A.H.CARTER & ASSOCIATES
ENKO WAREHOUSE
Customhouse Brokers and Foreign Freight Forwarders, and Container Freight Station
"ENHANCED SERVICES FOR THE PROFESSIONAL SHIPPER"
25802 74th Ave So.
Kent, WA 98032
PHN(253)893-5000 Import Brokerage
FAX(253)893-5005,6 Import Brokerage
PHN(253)893-5000x247 Warehouse and Availability
FAX(253)867-5063 Warehouse and Customs releases
As a customhouse broker, our business is assisting importers in clearing inbound cargo through U.S. Customs. We are also a freight forwarder and can arrange movement of such cargo after clearance to its destination. We work with ocean carriers and domestic truckers to obtain rates and services to bring cargo in or ship cargo out. We have an export department that can arrange exportation to foreign countries of many types of cargoes. And we have a warehouse that can handle storage, sorting, and distributing for many products.
CUSTOMS POWER OF ATTORNEY
In order to do any customs business with our customers, Customs regulations require us to have a properly completed and signed Customs Power of Attorney. Please download this .pdf form for your review and completion. The POA is self explanatory and is coded at the bottom of its page to show exactly what is required to be completed on each line. Please read it carefully.
Included with this POA is an Importer Information Sheet, and our Terms of Service. Each require your acknowledgement by signature and return to us. Please keep copies for yourself and mail/fax/email the signed documents to us.
We also ask you to please read the Reasonable Care brochure issued by Customs. This explains the responsibilities of the importer, and is extremely important reading. The liability for complying with customs regulations is fully on the importer, and not Customs, nor the broker. It says, essentially, that ignorance of the rules, regulations and laws is no excuse.
CUSTOMS ENTRY
In order to begin the entry process, we need certain documentation, including but not limited to, Commercial Invoice showing actual transaction value, Packing List, Ocean or Air carrier Bill of Lading. Customs allows us to file entry on goods up to 5 days prior to arrival on ocean shipments, and for air shipments once the aircraft is wheels up, so we prefer to obtain these documents as soon as possible prior to arrival.
Most typs of Customs entries require a Bond. See the next paragraph on Customs Bonds.
We strongly recommend you read the Customs Document US IMPORT REQUIREMENTS which will give you an overview of various import requirements. We also suggest you visit the customs website at http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/import/ and peruse the various links to get a general idea of the many complex issues that U.S.Customs deals with regarding the many importations annually into the U.S.
CUSTOMS BONDS
A CBP Bond is a contract that is given to insure the performance of an obligation or obligations imposed by law or regulation. A bond is like an insurance policy that guarantees payment to U.S. Customs if a required act is not performed. Bonds have a number of uses in CBP. The most common use allows importers to take possession of their goods before all CBP formalities are completed. It is a required document which we prepare on your behalf. We recommend our clients obtain an annual or "continuous" customs bond, good for all entries during a one year period, rather than rely on individual or "Single" entry bonds for each separate entry. It is typically cheaper to purchase an annual bond if the total value of goods you import during a one year period exceeds $100,000.
One of the side benefits of a continuous bond is the ability, depending on the products being imported, to receive electronic or "paperless" releases without submitting a paper entry. This can significantly speed the entry and release process allowing you to take possession of your cargo sooner. Single entry bonds always require entry to be physically submitted for document review at Customs prior to release.
Download this Bond application, complete all fields, sign and date, and send to us, and we will begin the bond process and submit the application to customs for approval.
Additional information on bonds may be viewed at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/cargo_summary/bonds/
CUSTOMS DUTY PAYMENTS
By regulation, Customs duties are paid no later than 10 days after release of the cargo by customs. As a broker, we have an obligation to tender payments of duty to Customs on our clients behalf, but the importer has the liability for payment if the broker fails to do so. Our billing invoices all have the following statement at the bottom as required by Customs Regulations: "If you are the importer of record, payment to the broker will not relieve you of liability for Customs charges(duties, taxes, or other debts owed Customs) in the event the charges are not paid by the broker. Therefore, if you pay by check, Customs charges may be paid with a separate check payable to U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION which shall be delivered to customs by the broker". While we generally bill the customer for Customs charges along with our own fees and then pay customs from our account as a courtesy to our customers, we are not required to do so.
One of the newer technological advancements made by customs recently is the ability to collect customs charges electronically from importers directly through a process called ACH or Automated Clearing House. We strongly recommend this option to all our clients. First and foremost, a continuous(annual) Customs Bond is required(see above paragraph). Second, an application must be made to Customs to participate in ACH. Upon approval, customs issues a payer number to the importer, which we as broker use to authorize payment of the duties and other charges. Only the broker has the ability and actual electronic connection to customs to process duty payments and we do so on behalf of our customers.
Another recent advancement is the Periodic Monthly Statement, for which customs now allows all duties due in one month to be paid approximately the middle of the next month. This option gives importers up to 45 days float on the duty amounts due. The application process is more complicated and approval for both ACH and ACE is required first, but this could be beneficial to many importers. Please check these links for more specific information.
Please feel free to contact us for further information.