Goods may be imported to the United States subject to import restrictions. Importers of goods may be subject to tax and/or customs duty (“tariff”) on the imported value of the goods. Imported goods are not legally entered until after the shipment has arrived within the port of entry, delivery of the merchandise has been authorized by CBP, and estimated duties have been paid. Importation and declaration and payment of customs duties is done by the importer of record, which may be the owner of the goods, the purchaser, or a licensed customs broker. Goods may be stored in a bonded warehouse or a Foreign-Trade Zone in the United States for up to five years without payment of duties.

Goods must be declared for entry into the U.S. within 15 days of arrival or prior to leaving a bonded warehouse or foreign trade zone. The importer of record declares the transaction value of the goods and country of origin, along with other information. The declarations must include an invoice and packing list (or equivalent) listing all goods. CBP then assesses duty, which must be paid by the importer of record before goods can be released.

All goods imported into the United States are subject to inspection by CBP.

Areas Covered

The online seminar covers the details of importing, such topics as:

• The nature of CBP
• Customs Brokers
  
• Security programs (like “10 + 2” and C-TPAT etc.)
• Customs Bonds
  
• The Import Classification Process
• valuation of merchandise
• Special Import Issues
• Entry Types and Procedures
• Preparation and use of entry and other import-related documents
• The Liquidation Process
• Penalties and Liquidated Damages
  

Course Level - Basic / Fundamental

Who Should Attend

Importers, business owners, accountants, lawyers, and anyone involved in the importation process.

Why Should You Attend

This online seminar is a major step in helping importers meet the importing standards established by CBP, the largest U.S. law enforcement agency. CBP’s major responsibility is to administer the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended. Primary functions include the assessment and collection of all duties, taxes, and fees on imported merchandise; the enforcement of customs, immigration, and related laws; and the administration of certain navigation laws and treaties. CBP combats smuggling and revenue fraud and enforces the regulations of numerous other federal agencies at ports of entry.

U.S. importers must exercise “reasonable care” when importing goods into the United States. The failure to understand or appreciate the complex nature of importing will result in detentions and seizures, significant fines and penalties, the loss of customers, and lots of aggravation. CBP is now engaged in enforcement actions that can ruin importing companies.

Learn how to avoid violating import laws and regulations by attending this online seminar. This will help you get your goods cleared right away without delays and improve your bottom line.

Topic Background

The U.S. government monitors, regulates, and collects import duties on merchandise entering the United States. The agency with the primary responsibility for the effort is U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Not understanding the basics of importing guarantees serious trouble for the importer.