Power of Attorney for Customs Declaration Earthquake! These Red Lines Must Never Be Crossed

"Mr. Zhang, the format of the Power of Attorney for Customs Declaration you submitted last time is incorrect and needs to be refilled." - Does this kind of conversation seem familiar? Recently, the General Administration of Customs has comprehensively revised the Power of Attorney for Customs Declaration by Agency, and many foreign trade practitioners have frequently fallen into traps due to their lack of understanding of the new regulations. This article will interpret the key points of the revision in detail for you to help you easily avoid the minefields in declarations.

The new version of the Power of Attorney officially came into effect on December 1, 2023, mainly optimizing the electronic declaration process and data security specifications:

• Format standardization: uniformly adopt A4 vertical layout and cancel the original horizontal version
• Field simplification: delete 6 redundant pieces of information and add a new column of "Pre-filling of HS Code of Goods"
• Electronic signature: support online signing with authenticated digital certificates

The Zhongshitong Supply Chain Team where Ms. Li is located has summarized three major precautions:

• Transition Period between Old and New Versions: Old version documents can still be received before June 30, 2024, but it is recommended to use the new version preferentially
• Confirmation of Entrustment Relationship: The types of "One-time Entrustment" or "Long-term Entrustment" must be clearly marked
• Attachment Requirements: The list of attached documents should be on a separate page and must not be handwritten or modified

In response to recent high-frequency inquiries, we have sorted out typical scenarios:

• Q: Is the new version of the Power of Attorney applicable to cross-border e-commerce?
  A: The bonded stocking model requires the use of a special version, and the general trade applies the general version
• Q: Will the blurry electronic seal result in rejection?
  A: The resolution of the scanned copy should be ≥ 300dpi, and the key information must be clearly distinguishable

With the progress of the construction of smart customs, the electronization rate of customs declaration documents is expected to reach 90% in 2025. It is recommended that enterprises:

• Establish a standardized document management system
• Regularly participate in customs affairs training to update the knowledge base
• Maintain in-depth cooperation with professional agencies