Customs - Agency for customs services

The Customs is a national authority responsible for collecting and protecting tariffs, and controlling the logistics of goods, including animals, commodities, and hazardous materials, entering and exiting the country. According to local laws, the import and export of certain goods may be restricted or prohibited, and customs brokers enforce these regulations. The General Administration of Customs may differ from entry and exit management departments such as the Exit and Entry Administration of the Ministry of Public Security of China and the Immigration Department of Hong Kong, which are responsible for monitoring individuals entering and exiting the country, checking relevant documents, apprehending fugitives wanted under international warrants, and preventing individuals deemed dangerous from entering the country. In most countries, the Customs has obtained authorization from the authorities and permission from international law.

Customs duties are fees or taxes imposed when goods enter (commonly) or exit (rarely) a country. In the UK, duties are a significant part of the King's customary revenue, so unlike consumption taxes, land taxes, and other types of taxes, they do not require parliamentary approval to be levied.

Merchandise pending customs clearance is stored in a customs-free zone, commonly referred to as a bonded warehouse, until customs clearance procedures are completed. All authorized ports are recognized as customs zones.

The customs border may or may not coincide with a country's national border, such as in the European Union, where the customs border encompasses the entire EU perimeter. At EU member states' international airports, there are distinct entry channels for EU citizens and non-EU citizens. However, non-EU citizens can enter other EU countries for cross-border travel by presenting a Schengen visa in their passports. For non-Schengen areas (like the UK), a separate UK visa is required for entry.

　　以大中华地区为例，中国大陆的出入境口岸包含中国大陆居民（中华人民共和国护照持有者）、港澳台居民（凭回乡证和台胞证入境）与外国人三种通道；香港及澳门的出入境口岸包含香港或澳门本地居民、中国大陆与台湾居民（凭双程证、台胞证或中华民国护照入境，持台湾护照者得附加香港签证方可入境）与外国人三种通道；台湾出入境口岸则包含本国人与外国人两种，大陆人、香港人与澳门人得凭入台证（台湾签发）、陆胞证（大陆签发）方可从外国人通道入境。

Customs Declaration and Customs Business Management - Customs Agency Services

I. The Meaning of Customs Declaration: Customs declaration refers to the process in which the consignors or consignees of import and export goods, the persons in charge of the means of transport crossing borders, the owners of the goods crossing borders, or their agents, handle the procedures for the entry and exit of goods, items, or means of transport, as well as related customs matters.

Section II: Scope 1. Inbound and outbound transportation vehicles 2. Inbound and outbound goods 3. Inbound and outbound items

III. Classification: Customs declaration can be divided into three categories: transportation means, goods, and items.

IV. Basic Content of Customs Declaration: 1. Basic Content of Customs Declaration for Inbound/Outbound Transport Vehicles 2. Basic Content of Customs Declaration for Inbound/Outbound Goods 3. Basic Content of Customs Declaration for Inbound/Outbound Items

What is a customs broker, and what is a customs inspector?

Notice on Customs Documents - Agent for Customs Services

1. For customs documents, the key is to prove the origin and the FOB value of the goods. Therefore, the "origin" field must not be left blank. For goods traded on CIF or CFR terms, it's essential to accurately calculate the freight and insurance costs. Overestimating these can result in accusations from the importing country's customs or require the documents to be rewritten. Particularly when the letter of credit requires the provision of insurance invoices or when actual freight costs are noted on the marine bill of lading, the insurance and freight amounts on the customs document must match the actual expenses paid.

Secondly, when signing, the seller must sign in their personal name, requiring a handwritten signature, and may not affix a company seal in place of a signature.

Third, when filling out customs documents, any errors or alterations must be signed and annotated with a ballpoint pen by the issuer, and no proofreading stamp can be affixed.

4. The consignee on the customs documents should generally be filled in as the recipient. If the recipient is not present at the port of arrival, the name of the notified person at the destination should be filled in instead.

Item 5: The amounts, quantities, gross/net weights, and other items on the customs documents must match exactly with those on the commercial invoices and bills of lading.

6. All columns on the customs documents must be filled out. For columns without actual content, please note "NIL" or "N/A" (Not Applicable) or strike through with a dashed line. No blank columns should be left on the customs documents.

The 7th requirement: Customs documents must be completed according to different formats and names, varying by country. Careful attention must be paid to filling out the forms correctly. Incorrect formats will result in the importing country's customs refusing to accept the documents.

Item 8: Customs documents may vary in format, with each country or region having its own specific format as dictated by local regulations. The certificate usually specifies the required format; please ensure you do not use the wrong one.

Item 9: All items and content that appear on both commercial invoices and customs invoices must be consistent with the commercial invoice, and must not be contradictory.

10. Regarding the completion of the customs invoice pricing structure, customs invoices generally require listing all costs that constitute the price. If a transaction is concluded under CIF terms, the freight, insurance, and FOB price should be itemized separately. The sum of these three should match the CIF value. Additionally, costs such as packaging fees, crating fees, and handling charges for transporting goods to the port of shipment should also be listed. "Local market price in the exporting country" should be expressed in the domestic currency, Renminbi. However, the value in this field should be approximately 4-5% lower than the FOB price; otherwise, it may be considered as dumping at a low price.

11. In some countries, there is a "Cost Column" that should be filled out as completely as possible. If there is a requirement to indicate whether it is "included" in the domestic market price, it should also be clearly stated. Filling "not included" or "included" directly affects the calculation of the "domestic market price," so attention should be paid to accurate calculations.

Article 12: Regarding the signing of customs documents, those signed in a personal capacity by hand are not to bear the company seal; if a witness (endorser) is required, a hand signature is also necessary. The signatory of customs documents or other documents must not act as a witness. Any alterations on customs documents must be authenticated by the original preparer with a small signature in pen, no verification seal should be stamped, and the witness may not act on behalf of the preparer.

Item 13: The "Country of Origin" on the customs documents should be filled with "China", do not omit.

14. Customs documents are printed in foreign languages, and should generally be filled out in the corresponding foreign language, with concise text required.

15. In West African customs documents, where a signature is made in a personal capacity, it is required to fill in a witness. The witness's signature must not appear on any other export documents, meaning the signatory and the witness must be two distinct entities for the signature to be valid.