Compliance
Rely on Allegiance Customs Brokerage for our deep understanding of U.S. trade regulations
Importing commercial goods into the United States can be a complex endeavor. Compliance requires a solid understanding of, and strict adherence to, a series of regulations required by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and partner government agencies, such as FDA, EPA, USDA, DOT, FWS…etc.
It is incumbent upon the Importer to ensure they comply with all relevant trade regulations. This will minimize the potential for financial penalties being levied upon your business. CBP’s import regulations subject all imports to certain prohibitions, restrictions and requirements. If CBP requirements are not properly adhered to, the consequences to your business can be damaging and can include:- Monetary penalties
- Increased scrutiny and more frequent examination of goods
- Delays of incoming shipments
- Inadvertent overpayment of duties and government fees
- Suspension of import privileges
Clients rely on Allegiance Customs Brokerage for our deep understanding of the complex U.S. trade regulations governing imports.
Customs Bonds
A Customs Bond is a contract used to ensure that person or company will perform obligations related to the entry of merchandise arriving from a foreign origin into the United States. The Bond is a requirement for all entries and must be purchased from a CBP approved insurance (surety) company. The Bond is used in lieu of posting a cash deposit with the U.S. Government.
Allegiance Customs Brokerage works with several CBP approved Sureties to provide Bond services to an Importer.
General Air and Ocean Cargo
Allegiance provides customers with excellent service on a consistent basis
Allegiance Customs Brokerage provides both air and ocean customs clearances. If the quickest possible customs clearance, from a knowledgeable and friendly staff is important to you and your company, we are equipped to provide you with service unmatched in the industry. Our services will be competitively priced, and will assure us of being viewed as a great value to the businesses we serve. Allegiance Customs Brokerage will go the distance to meet your needs.
Immediate Transportation
To obtain clearance from Customs and Border Protection on imported goods, entry must be filed at the first port of arrival. To clear goods from a location other than the first port of arrival, an Immediate Transportation Entry (IT) must be filed on a CBP Form 7512 by a Customs Broker, carrier or importer that is bonded with CBP and has either a filer code, SCAC carrier code or importer number (IRS number).
The In-Bond Program involves cargo entering the country that may be destined to other locations. An in-bond entry is required when cargo transits to another location for entry ("I.T."), transits the U.S. destined to another country("T.E."), or is immediately exported ("I.E.").
Preferential Program
Navigating regulatory hurdles
Despite the strong surge of globalization, the mechanics of doing business internationally have become more challenging than ever. The rewards may be greater, but the hurdles are ever-increasing.
With increased enforcement of trade rules, Allegiance Customs Brokerage helps clients solve everyday issues—such as classifying products and verifying partner government agency requirements. We interact with our clients to help create business strategies that optimize savings through preferential trade programs and help them reduce their costs of doing business.
We provide assistance with a range of issues and procedures involved in importing goods into the United States—entry procedures, tariff classification, duty preference programs, country-of-origin marking and labeling, prior disclosures and protests. We can assist with obtaining CPB Binding rulings for products, as well as confirm eligibility under preferential trade programs such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and numerous bilateral and multilateral agreements.
Temporary Importation Under Bond
Duty Free Entry of Goods to be Re-exported
TIB stands for Temporary Importation under Bond. TIB is a special entry type that is used when products are imported into the United States without the payment of duty or Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF). TIB entry requires posting a bond to ensure that the goods will be exported within a specified time, (one year – unless extended by application to the Port Director). These goods must be brought back to the country of export before the expiration of the bond period to avoid the assessment of liquidated damages in the amount of the bond. If the goods are not exported, the bond is forfeited. The TIB bond amount is usually twice the estimated duty, taxes, etc. that would have been payable on the products. An importer will want to enter merchandise using a temporary import bond under the following circumstances: importing samples for testing, inspection, for making a purchasing decision, or to display a sample at a trade fair or other sales show; or an importer may wish to import merchandise and to further manufacture it and then export the finished product.
The most common mistakes made when entering goods under a Temporary Import Bond include:
- Failing to indicate on the shipping documentation or notifying your customs broker that the shipment you are sending is a temporary import.
- Failing to properly document and re-export or destroy the articles. When this happens, the bond or security deposit is forfeited and the importer bears the duty and tax expense.
Products imported under a TIB can remain in the United States without the payment of duty for up to a year. These goods must be properly exported out of the country prior to the expiration date of the bond to avoid a penalty. The one year period for export can be extended upon approval from U.S. Customs. Some TIB provisions allow for the bond period to be extended for three years with the exception of the following TIB provisions:
- Shipments covered under 9813.00.75 (autos and parts for show purposes), may not exceed six months and an extension will not be granted.
- Shipments covered under 9813.00.50 (tools of trade), if seized by Customs for reasons other than by suit of private persons, have the requirement of exportation suspended during the period of seizure.
In order to avoid liquidated damages, the importer of record must present proof of export to U.S. Customs. U.S. Customs accepts the following as proof of export.
- Customs Form 3495 Application for Exportation of Articles Under Special Bond
- Certified copy of the entry that the goods are being imported to (Canadian B3)
- Certified copy of the bill of lading
Relief from liability may also be obtained when goods imported under a TIB are destroyed under Customs supervision. The article must have no commercial value whatsoever if it is to be considered destroyed.
Allegiance Customs Brokerage can file a TIB and obtain a bond your behalf. We also assist in the export and closure of the TIB with U.S. Customs.