Import

Questions and answers about Import

  • 5106 for multiple addresses

    Question: The company has one IOR tax ID and multiple locations that import and export, using one tax id. We are not interested in setting up IOR with suffixes.  One of our location’s addresses in the customs system shows a different tax ID. How do we update the record so multiple of our physical locations […]

  • Multiple EIN

    Question: Looking for members guidance on best practices for choosing the parent company EIN as IOR for imports or maintain present structure of EIN number and IOR in the hand of each subsidiary.  What are pros and cons of each from the logistics viewpoint as opposed to tax benefits or consequences to the parent company […]

  • Transfer of Title

    Question: We have a multi-tiered sales transaction involving four entities and four countries and three sales. A mfr, Entity A in country A, sells to its related entity B in Country B. The goods are exported from Country A. Entity B sells to us, Entity C, which is not related to neither A nor B […]

  • Who best to file the ISF

    Question: We are consolidating all our customs brokerage filing under a single customs broker, but we will continue to use different freight forwarders. If the customs broker files the ISF, there’s a reduced chance that the ISF and import entry don’t match up, but there’s an increased chance of who is to blame for a […]

  • Import Entries

    Question: Can anyone advise what a section entry is in relation to US customs. We import human samples into the States and our brokers are completing section entries on this shipments. Thanks Answer 1: A “section entry” in the context of U.S. Customs typically refers to a specific type of entry made under Section 321 […]

  • Importer of Record

    Question: We have a customer who lists my company as the Importer of Record on their US imports without permission. We have attempted to have the entry summaries corrected, but because the customer does not have a POA on file with the broker used, they are unable to make the correction or turn the shipment […]

  • improper IOR used by broker

    Question: A US customs broker cleared 2 shipments under my name and bond that should have had someone else (the shipper/exporter) as the IOR.  Said broker has a POA on file for us, but again, these shipments were marked for the shipper/exporter to be the US NRI. I contacted the broker and they said “too […]

  • Pallets – when to classify Separately or as a an addition

    Question: When a plastic pallet is listed as a line item on an invoice for a particular item, when do you determine if the pallet is an addition to the price paid or payable or if it needs to have an HTS assigned? Answer 1: 1. Scrutinize the Invoice Description: Explicit Statements: Look for clear wording […]

  • COA for Kits

    Question: We put together multiple donated OTC pharmaceuticals and medical supplies as a kit or pack and donate them to our partners in various countries for different situations. For instance, we create hurricane preparedness kits for places in the Caribbean and emergency backpacks for when a disaster strikes an area we have partners. Recently we […]

  • Bill-To Party

    Question: We have regular defective units that are returning free of charge for the purpose of testing and repair. There is no billing or payment to these defective returned parts. However, the shipper will bill the services to our 3PL operator. In this scenario, is it correct for shipper not mentioning the “BILL-TO” in the […]

  • Ultimate Consignee Customs Directive 3550-079A

    Question: Customs Directive 3550-079A defines the Ultimate Consignee as:  6.3 The Ultimate Consignee at the time of entry or release is defined as the party in the United States, to whom the overseas shipper sold the imported merchandise. If at the time of entry or release the imported merchandise has not been sold, then the […]

  • weights/units of measure

    Question: We are having trouble obtaining weights in the right unit of measure to support our customs declarations. At what point in your purchasing and manufacturing processes are weights determined? How do you ensure weights are determined and maintained in the unit of measure you can use for customs purposes? What do you consider best […]