed custom broker in Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi has unmatched expertise in areas of customs consultancy to ensure proper classification and speedy clearance of goods. Being an authorized clearing and forwarding agent we ensure that the necessary government declarations and security requirements are completed accurately for your freight shipments.

Our team of professionals handles the shipment at every stage of the clearance procedure – with great ease. The team is fully aware of the regulations, laws, and tariffs schedules of custom. They are well cognizant of the challenging needs and changing demands of today’s businesses. As a result, they are able to carefully deal with the day to day operations and formalities involved in the respect of clearance of cargo. Streamlined and well organized, the team leaves no chance for the occurrence of any problems or delays in the shipment process.

We are having a nationwide network of offices across India. We are also backed by a network of partners. The relationship we have built through the years has allowed us to grow as a company. Apart from this, our ability to maintain the timeline has helped us position our name in the list of top-notch companies in the industry.

Choose Oceanic Express LLP  to handle all your import and export shipments. With cost-effective solutions, we will ensure a smooth clearance of your goods. Do get in touch with our team to know more about our custom clearing process and procedure.

Changes In Laws, Regulations, Ease Of Doing Business, Trade Facilitation For Simplification Of Customs Process

With WTO focusing on ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and WCO working hard on ‘Trade Facilitation Agreement’, a lot of simplification is done by various countries and India has implemented FTA aggressively in the last 5 years. Some of the changes resulted in transparent customs procedures, digital and reliable and trade friendly.

  1. EDI Connectivity,
  2. National Portal for Indian Customs ICEGATE.
  3. Digitisation -E-Payment of Customs Duty,
  4. E-Sanchit, Single Window,
  5. Digital Signature, OOC, etc.
  6. Schemes like Authorized Economic Operator (AEO),
  7. Clearance under Self Assessment, ‘Turant’, Faceless assessment etc.
  8. Elimination of old outdated notifications.
  9. Implementation of online processes such as Project Registration.
  10. Simplification of SVB process

Many countries including India have made the use of customs brokers as optional. This means importers and exporters can file declarations directly with customs. Considering a combination of simplification, digitisation and use schemes like AEO, RMS and online out of charge, work of Customs Brokers is reduced. All simplification and digitisation have an effect on the Customs Brokers community across the globe. Customs clearance is handled in-house in most parts of Europe, however USA, South America, Asia continues to use Customs Brokers. In India, more than 99% of companies are using customs brokers.

Considering the need for expert knowledge, 24×7 working, harsh working conditions, and lower cost of operations, the industry will continue to outsource clearance work to Customs Brokers.


Transformation of Industry and Digitalisation

How business is done, is fast changing in each industry. The way we order food, book taxis, listen to music, shopping, travel, and banking has transformed. Mobile phones have provided all solutions. COVID -19 has further accelerated the process and many activities which were never dreamed to be done online. Customs compliance is influenced by the wave of Digitisation. We could never imagine the customs clearance team in companies Working From Home (WFH).

Customs Brokers team filing documents from home and field operations to be limited to take delivery of cargo. Barring a few documents customs allowed scanned documents to be submitted on ICEGATE/e Sanchit after digital signature.

EDI connectivity right from Suppliers, Forwarder, Customs Brokers, is looked at by most Industries. In addition to digitisation mentioned above, customs has developed robust AI tools for analysis of classification, valuation etc. This has helped Customs officers to compare imports across all ports and for classification, valuation and use of notification etc. Customs has moved very swiftly towards digitalisation with a focused approach.

Customs Brokers’ core competency was to interact with customs for submissions, clarifications etc. which has now changed, and back-office work has become more important with new skill sets. Customs brokers need to handle not only customs and IT systems, but different IT systems of forwarders, custodians, shipping companies, port and industry. Each system has their own set of challenges, and in case of any delay in clearance, Customs Broker is finally held responsible. The pandemic has accelerated the need for minimizing the physical presence and maximizing electronic transactions which require the Customs Brokers to redefine their roles and responsibilities.

 In future Blockchain solutions will change border management and will impact on working of customs brokers. Every business is moving on to mobile, and customs brokers need to develop robust mobile solutions for importers and exporters.