Strictly speaking, legislation of the Russian Federation and the Customs Union contains no such thing as customs clearance goods”, replacing it with the expression “customs clearance”. In practice, speaking of customs clearance, they imply a series of actions aimed at legalizing a particular batch of goods. In other words, specific objects material assets after passing through this procedure, they can be freely moved, sold or used for any lawful purpose in the territory of the country of their importation.
Exists two types of foreign trade operations, each of which differs in certain nuances of the customs procedure:
- export - export outside the country of origin (current owner);
- import - the importation of goods into the territory of the state for the purpose of use or further resale.
In this way, customs clearance of goods is necessary in any case: whether a particular object is imported into the territory of the state or leaves it. It should be noted that customs clearance of any goods usually takes place twice: in the country of departure and in the country of the recipient.
Customs clearance for export
At sale of goods outside the state, where the manufacturing company is located, customs clearance of goods for export is required. This procedure includes the preparation of a package of documents confirming the safety and grounds for the export of material assets outside the country, as well as the payment of all necessary fees, charges and taxes.
In many states (including the Russian Federation), export goods exempt from taxation, except for the payment of the relevant customs duties and excises.
In addition to export for the purpose of sale, the export regime may be the logical conclusion of other customs regimes: temporary export or processing outside the customs territory. In both cases, customs clearance of goods takes place according to general scheme set for all export operations.
Customs clearance when importing goods
In its turn, import operations (import) are usually much more tightly regulated by the host state. It is connected, first of all, with factors of support of own producer. It is possible to produce imported goods on the territory of the Russian Federation according to several schemes:
- Free circulation (domestic consumption) - provides for the possibility of storage, sale and movement across the territory of the state, requires the provision of a number of key documents and the payment of customs duties.
- Conditional release. In this case, the customs clearance of the goods is usually not yet completed (all required documents all fees and taxes have not been paid in full). In this option, the recipient company stores the goods in its warehouse, but is not entirely free to dispose of them (sell, donate, use, etc.)
From a paperwork point of view, apply import mode has these features.
Customs clearance of cargo is a formal action in connection with the crossing of the customs border by vehicles and goods, for example, cargo from China, during which documents are drawn up and appropriate payments are made. It is necessary to understand in detail what customs clearance means in terms of the procedures carried out in order to fend off (prevent) possible surprises.
Procedure for customs clearance of imported goods
One of the most powerful cargo traffic is freight from China. Products made in this country:
- makes a profit;
- relatively cheap;
- quality in some cases.
Customs clearance of imports from China, when, for example, shoes (ugg boots for men) are purchased, begins at the stage of export clearance of customs documents. They are trained in accordance with the laws of the Celestial Empire. Customs clearance also includes the procedure for acceptance vehicle. All the nuances of the export from China and the import of cargo into Russia should be coordinated with the requirements of the customs legislation of both countries in force at the time of crossing the borders.
Customs clearance of cargo (goods) from China begins as soon as the issue of collecting a complete set of accompanying documents is resolved, for example:
- packing list;
- invoice;
- transaction passports;
- application contract;
- specifications;
- bill of lading.
These are fundamental documents. The procedure for customs clearance of goods, cargo may require additional paperwork, depending on its characteristics. For example, you may need:
- phyto-certificates (for plants);
- sanitary and epidemiological conclusions (for animals), etc.
Of course, they will not be necessary when, for example, ugg boots are imported in bulk from China. Full customs clearance of imported goods involves several stages. First, the products are registered with the customs authority and placed in its warehouse. Including provided and issued:
- customs value declaration;
- transport and cargo accompanying documents;
- licenses;
- certificates of conformity and origin for the cargo;
- certificate of a participant in foreign economic activity;
- cargo declaration, etc.
From the moment the shipment arrives at the customs clearance area, all submitted documentation and the data entered into it are checked. At the next stage, the advance payment is debited taking into account the current customs tariffs:
- taxes;
- fees;
- duties.
The customs clearance zone assumes that the cargo is in it until the officials complete the verification of the completed documentation. The cost of passing the customs border is also determined by:
- weight and overall characteristics of the party;
- commodity group of cargo;
- terms of delivery Incoterms.
The shipment has passed customs clearance, which means the following:
- products leave temporary storage facilities;
- follows to the destination.
Features of customs clearance of cargo
The most important condition for the successful release of a consignment of goods into the territory of the state is the correct execution of all documentation at the time of registration at the customs border. To do this, you will need to use a lot of Russian and Chinese regulatory and reference materials, classifiers and other documents. The key is correct and complete information about the cargo.
If there are any inaccuracies regarding specifications products, this may cause a delay in delivery up to the confiscation of the lot. What is the customs clearance of goods - brokers are well aware, who, having a license, on their own behalf, carry out the entire cycle of operations to ensure the unimpeded passage of goods across the border in the interests of clients. Their experience allows us to solve the problem, regardless of whether the client in China decided to buy women's uggs (uggs) or goods from another group.
