Customs Brokers

What Does a Customs Brokers Do?

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Prepare and process import and export documentation according to customs regulations, laws, or procedures.
• 2Clear goods through customs and to their destinations for clients.
• 3Pay, or arrange for payment of, taxes and duties on shipments.
• 4Calculate duty and tariff payments owed on shipments.
• 5Request or compile necessary import documentation, such as customs invoices, certificates of origin, and cargo-control documents.
• 6Classify goods according to tariff coding system.
• 7Stay abreast of changes in import or export laws or regulations by reading current literature, attending meetings or conferences, or conferring with colleagues.
• 8Sign documents on behalf of clients, using powers of attorney.

Required Skills

• Active Listening
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Automated commercial environment software ACE
• Automated system for customs data ASYCUDA
• Customs records databases
• Electronic data interchange EDI software
• Materials requirement planning MRP software
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint