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Importing into the United States might make a lot of sense for your business. The country is one of the largest trading partners any country can have, with big volumes of goods moving between countries each month. While importing can be a complicated process, there is no need for importers to panic. If you are an importer, it is best to start by understanding Customs regulations and requirements. Below is a helpful guide to importing to USA:
Do You Need a Customs Broker?
It is important to consider customs clearance first. Depending on your shipment’s value, you must determine if you need a customs broker. If the value of your shipment is under $2,500, goods are usually allowed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to enter into the U. S. under an informal entry. If for FDA-regulated goods or those that fall under Anti-Dumping or Countervailing duties, quota, or other restricted goods, a formal entry is required. For this, you must set up an account with a customs broker and prepare documentation before shipping. Once your customs broker has the documentation, they will review the details for accuracy before they submit it to CBP. Documents that are usually required with every shipment include customs/commercial invoice, bill of lading, other government department (OGD) documents, and community specific requirements.
Meeting Government Requirements
These requirements depend on the safety, health, energy efficiency, and standards of the OGD. There are many items that you cannot import without a permit, license, or other documents to satisfy the requirements of the department. All products imported into the U. S. need to be properly marked with the country of origin, except for items such as bolts, nuts, firewood, washers, and other hard-to-mark products.
Paying Import Duty Fees And Taxes
Duty fees must be paid to CBP. The fees are based on the products’ classification. They are paid by the Importer of Record (IOR). You can let your Customs broker pay the fees on your behalf or set up an automated clearing house account so you can pay the duty directly to U. S. Customs.
Determining Correct Harmonized Tariff Schedule
All products imported into the United States are classified according to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTF). As classification can be quite hard, it usually requires plenty of research and product information. You should give the correct product classification to CBP. It’s important to importing products into the country with a correct classification or duty rate could to avoid increased duty bills or penalties.
