What Is Customs Brokerage?
Your bridge between international shipping and domestic delivery
Customs brokerage is the professional service of clearing goods through customs barriers for importers and exporters. A customs broker acts as your representative before U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), handling the complex documentation, classification, duty calculation, and regulatory compliance required to move goods across international borders.
Without proper customs clearance, your shipments can be delayed, detained, or seized at the border—costing your business time, money, and customer trust. Incorrect tariff classifications can result in overpaying duties or triggering penalties and audits. A professional customs broker ensures your goods clear efficiently and compliantly.
Continental TDS provides customs brokerage services through our network of licensed customs brokers, offering seamless integration with our freight forwarding, warehousing, and distribution services. We handle everything from routine imports to complex multi-country supply chains.
Customs Brokerage Services
Complete import and export compliance
Customs Entry Filing
We prepare and file all required customs entry documents with CBP electronically, ensuring accurate and timely clearance for your imports and exports.
Tariff Classification
Proper HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) classification of your goods ensures you pay the correct duty rates—not more than required and not less than owed.
Duty & Tax Calculation
Accurate duty and tax computation based on product classification, country of origin, trade agreements, and applicable exemptions to minimize your landed costs.
Regulatory Compliance
Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, EPA, FCC, CPSC, and other agency requirements. We manage permits, licenses, and partner government agency clearances.
Trade Agreements
Identify and apply applicable free trade agreements (USMCA, CAFTA-DR, etc.) to reduce or eliminate duties on qualifying imports from partner countries.
C-TPAT Compliance
Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism compliance for enhanced supply chain security, faster processing, and reduced inspections at the border.
How It Works
From shipment origin to cleared delivery
Document Collection
We gather commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, certificates of origin, and any special permits or licenses required for your shipment.
Classification & Filing
We classify your goods under the correct HTS code, calculate duties and taxes, and file the customs entry electronically with CBP before your shipment arrives.
Clearance & Release
CBP reviews the filing and releases the shipment. If any issues arise—holds, exams, or additional documentation requests—we resolve them promptly on your behalf.
Delivery Coordination
Once cleared, we coordinate domestic transportation to deliver your goods to their final destination—warehouse, distribution center, or end customer.
Customs Brokerage FAQs
While it is technically possible to self-file customs entries, the complexity of U.S. customs regulations makes professional brokerage strongly recommended for commercial shipments. Mistakes in classification, valuation, or documentation can result in delays, penalties, and seizures. A licensed customs broker ensures compliance and efficient clearance, typically saving more in avoided penalties and duty optimization than the brokerage fee costs.
Routine shipments with proper pre-filing can clear customs in a few hours to one business day. Shipments requiring additional review, examination, or partner government agency clearance (FDA, USDA, etc.) may take 2-5 business days. We minimize delays by filing entries in advance and resolving issues proactively before they become holds.
Yes. We review your product classifications to ensure you are not overpaying due to incorrect HTS codes, identify applicable free trade agreements that may reduce or eliminate duties, and advise on duty drawback programs, foreign trade zones, and temporary import bonds where beneficial. Proper classification alone can save importers thousands of dollars annually.
Ready to Get Started?
Simplify your international trade with expert customs brokerage from Continental TDS.