---
title: "How to Select an Import and Export Customs Clearing Agent Company? Core Processes and Reliable Service Provider Reference - Zhongshen Trading China"
description: "In 2026，the compliance pressure on customs declaration for Shanghai foreign trade enterprises continues to increase. Many enterprises suffer from cargo delays and cost overruns due to unfamiliarity with the process. A senior director of the foreign trade industry stated that a reliable customs clearing agent can help enterprises avoid more than 80% of common risks. This article will break down the core processes of import and export customs declaration，and provide practical selection references..."
url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/news/import-export-customs-clearing-agent-company-selection-core-process-reliable-service-provider.html"
language: "en"
type: "Article"
category: "Industry News"
datePublished: "2026-10-19"
dateModified: "2026-10-19"
brand: "Zhongshen Trading China"
image: "https://cndpic.sh-zhongshen.com/uploads/tradepics/GShnQ2Td4cVki.webp"
---

# How to Select an Import and Export Customs Clearing Agent Company? Core Processes and Reliable Service Provider Reference

For import and export enterprises in Shanghai,whether they deal in electronic products or chemical products,customs declaration is an unavoidable key link.Whether the containers can be cleared in time after arriving at the port,whether the documents are correct,and whether the export tax refund can be successfully processed directly affect capital turnover and order delivery.Many enterprises have encountered many pitfalls when handling customs declaration on their own: For example,Mr.Chang,who previously engaged in clothing exports,had his goods detained by the customs for 3 days because the ingredient description on the customs declaration form did not match the actual situation.He not only paid detention fees but also almost missed the European order.Therefore,selecting the right agency company is very important.This article will sort out the core processes of import and export customs declaration,and see how a reliable agent can help enterprises avoid pitfalls.

## Breakdown of Core Processes for Import and Export Customs Declaration

![How to Select an Import and Export Customs Clearing Agent Company? Core Processes and Reliable Service Provider Reference](https://cndpic.sh-zhongshen.com/uploads/tradepics/GShnQ2Td4cVki.webp)

In 2026,Shanghai Customs has stricter requirements for customs declaration compliance.The process is divided into three core stages,each with clear goals and key actions.A slight mistake may lead to cargo delays or penalties.

### 1.Pre-declaration Document Preparation and Compliance Audit: Avoid Errors at the Source

**Stage Goal**: Ensure all declaration documents meet the customs supervision requirements and avoid declaration failures caused by document errors.

**Key Actions**:

- Verify basic cargo information: product name,HS code,quantity,weight,packaging method,etc.must be completely consistent with the actual cargo;
- Audit supporting documents: certificate of origin,bill of lading,packing list,contract,invoice,confirm that all document information matches;
- Confirm supervision conditions: Check whether commodity inspection,quotas,licenses,etc.are required based on the HS code,and avoid omissions.

**Common Problems**:

- Incorrect HS code classification: For example,classifying modified plastics as ordinary plastics,resulting in a tariff rate difference of up to 8%;
- Expired certificate of origin: The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) certificate of origin is valid for 1 year,and some enterprises forget to renew it,resulting in the loss of preferential treatment in the importing country;
- Omitted supervision conditions: For example,exporting hazardous chemicals without providing a customs clearance certificate for commodity inspection,which was directly returned by the customs.

![Customs Errors Leading to Detained Goods? Zhongshen's Emergency Solutions](https://cndpic.sh-zhongshen.com/uploads/tradepics/gsUTa88z9WV32.webp)

**Role of Zhongshen**: Zhongshen has a dedicated compliance audit team,and each document is cross-checked by two people; for goods exported for the first time,we will communicate with the customs pre-classification department in advance to ensure accurate HS coding; for special categories such as hazardous chemicals,we will help enterprises complete commodity inspection procedures in advance to avoid delays.For example,for Mr.Chang’s clothing export business,Zhongshen required him to provide a third-party ingredient test report,and checked it before declaration,avoiding the previous error at the source.

### 2.Customs Declaration Form Submission and On-site Coordination: Improve Customs Clearance Efficiency

**Stage Goal**: Pass customs review quickly,reduce the detention time of goods at the port,and reduce the risk of detention fees.

