Seeking approval from external agencies

Approval from the relevant authorities at the import country must be sought when shipping certain kinds of goods.

For example, the import of all food-related goods into Australia must first be approved by the New South Wales Food Authority; an Australian government statutory board.

Applying for a binding ruling

A binding classification enables importers to establish the country of origin, classification and valuation of their merchandise.

This helps the import country determine the tariffs and duties to be imposed on imported products in advance.

Completing clearance documents

Cargo can only be shipped out after all applicable custom clearance documents have been provided and accepted by customs authorities.

The list of clearance documents include (but are not limited to):

Signing a customs bond contract

A customs bond contract must be signed by the customs authorities, the shipper and the customs clearance service provider if the cargo being transported is estimated to be worth more than a certain value.

The customs clearance service provider acts as a guarantor for the shipper, and ensures that all import duties and taxes are paid for.

Checking of shipment paperwork

A customs officer will do a thorough inspection of all your paperwork to ensure they are error-free.

Checking of tariffs and taxes

Once the checking of the paperwork has been completed, the customs officer will proceed to verify what duties are imposed on your cargo.

Payment of taxes and duties

If taxes and duties have not been paid for yet, the customs officer will redirect your cargo to an individual customs service provider to collect payment.

This can get very expensive, so it’s best to pay your duties with your own custom clearance service provider beforehand.

Release of shipment

After all outstanding duties have been settled, your shipment will be allowed to pass through customs for delivery.