5 Things to Know About Customs Surety Bond

During the process of importing merchandise into the US, customs surety bond plays a vital role. It is the backbone of making it legitimate and secure to clear customs entry. Customs bonds CA are kind of guarantee between the US government and importers that any revenue owing, taxes and fees will be paid by the importer whenever a claim is made or asked by the government for payment. In simple terms, bonds are a contract between three parties the bondholder (importer), insurance company/broker, and government (Customs and Border Protection or CBP).

For starters, it may be difficult to understand the intricate details, changes in policies, and encounter the volatile duties that are being levied by the US government on goods that are coming from foreign countries like China. However, you may get over this trade war as an individual but for companies, it is still tricky unless they appoint expert custom brokers, freight forwarders, and OTIs. So here in this article, you will learn the five important things about a customs surety bond.

1 - What are custom bonds?

As I already have thrown some light on the topic, customs bonds are simply a contract between importer, CBP, and insurance firm. They are necessary documents for commercial import of goods that are valued above $2,500.

2 - When do I need one?

With a customs surety bond, you ensure incumbent CBP officers and government that all duties, taxes, and fees associated with the shipment will be paid timely to the government. These bonds are mandatory when you’re importing goods into the US. For warehouse operators who tend to store imported products are also required to obtain customs bonds.

3 - Type of bonds

There are mainly two types of bonds when you plan to import through ocean vessels – Single Entry Bond and Continuous Customs Bond.

4 – Renewal

Single entry bonds only cover the one-time transaction of goods and must be filled at a specific port where the entry tends to be made final. It can’t be renewed and importers have to purchase a new one each time they import. On the other hand, continuous customs bond are cost-effective solutions that you only have to purchase for multiple transactions in a year. It remains active until the bondholder terminates it and automatically renews every year. Importers need to pay sureties or broker who write the bond on a yearly bases.

5 - Costs

The cost of a single transaction bond is defined by the CBP after assessing the merchandise. For continuous bonds, the minimum bond amount is usually $50,000 or 10% of duties and taxes paid by the importer in previous years. You can purchase a bond with the help of licensed freight forwarders or brokers at appropriate prices. Remember, you don’t have to pay the total bond amount but a few percentages of it as upfront.