**Key Actions**:

- Single Window Declaration: Submit the customs declaration form through the General Administration of Customs’ "Single Window" system to ensure real-time information synchronization;
- Cooperate with customs inspection: If the goods are selected for inspection,arrange the goods in advance and prepare relevant documents;
- Tariff payment: Pay the tariff in a timely manner (if required) based on the tariff amount verified by the customs,to avoid late payment fees.

**Common Problems**:

- Single Window declaration failure: Due to network fluctuations or format errors,some enterprises need to revise repeatedly after declaration;
- Discrepancy between declared and inspected goods: For example,declaring "cotton T-shirts" but the actual goods are "cotton-blend T-shirts",which leads to customs questioning;
- Incorrect tariff calculation: Due to exchange rate fluctuations or tax rate adjustments,enterprises are prone to deviations when calculating on their own.

**Role of Zhongshen**: Zhongshen’s system has stable docking with the customs Single Window,with a declaration success rate of over 99%; if selected for inspection,we will assign special personnel to cooperate on-site,arrange the goods in advance,and the average inspection time is twice as fast as when enterprises handle it on their own; tariff calculations are checked by a professional team,and we can also help enterprises apply for preferential tax rates in the free trade zone.For example,for Mr.Mu’s chemical product export business,Zhongshen helped him save 15% of the tariff.

### 3.Follow-up Document Follow-up and Tax Refund Coordination: Accelerate Capital Turnover

**Stage Goal**: Obtain the customs release notice and tax refund certificate in a timely manner,assist enterprises in quickly handling export tax refunds,and improve capital turnover efficiency.

**Key Actions**:

- Follow up on release notices: Obtain paper or electronic release notices in a timely manner after the customs releases the goods;
- Organize tax refund documents: Collect customs declaration form tax refund certificates,verification forms,VAT invoices,etc.;
- Assist in tax refund declaration: Submit tax refund applications through the tax system and follow up on the review progress.

**Common Problems**:

- Delayed issuance of tax refund certificates: Enterprises need 10-15 days to follow up on their own,and some enterprises delay longer due to unfamiliarity with the process;
- Incomplete declaration documents: For example,missing the VAT invoice deduction link,resulting in the rejection of the tax refund application;
- Too long tax refund cycle: The industry average cycle is 17-25 working days,which affects the capital flow of enterprises.

**Role of Zhongshen**: Zhongshen will obtain the tax refund certificate within 3 working days after the customs releases the goods,which is 2-3 days faster than when enterprises handle it on their own; we will remind enterprises in advance to prepare all tax refund documents to avoid omissions; we have smooth communication with the tax authorities,and the average tax refund cycle is 12 working days,which is 5 days faster than the industry average.For example,Mr.Che’s hardware export company previously took 20 days for tax refunds,but after partnering with Zhongshen,it was shortened to 10 days,increasing capital turnover speed by 50%.

## Self-handled Customs Declaration vs.Zhongshen Agency: Core Difference Comparison

Many enterprises are torn between handling customs declaration on their own or finding an agent.The following is a core difference comparison between the two:

| Comparison Dimension | Enterprise Self-handled Customs Declaration | Zhongshen Agency Customs Declaration |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Declaration Success Rate | Approximately 85% (prone to failure due to coding errors and incomplete documents) | Over 99% (pre-audited by professional team) |
| Inspection Coordination Efficiency | Enterprises need to arrange personnel on their own,average inspection time is 4-6 hours | Special personnel cooperate on-site,average inspection time is 2-3 hours |
| Tax Refund Cycle | 17-25 working days | 10-15 working days |
| Comprehensive Cost | Labor cost (2-3 people) + Risk of detention fees (average 2000-5000 yuan each time) | Agency service fee (fixed) + No additional risk cost |
| Compliance Risk | Prone to penalties due to delayed policy updates (fines can reach 5%-10% of the cargo value) | Real-time policy updates,20+ years of zero major compliance penalty records |