Legislation often changes requirements, and customs brokers are aware of all innovations. This allows them to correct the accompanying documents of the cargo in a timely manner and help its owners avoid problems at the border.
Keeping track of the status of the shipment does not always mean understanding what is happening with the package right now. This is due to complex definitions in tracking mode that are incomprehensible to ordinary recipients. This material will tell you about the status “Customs clearance on import has begun” - what does this state of shipment to Aliexpress mean?
What does this status mean?
“Customs clearance on import has begun” is an important status when tracking the track number, which indicates that the parcel is undergoing customs control and checking that documents comply with all shipping standards.
Customs clearance is often called a word more familiar to the mass consumer - customs clearance. This process goes through every shipment, whether it is a product from AliExpress, Pandao, Joom or a large number of materials purchased in bulk. Naturally, companies do not carry out the procedure on their own - this only delays customs clearance, and hence the arrival time of the shipment to the recipient.
How does customs clearance work when importing, how long does it take
Due to the limited delivery time and the complexity of the “Customs Legislation of the Russian Federation”, intermediaries are involved in the customs clearance procedure. They are called brokers, agents.
Such representatives, by written agreement, receive a power of attorney to manipulate the documentation, permission to fill out forms on behalf of the customer. The sender (in the case of Ali, a regular seller) pays for the procedure in advance.
Customs clearance includes the following steps:
- Immediate arrival of the parcel at the checkpoint.
- Calculation of the stipulated duties, preparation of the necessary certificates, documents for goods imported into the territory of Russia (most often, it is implemented in advance to save time).
- filling required documents agents, checking the correctness of the previously specified information in accordance with the TOR.
- Payment of fees, duties and taxes (may also be made before the arrival of the shipment).
- Successful continuation of the path of the parcel to the place of destination.
It should be understood that this procedure is fundamental in international shipments, so it may take some time. In the tracking status, all manipulations are displayed in an abbreviated form, without clarifications:
- Started/Completed customs clearance upon import.
- Transferred transport company for transportation.
Where does the package go next?
After the successful completion of the operation, the parcel continues its movement within the recipient's country (with the exception of transit through the state).
The next stage is the passage of one / several ASCs (Automated Sorting Center). This organization of the Russian Post is engaged in sorting, additional checking and logistical redirection of the shipment for the fastest arrival.
The last point includes competent route planning, including side factors - overloaded branches, delays. After processing by several departments postal services the parcel is delivered to the regional, and then the district post office. This stage is considered final - after its implementation, the recipient is sent a ZK notification of the arrival of the parcel / parcel post / registered letter.
How long is left to wait?
On average, the stage under consideration takes from several days to a week - provided there are no problems with the documentation, and the mandatory payments are paid on time.
Further movement of the parcel (without delays) - on average 1-2 weeks, depending on the remoteness of the region from the checkpoint, the number of intermediate ASCs, and other sorting organizations. As a result, it remains to wait about 2-3 weeks, of course, in case of successful completion of each of the stages of verification / redirection.
Conclusion
The time spent on customs clearance during import also depends on the reliability of the broker - we recommend buying goods in trusted online stores, from sellers with a high rating.
In this case, there is a great chance of a verified and well-established shipment, the availability of document templates, and the competent implementation of each stage of the movement of the parcel to the recipient. We hope this material has helped to understand the concept of this shipment status and related issues.
What is customs clearance? In legislative acts Russian Federation or the Customs Union, this procedure is called "customs clearance", and in colloquial speech it is most often called "customs clearance". However, since the name customs clearance has successfully taken root and is used in everyday communication, this particular phrase will be used further. The answer to the question what does customs clearance mean implies a sequence of actions performed in order to legalize a consignment on the territory of the state after crossing the state border.
As a result of carrying out the actions described below, the goods on legal basis crosses the border and can then be freely used, moved or sold. Customs legislation is characterized by a large number of subtleties and nuances, so cargo owners often resort to the help of specialized companies, which are called customs representatives, agents or brokers.
Stages of customs clearance
The full customs clearance procedure involves the provision to the Customs Service of all documents necessary to confirm the value, origin and characteristics of the cargo crossing the border. This procedure is divided into a number of steps.
First stage
At the first stage, the goods are declared - filling out the customs declaration by the legal representative of the cargo owner or directly by the owner. Employees of the service at this stage control whether all columns of the document are filled in correctly and whether electronic version paper declarations. An electronic declaration can be submitted via the Internet. The cargo at this stage is placed in a temporary storage warehouse.
Second phase
At the second stage, the submitted package of documents is subjected to a thorough check. The compliance of all signatures and seals, the availability and authenticity of the necessary certificates, permits, licenses are controlled. In the absence of any document, customs officers have the right to request it from the owner. In case of detection of errors and inaccuracies, the declaration is corrected by the Customs Service. At the same stage, the correctness of the indication of commodity codes from single directory product range and an invoice for advance payment is issued.
