The customs clearance process

Customs clearance is the process of getting your imported cargo legally admitted into the country. Three parties make it happen: the customs authority (in the U.S., Customs and Border Protection, or CBP), your customs broker, and you as the importer. The broker files your entry, customs reviews the documents and assesses duties, you pay what's owed, and customs releases the cargo. Clean, accurate paperwork is what keeps it fast.

• The customs authority. In the U.S., CBP enforces import regulations and also acts on behalf of more than 20 other government agencies (the FDA, CPSC, and others). CBP collects duties, taxes, and fees, and decides whether a shipment is released, examined, or held.

• Your customs broker. A licensed broker reviews and corrects your documents, files your entry, communicates with customs throughout, and helps estimate and pay duties. See how a broker is authorized to act for you in ISF, POA and IOR basics.

• You, the importer. As the Importer of Record, you're responsible for declaring your goods accurately, providing correct documents, and paying duties and fees. That responsibility is yours even when a broker files on your behalf.

Documents are filed with customs before the cargo reaches the destination port or airport. For ocean imports, the Importer Security Filing (ISF) must be submitted before the cargo is loaded at origin — this lets customs assess shipments in advance. Your broker checks and corrects your documents, then files the entry.

Customs inspects the documents, determines the applicable duties and charges, and issues a request for payment. See Customs duties and HTS codes for how duty is calculated.

Once duties and fees are paid and confirmed, customs releases the shipment. Brokers typically give you a few days to pay them, even though customs allows the broker a longer window — so settle promptly to avoid holding up release.

Customs may examine a shipment before releasing it. Common triggers include food, drugs, and animal products; anything that could affect national security; a poor compliance history; or being a new, unknown importer. Exams range from a quick document check to an intensive physical inspection that can take much longer. See Customs exams and holds: what to expect.

Warning: If cargo isn't collected within the allowed free time after it's unloaded, it moves to a storage facility at your expense — and unclaimed cargo can eventually be sold at auction. Don't let a slow clearance turn into storage and demurrage charges.

Clearance costs are billed separately from your freight and your goods. They typically include:

• Customs duty — based on your product's classification and country of origin. See Customs duties and HTS codes.

• Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) — a mandatory customs fee.

• Harbor Maintenance Fee — applied to ocean imports.

• Broker charges — the customs clearance fee, the ISF filing fee (sometimes billed separately), and a data-transmission (EDI) fee for exchanging documents electronically. If a line item on your invoice isn't clear, ask us.

• Fines and penalties — only if something is wrong with the entry.

Before the shipment:

• Check whether your goods are restricted or need a permit from another agency.

• Estimate the duty you'll owe.

• Provide complete, accurate documents.

During the shipment:

• Make sure a customs bond is in place (required above a value threshold — see ISF, POA and IOR basics).

• Give the authorities accurate shipment information.

• Verify the documents you pass to your broker are correct.

• Pay the clearance fees and duties.

We coordinate clearance with a licensed customs broker and keep you informed as your entry moves through review, assessment, and release. The single biggest thing you can do to speed it up is give us a complete, accurate Commercial Invoice and Packing List early — most avoidable delays trace back to paperwork. If a shipment is selected for exam, we'll walk you through it.

• Customs duties and HTS codes

• Customs exams and holds: what to expect

• ISF, POA and IOR basics

• Commercial Invoice and Packing List: what we need

• Freight & shipping glossary