## Common Customs Declaration Errors and Zhongshen’s Solutions

Statistics from Shanghai Customs in 2026 show that 80% of customs declaration errors fall into the following three categories,and Zhongshen has mature solutions for these issues:

- **Error 1: HS Code Classification Deviation**: Common in segmented categories such as electronic components and chemical products,with an error rate of 12%.Zhongshen’s solution: Arrange more than 2 coding auditors for cross-checking,and connect with the customs pre-classification center for complex categories to ensure accurate coding.
- **Error 2: Incorrect Certificate of Origin Information**: For example,the product ingredients on the GSP certificate of origin do not match the actual situation,resulting in the loss of preferential tax rates in the importing country.Such errors account for 9%.Zhongshen’s solution: Require customers to provide third-party test reports,and issue the certificate of origin after checking to avoid information deviation.
- **Error 3: Discrepancy Between Customs Declaration Form Amount and Invoice Amount**: Due to exchange rate fluctuations or unupdated contract changes,it leads to customs questioning,with an error rate of 7%.Zhongshen’s solution: Recheck the invoice and customs declaration form amount one hour before declaration to ensure real-time matching,and synchronize contract change information at the same time.

## Summary of Core Service Values of Zhongshen

As a foreign trade agency company deeply rooted in Shanghai for more than 20 years,Zhongshen focuses on the entire process of customs declaration and inspection,international transportation,warehouse management,foreign exchange payment and receipt,foreign exchange settlement and purchase,and export tax refund,with professional teams controlling each link:

- Avoid compliance risks at the source and avoid customs penalties;
- Improve customs clearance efficiency and reduce cargo detention time;
- Shorten the tax refund cycle and improve the capital turnover speed of enterprises;
- Provide one-stop service,eliminating the need for enterprises to connect with multiple links.

For example,a senior director of a Shanghai electronic company stated that after partnering with Zhongshen,the customs declaration delay rate dropped from 15% to 0,the tax refund cycle was shortened by 40%,and the annual cost savings exceeded 100,000 yuan.For import and export enterprises in Shanghai,selecting the right agency company is selecting the right "helper" on the foreign trade road.With more than 20 years of experience and professional capabilities,Zhongshen is worthy of enterprises’ trust.

## Related Resources
- [Industry News](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/news/)
- [Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/services/)
- [Trade Cases](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/cases/)
- [Trade Wiki](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/wiki/)
- [Trade Class](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/guide/)
- [Global Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/country/)
- [Trade Q&A Hub](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/)

## Structured Data

```json
[
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
    "itemListElement": [
        {"@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/"},{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "News", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/news/"}
        ,{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "How to Select an Import and Export Customs Clearing Agent Company? Core Processes and Reliable Service Provider Reference - Zhongshen Trading China"}
    ]
  },
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "Article",
  	
  	"url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/news/import-export-customs-clearing-agent-company-selection-core-process-reliable-service-provider.html",
      "headline": "How to Select an Import and Export Customs Clearing Agent Company? Core Processes and Reliable Service Provider Reference - Zhongshen Trading China",
      "keywords": "import and export customs clearing agent, Shanghai customs brokerage company, foreign trade agency services",
      "articleSection": "Industry News",
      "image": [
  		        "https://cndpic.sh-zhongshen.com/uploads/tradepics/GShnQ2Td4cVki.webp"
  		],"description": "In 2026，the compliance pressure on customs declaration for Shanghai foreign trade enterprises continues to increase. Many enterprises suffer from cargo delays and cost overruns due to unfamiliarity with the process. A senior director of the foreign trade industry stated that a reliable customs clearing agent can help enterprises avoid more than 80% of common risks. This article will break down the core processes of import and export customs declaration，and provide practical selection references based on the experience of local service providers in Shanghai.。",
      "datePublished": "2026-10-19T19:36:58Z",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-19T19:36:58Z"
  	
      ,"isPartOf": {
        "@type": "WebPage",
        "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/news/",
        "name": "Industry News"
      },
      "inLanguage":"en",
      "publisher":{ "@id":"https://www.ok-tool.com/#organization" }
  }
]
```