Four common misconceptions in the relationship between importers and customs brokers

Peter Mitchell Customs and Trade Consultant, Mitchell Trade Consulting Ltd.
June 16, 2022
Four common misconceptions in the relationship between importers and customs brokers

Image by Florian Godfroid from Pixabay

Importers often try to avoid customs clearance processes, relying entirely on the customs broker. On the one hand, the broker is a customs expert, possesses relevant experience and, ultimately, receives a commission for his/her work. It seems that the importer should not be involved in the processes managed by the customs broker. On the other hand, such self-exclusion can result in very unpleasant financial and reputational consequences. This article considers the most common misconceptions of importers in cooperation with customs brokers, which cause losses for both sides.
See price in
Add to Cart
Buy this article

Price VAT exclusive

View subscription plans
Item added to cart

{{ articleItem.title }}
Item added to cart

{{ subscription.title }}

Price VAT exclusive

Access all paid articles only for 25 EUR/mo

OR

Continue reading this article

Open for free

Comments ()

Similar content
en
Customs broker’s profession: views and news
24-07-2022

The previous article highlighted the role of the customs broker in checking compliance and lodging a customs declaration. There is much more that customs brokers do and/or can do in regard to … adapting their services to meet the challenges of an ever-changing trading and regulatory environment. We share views and news on various aspects of the profession in the UK, Germany and Canada.

Arne Mielken

€
customs representation
en
Customs broker’s profession: views and news
24-07-2022

The previous article highlighted the role of the customs broker in checking compliance and lodging a customs declaration. There is much more that customs brokers do and/or can do in regard to adapting their services to meet the challenges of an ever-changing trading and regulatory environment. We share views and news on various aspects of the profession in the UK, Germany and Canada.

Arne Mielken

€
customs representation
en, lt
Customs broker’s profession: national peculiarities in the EU
10-07-2022

The importance of the customs broker’s profession (also called ‘customs representatives’, ‘customs agents’) is growing in the supply chain. In the complex and ever-changing legal, technological, … and geopolitical environment, they serve traders, customs and society by acting as a trade compliance checkpoint before submitting data to customs. Knowledge and ethical requirements are very high; therefore, the standardisation theme is topical. We look at some standards and provide an overview of the national differences of several EU member states and share some related thoughts.

Assoc Prof Dr Momchil Antov

€
customs representation
en, lt
Customs broker’s profession: national peculiarities in the EU
10-07-2022

The importance of the customs broker’s profession (also called ‘customs representatives’, ‘customs agents’) is growing in the supply chain. In the complex and ever-changing legal, technological, and geopolitical environment, they serve traders, customs and society by acting as a trade compliance checkpoint before submitting data to customs. Knowledge and ethical requirements are very high; therefore, the standardisation theme is topical. We look at some standards and provide an overview of the national differences of several EU member states and share some related thoughts.

Assoc Prof Dr Momchil Antov

€
customs representation
en
Some thoughts on Customs role in sustainable development
01-07-2022

This article looks at how Singapore Customs strives to bring efficiency in the management of trade operations to lower their impact on the environment as well as at the initiatives it has taken … to support environmental policies.

compliance and risk management
en
Some thoughts on Customs role in sustainable development
01-07-2022

This article looks at how Singapore Customs strives to bring efficiency in the management of trade operations to lower their impact on the environment as well as at the initiatives it has taken to support environmental policies.

compliance and risk management
en
Financial consequences of indirect customs representation mode in the EU
26-06-2022

According to Article 18 of the Union Customs Code (UCC), the customs representative may carry out customs formalities by direct or indirect representation. Regardless of the method of representation … chosen, the representation contract remains a mandate contract, which obliges the importer to guarantee the customs representative the payment of import duties and taxes incurred by the operation. The choice of the mode of representation, on the other hand, is important when the importer has disappeared (or become insolvent) and has left the customs representative alone to deal with customs. Indeed, if the representative has acted as an indirect representative, the administration can claim payment of the entire debt from him... except perhaps in the case of VAT, because, according to the CJEU, solidarity in VAT matters is not automatically established.

Anouck-Préscillia Biernaux

€
customs representation
en
Financial consequences of indirect customs representation mode in the EU
26-06-2022

According to Article 18 of the Union Customs Code (UCC), the customs representative may carry out customs formalities by direct or indirect representation. Regardless of the method of representation chosen, the representation contract remains a mandate contract, which obliges the importer to guarantee the customs representative the payment of import duties and taxes incurred by the operation. The choice of the mode of representation, on the other hand, is important when the importer has disappeared (or become insolvent) and has left the customs representative alone to deal with customs. Indeed, if the representative has acted as an indirect representative, the administration can claim payment of the entire debt from him... except perhaps in the case of VAT, because, according to the CJEU, solidarity in VAT matters is not automatically established.

Anouck-Préscillia Biernaux

€
customs representation
lt
Solidari atsakomybė už skolą muitinei: tai „tik“ muito ar ir kitų mokesčių rizika?
22-05-2022

Atstovas muitinėje gali atstovauti klientą muitinėje tiesiogiai arba netiesiogiai. Pastaruoju atveju atstovas yra solidariai atsakingas už skolą muitinei. Europos Sąjungos Teisingumo Teismas … (ESTT) aktualiai išnagrinėtoje byloje atsakė į klausimą, ar netiesioginis atstovas solidariai atsako ne tik už muito, bet ir importo PVM sumokėjimą.

Jurgita Stanienė

€
customs representation
lt
Solidari atsakomybė už skolą muitinei: tai „tik“ muito ar ir kitų mokesčių rizika?
22-05-2022

Atstovas muitinėje gali atstovauti klientą muitinėje tiesiogiai arba netiesiogiai. Pastaruoju atveju atstovas yra solidariai atsakingas už skolą muitinei. Europos Sąjungos Teisingumo Teismas (ESTT) aktualiai išnagrinėtoje byloje atsakė į klausimą, ar netiesioginis atstovas solidariai atsako ne tik už muito, bet ir importo PVM sumokėjimą.

Jurgita Stanienė

€
customs representation
support@customsclear.net +37060177411 (EN, RU) 37066426393 (LT) +37064465553 (DE)
Login Sign up
Forgot password?

* Mandatory fields

By signing up you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Password reset

Check your e-mail, we sent you a link to reset your password.
Login with Google Login with LinkedIn
Contact us

Contact us

Thank you for report
Your email can be used only to contact you for problem details. It won't be used for advertising purposes
Maximum file size 6mb
File is too large