If you're asking this question - you're not alone. The process of importing is an incessantly complex and time-consuming chain; it involves paperwork, making payments to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and staying up to date with the numerous rules and regulations of importing. The role of a Customs Broker is arguably the most important link in this chain, acting as the liaison between the Federal Government's Revenue Division and an Importer. Whether you're shipping cotton balls from China or marble slabs from Italy, a Customs Broker facilitates the importing process for you, allowing you to better focus your attention and time on managing business.

If you want to get technical (if not, skip to paragraph 4), all goods that arrive into the U.S. must be declared to CBP. A Licensed Customs Broker (LCB) has authority granted by the Federal Government to review each commodity and apply the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) numeric code in the form of an Entry to CBP.

Each HTS code corresponds with an applicable duty rate the government has deemed appropriate based on the item and the country of origin. You can find a complete list of calculations on the document, "Entry Summary" filed by the Customs Broker. The broker then facilitates the payment of the Duty, Taxes, and Fees to CBP on behalf of the importer.

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If  you've made it this far, you may be asking, "Do I need a Customs Broker?" If so, the answer is almost always, "YES!" Finding a reliable Customs Broker means you will have substantial guidance from classifying as per the HTS to facilitating on-time payment to CBP. Brokers can also assist with mitigating fines levied in the event that something hasn't gone according to plan.