Customs Broker – What Does A Customs Agent Do?
What Does A Customs Agent Do. When a trader is required to make a customs return for importing or exporting goods, they have a choice. Make the declaration themselves in-house using customs software, or outsource the task to a customs broker or customs agent. Freight forwarders or logistics companies may also offer this service.
Many traders seem to be unaware of their own responsibilities relating to customs declarations even if they are outsourcing to a customs broker. For example, if a mistake has been made in the data entered in the declaration and Revenue have not been paid the correct amount (duty / vat etc) the trader is responsible, not the customs broker. The trader is also subject to a customs audit by Revenue and needs to keep full records of all customs declarations made whether they were submitted in-house or outsourced to a customs broker. Read more on how to prepare for a customs audit on Custran.com here.
Customs brokers are obliged to share records of all customs declarations made on your behalf. Until now the majority of declarations have been made via freight forwarders or brokers. The volumes in question to date have justified the outsourced method. However with Brexit looming companies are re-evaluating this procedure.
Traders who decide to process their own declarations are taking on the responsibility of doing the job accurately. There is a shortage of staff trained in customs processes and also a shortage of brokers in the market. Mistakes may be made with tariff codes, VAT rates or shipment information. Custran has come up with a solution to this problem.
Traders processing their own declarations can receive assistance from Custran when making their declarations. Very often declarations for traders do not change very much and can be replicated once done correctly at the beginning. Custran offer a checking service to traders where experienced Custran operators check the validity of your declarations. Errors are highlighted and the trader is helped to submit the final completed declarations themselves thereby saving money. This also provides a level of comfort to the trader.
What Does A Customs Agent Do – See Custran services for more.
More information on Ireland Customs procedures for Importing and Exporting can be found on Revenue’s online site here.
