What is meant by Customs clearance?
The term "customs processing" refers to the entire process of handling customs formalities for cross-border shipments of goods. This includes the preparation and submission of customs declarations, calculation and payment of duties and taxes, compliance with legal regulations, and communication with customs authorities. Effective customs processing ensures that imported and exported goods can move on time and in compliance with legal requirements.
Typical software functions in the area of "customs processing":
- Tariff Classification: Automatic classification of goods according to the Harmonized System (HS) to determine the correct tariff rates.
- Customs Declaration: Preparation and electronic submission of import and export documents to customs authorities.
- Compliance Checking: Verification of goods against international trade regulations and sanctions.
- Duty Calculation: Automatic calculation of duties, taxes, and other charges based on the value of goods, country of origin, and tariff classification.
- Document Management: Management and archiving of all relevant documents such as commercial invoices, certificates of origin, and waybills.
- Tracking and Monitoring: Monitoring the status of customs processing and real-time tracking of shipments.
- Reporting and Analysis: Generation of reports and analyses to monitor and optimize customs processes.
- Integration with ERP Systems: Seamless integration with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to synchronize orders, deliveries, and invoices.
Examples of "customs processing":
- Import Customs Processing: Handling of import formalities for goods entering a country.
- Export Customs Processing: Handling of export formalities for goods leaving a country.
- Transit Processing: Management of customs formalities for goods transiting through a third country.
- Temporary Import/Export: Handling customs formalities for goods temporarily imported or exported (e.g., exhibition equipment).
- Customs Warehousing: Management of goods stored in bonded warehouses until they are released for free circulation.