Who on earth should handle the customs declaration for the agency import business? Come and help me clear up my doubts!
Our company plans to find an agent to handle the import business, and we are a bit confused about the customs declaration part. I'd like to ask who should handle the customs declaration for the agency import business? Is it the consignor (that is, ourselves), or the agent? What should we pay attention to during the customs declaration process? I heard that customs declaration involves many procedures and documents. Will the customs declaration entity be different in different situations? I hope that friends who are knowledgeable about this can explain it in detail so that I can have a clear idea.
Professional consultant answers
William YangYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
International logistics consultantConsult
In the agency import business, the customs declaration entity can be either the consignor or the agent, mainly depending on the agreement in the agency agreement between the two parties.
If the agent has rich experience in customs declaration and a professional team, it may be more efficient for the agent to handle the customs declaration. The agent is familiar with the customs declaration process, policies and regulations, and the preparation of various declaration documents, which can reduce the customs declaration time and avoid errors. For example, professional agency companies like Zhongshitong have great advantages in handling customs declaration affairs.
If the consignor itself has the qualifications for customs declaration and has a better understanding of the goods situation, it can also choose to handle the customs declaration by itself. However, whoever handles the customs declaration must ensure that the information of the goods provided is true, accurate, and complete. At the same time, the two parties should clarify the division of responsibilities in the agreement, such as the issue of bearing responsibilities for fines caused by customs declaration errors.
Elizabeth LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Compliance and risk managerConsult
Generally speaking, if an agency company specializes in import agency business, its customs declaration ability is usually relatively strong. Having the agent handle the customs declaration can save the consignor a lot of energy, and they are also more sensitive to changes in customs policies.
Michelle ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Business coordination consultantConsult
If the consignor has a thorough understanding of some special situations of the goods, such as intellectual property rights, special supervision conditions, etc., handling the customs declaration by itself can better control the situation, but it must ensure that there are professional customs declarers.
Joseph ZhouYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior foreign trade managerConsult
From the perspective of cost, if the consignor handles the customs declaration by itself, it may need to form a team or hire professional customs declarers, with a relatively high cost. It may be more cost-effective to hand it over to the agent.
David LiYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior customs declaration consultantConsult
In actual operations, many agency import businesses have the agent handle the customs declaration because it can provide one-stop services, handling everything from goods transportation to customs clearance, making it more worry-free for the consignor.
Robert ChenYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customer service consultantConsult
Whoever handles the customs declaration must prepare the necessary materials for customs declaration in advance, such as commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, etc., otherwise it will affect the progress of customs declaration.
Emily LiuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Settlement and payment expertConsult
If the goods involve special supervision requirements, such as licenses, etc., whichever party can obtain the relevant certificates more conveniently may be more suitable for handling the customs declaration.
Amanda YangYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cost control consultantConsult
There is another advantage for the agent to handle the customs declaration. They may have good communication channels with the customs and can solve problems more quickly.
Sarah ZhangYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Document expertConsult
If the consignor handles the customs declaration by itself, it can have more direct control over the customs declaration process and know the dynamics of the goods at each step, but it needs to invest more manpower and time.