FAQ: How Can I Ensure the Information on My Customs Entries Has Been Accurate?

As an importer in the United States, your company has a legal obligation to ensure the information presented to U.S. Customs on your entries is accurate – even if you have a Customshouse broker acting on your behalf.

The following are 10 Best Practices for ensuring accuracy and reducing risk during import Customs compliance:

1. Select Customs broker(s) wisely.  Only provide a Power of Attorney to reputable, knowledgeable and licensed firms.
2. Maintain control by monitoring your POA expiration dates and keeping track of those who have a Power of Attorney for your company. Don’t forget to revoke these rights if you decide to change partners.
3. Monitor your Customs bond.  The surety bond provider is able to see all activity posted on your Customs Bond.  Here, you can access all entries filed and ensure only authorized filers are conducting Customs business on your behalf.
4. Ask your Customs broker(s) regularly for a review of your entry data.
5. Perform a timely review your entry data for anomalies – incorrect country of origin, valuation, free trade agreements, etc.
6. Schedule periodic spot audits and full entry audits.  The frequency and the procedures should be found in your company’s Import Compliance Manual.
7. When errors are found, ask your Customs broker for entry corrections and updated entry summaries to close the loop.
8. Keep up with your recordkeeping best practices, found here.
9. Review claims for Free Trade Agreements for proper substantiation.
10. Apply for an ACE Portal account with CBP.  Importers and their legal representatives have the option to view their Importer Trade Activity (ITRAC) data from CBP under the Freedom of Information Act.   This data will allow an importer to perform historical analysis and research to support your compliance with up to 5 years of data on one report.  This data is now free & available in the ACE Portal rather than a manual request.

Green Worldwide Shipping’s Global Trade Solutions team can help with your import regulatory roadblocks.  Contact us, today!