TradeLane

The importance of correct HS classification is evident. Wrong classification can lead to overpayment of duties and penalties. In some cases a Binding Tariff Information (BTI) can be used as a tool to assure that your goods are classified correctly.

What is a BTI?
A BTI is a written tariff classification decision, given on request, which is legally binding in all customs administrations within the European Community for up to six years from the date of issue. 

A BTI is intended to give you certainty about the correct tariff classification of your goods. It is not a legal requirement. A BTI provides you certainty that you, or your chosen representative, can declare the correct commodity code for your goods on the customs entry. It also helps you meet your legal obligations in respect of correct tariff classification ensuring that your liability for duties, VAT, and other charges are known in advance.

At Tradewin, we often hear importers say, “I know we will be audited. It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when. What can we do to be prepared?”

Our answer is always the same “conduct your compliance as if the when is now.”  A focus on the core areas of internal controls will assist you with audit preparedness:

The UN Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space defines a "space object" to include component parts of a space object as well as its launch vehicle and parts thereof.  All well and good for keeping track of things floating around in the stratosphere, but what if you made your space object here in the US using imported (read “duty-paid”) components.  That space object lifts off, and there go all those dollars in duty payments.  Can you get any of that back?

The business realities of global trade are constantly changing. Not only do importers and filers have to adapt to meet these realities, CBP does as well. The increasing complexity of global trade means more joint ventures, more complex import transactions, and simply many other situations that were not envisioned during the drafting of many import laws. These days many import transactions contain indeterminable information – that is at the time of import. More and more transactions involve adjustments to the price paid or payable that are not known until months after the import transaction occurs. Filers and ports of entry established processes and procedures for reporting these adjustments such as protests and prior disclosures. These local versions of “reconciliation” were problematic because the procedures varied from port to port, often had no legal basis, and lacked adequate financial controls.

In most operations, the compliance department audits and approves the duty bills as part of its responsibilities. The good news is that the U.S. government will accept many forms of payment for import duty and fees:

• U.S. currency and coins
• Bank drafts
• Cashiers' checks
• Certified checks
• Personal checks drawn on a U.S. financial institution
• Domestic travelers' checks
• U.S. Governments checks endorsed by the payee to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Money orders (U.S. Postal, bank, express or telegraph)

The bad news is that there’s no clear way for an international compliance group to show that these every-day compliance processes improve the bottom line. Or is there?