Customs Brokers Continued…

First, a company must identify what goods will be imported or exported. Upon selecting a customs broker, the company must thoroughly communicate the details of what is being shipped. The broker will provide the business with the necessary port entry information including admission requirements, rates and costs of duties, taxes, and any requirements needed in order to lawfully ship. The customs broker will act as the business's agent and submit on the business's behalf all needed information and fees to the United States Customs and Border Protection for approval.

Becoming a customs broker

There are two requirements to become a customs broker: (1) The applicant must be a United States citizen and 21 years old; and (2) The applicant must pass the customs broker license exam and receive a customs broker license. Typically, the exam is given twice a year at a local Customs and Border Patrol office. The customs broker exam is open-book and tests the applicant's knowledge of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, Title 19 of the United States Code, Specified Customs Directives, and Customs and Trade Automated Interface requirements. The applicant must pass with a score of seventy-five percent or higher.

Once the applicant passes the test, she can apply for a customs broker license. To obtain the license, the applicant must go through a background check and the results must be approved by the Customs and Border Patrol port director. The port director then forwards the application to the Customs and Border Patrol Headquarters in Washington, D.C. where each application is reviewed and a decision for the license is made.

Once the applicant receives her license, she can apply for jobs with custom broker corporations or partnerships. If desired, the custom broker can also join a regional customs broker organization that provides up-to-date information on regulations and conduct congressional lobbying.

By Delinda Tamagni