The last stage consists in the calculation and deduction from the advance payment of duties, fees and taxes, which are calculated according to the current this moment tariffs. In the absence of an advance payment, the clearance of the cargo is suspended and penalties may be applied to the owner of the cargo. After the payment has been received and all the necessary financial transactions have been completed, the last action remains. The consignment of goods after the final check of documents is removed from the temporary storage warehouse for the line customs control for its further transportation. At this point, the last stage of customs clearance is considered completed.
When importing and exporting
All foreign trade operations are divided into two main types. Export or export of goods outside the country of origin and import or import of goods into the country for sale, use, etc. Customs clearance is required in both cases, but depending on the type foreign trade operation there are certain differences.
Export
Export customs clearance provides for the preparation of documents that certify the legality, safety and existence of grounds for the export of inventory items, confirm the fact of payment of all taxes and fees. Most of the states (including Russia) exempt export goods from taxation, the exporter pays only customs duties and excise duties, if necessary. Information and documents that must be provided to the customs authority are determined by Articles 159 and 163 of the Customs Code. The export of goods to countries that are members of the Customs Union is not limited, unless it is established by other legislative acts of the Russian Federation.
Import
The import of goods into the country is much more strictly regulated, which is primarily due to the need to support domestic producers. Consider what is customs clearance of goods upon import and how it is carried out. You can import goods into the territory of the Russian Federation following one of two schemes. Import for free circulation involves the full execution of all documents, the payment of fees and charges, and then the transfer from the temporary warehouse of the goods to the owner for further movement, storage, sale or consumption.
Conditional release is used in case of provision of a preliminary package of documents and an incomplete customs clearance procedure. In this case, the goods can be stored at the recipient's warehouse, but until all the required documents are completed and the customs service confirms that all financial payments have been received, the owner does not have the right to dispose of this consignment at his own discretion. Documents and information to be submitted to customs service, are specified in articles 210 and 211 of the Customs Code. Import duties include excises, import customs duties and fees, value added tax.
Customs legislation
Export procedures and the amount of duties are regulated by the Government of the Russian Federation. The work of customs authorities is determined by the Customs Code Customs Union, the laws "On Customs Regulation in the Russian Federation" and "On Customs Tariff". The amount of duties for export operations is approved by the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC).
It should be borne in mind that during customs clearance, in addition to the main legislative acts, a large number of normative documentation, internal instructions, guidelines and others, which leads to the emergence of various conflicts, the resolution of which requires experience in this field. Enterprises that carry out import-export operations irregularly, and do not have lawyers with experience in dealing with customs, most often resort to the help of experienced customs brokers. Qualified customs brokers can act as guarantors of the passage of a consignment of goods through all customs procedures without delays and delays, provided that the goods have all the required documents.
Terms of customs clearance
Companies that do not have experience with customs often do not know how much there is a customs cleaning and how you can influence the timing of this operation. If the owner of the goods or his legal representative correctly filled out the customs declaration, provided the entire package of necessary documents, made the payments required by law on time and in full, then the average time for customs clearance is 3-5 business days.
However, the following points may affect the change in terms in the direction of their increase:
- financial disagreements that exist between the enterprises participating in the procedure
- lack of mandatory permits from any authorities
- the presence of errors in the documents submitted to the customs authority
In the event of one or more of the problems listed above, the time for customs clearance can be significantly increased. Lack of experience in processing documents or interacting with customs officers can also lead to additional delays.
Features of customs clearance in neighboring countries
Details of customs clearance in the Republic of Belarus from Belpostavka.
Details about customs clearance in the DPR on the video:
Reducing risks during customs clearance of goods
In order to reduce the risks arising in the process of customs clearance, the company can invite an experienced employee with all the necessary knowledge to the staff, or outsource this area of work and choose a specialized broker company with the appropriate license. In the case of a constant flow of goods that requires customs clearance, it would be logical for the company to have its own legal department dealing with interaction with customs authorities. If customs operations in the company's activities occur infrequently, the best way to reduce risks at the stage of customs clearance would be to contact a licensed customs broker.
Unprofessional communication with customs can lead to significant losses in the form of fines or additional duties, increased clearance times and even confiscation of goods. A thorough knowledge of the current legislation and rich experience in successfully passing through customs procedures for various goods imported from different countries allow qualified brokers to provide significant assistance in carrying out all necessary customs actions in the shortest possible time, to ensure the legal minimization of payments. Customs clearance of goods is rightfully considered a complex and responsible operation, containing many pitfalls that can lead to temporary and financial losses. Therefore, in order to successfully overcome all possible difficulties, it is worth choosing a reliable broker company with a proper reputation, experience in working with the required categories and groups of goods. The best option there will be a full turnkey service, which will include both transportation and customs clearance itself. It is also recommended, when choosing a firm, to give preference to one that has experience successful work with the customs office in the area of operation of which the proposed operations for the import or export of goods will be carried out.
