If you are or planning to, send or receive goods from outside the country, you will need a customs clearance process. In every package or shipment done in a business on this scale, such a process is needed. If you are new to the industry or planning to – it could be quite confusing. So here are some basic things you need to know about customs clearance.
Customs Clearance: What is it exactly?
This is a process where the government checks out the goods that are either being imported or exported. This is to ensure that the items follow the laws of the country, and also to ensure that taxes are paid, documents are filed, and there are no illegal products coming in or going out. Without customs clearance, any of your product will not move across the country nor will it come in.
Documents: A must have
Getting customs cleared is a huge step for products to get in or out of a country; which in an import or export business is a heavy thing to do. But above all else, documents need to be prepared. Here are some basic documents to watch out for:
- Invoice which will show what product is being shipped, its cost, and who sends and receives it.
- Packing list is the details of the content of each package.
- Bill of lading or the airway bill which is a transport document for the sea.
- License which is needed for the import or export for certain products.
- Customs declaration form which declares the goods for the customs authorities.
By knowing these basic documents, it will not be hard to prepare these things before eventually starting out your business.
Additional Tips
There are various things that you also need to remember when starting out your import and/or export business. One of them is that you need to follow the rules and policies when doing this to avoid any issues when it comes to the customs clearance process. Secondly, you need to be honest with your goods and keep track of them if you have eventually shipped it out. Thirdly, make sure to use the proper package to avoid getting products damaged during delivery. Finally, know that custom processes differ from one product to another; from one country to another. While most do it very quickly and without much hassle in the process, there are those that take a bit of time. This is why it is beneficial for you to get to know the rules on customs clearance first.
Final Thoughts
It may seem challenging at first but the customs clearance process will get easier if you know its ins and outs. You just need to organize your documents, be honest on your products, and know the things you need to do beforehand. This could help you out on your business without too much stress in between.