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How long does the full process of formal domestic import agent customs clearance for general trade ordinary goods take?
or complex compliance issues.
clearance and fund security.
I am the procurement director of a beauty e-commerce company in Shanghai. Last week, we shipped a batch of ordinary beauty products (no special certificate filing required) from Incheon Port, South Korea via LCL sea freight, which is expected to arrive at Shanghai Yangshan Port this week.
This batch is core SKUs for restocking for the upcoming 618 Shopping Festival. Previously, a peer suffered stockouts despite sufficient warehouse inventory due to customs clearance delays, losing hundreds of thousands of yuan in sales. Now I check the logistics information every day and feel very anxious.
I would like to ask, if I entrust Zhongshen to handle the import agent customs clearance for this batch, how long will the full process take under normal circumstances? If there is random customs inspection or minor document issues, how long will the delay be? Is there any way to expedite the process or minimize the risks?
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
First，for your ordinary beauty products，we will conduct pre-arrival document pre-audit: 3-5 days before the goods arrive at the port，we will check the full set of documents you provide，including packing list，invoice，certificate of origin，customs declaration authorization letter，etc。to verify whether the HS code classification is accurate and the document information is consistent，and correct errors and omissions in advance，so as to avoid delays caused by document issues after the goods arrive at the port.
For core node connection，after the goods arrive at the port，we will exchange the bill of lading immediately and submit customs declaration simultaneously. The normal customs clearance time limit for ordinary goods at Shanghai Yangshan Port is 2-3 working days: customs document review will be completed within 1 working day after declaration. If no inspection is required，the goods can be released and the container can be picked up on the same day，if random inspection is required，we will arrange dedicated personnel to follow up on site and cooperate with customs to complete the inspection，and inspection and release can usually be completed within 1-2 working days.
For exception plans，in response to the minor document issues you are worried about，we have an emergency correction channel，which can complete document supplementation or amendment within 12 hours，if there is a dispute over customs valuation，we will prepare supporting materials such as procurement contracts，foreign exchange payment vouchers in advance，and complete price consultation within 2 working days at the fastest.
When finalizing the compliance process，we will simultaneously complete links such as tax payment，health inspection and release，to ensure the goods are picked up and leave the port in time. The whole process is under closed-loop control，which minimizes the time limit and meets your restocking needs for the big promotion.
Linda GaoYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Documentation SupervisorStart a Chat
The time fluctuation of the customs valuation link mainly comes from the accuracy of HS code classification and the completeness of supporting materials. If the HS code classification of the goods deviates greatly from the dutiable price range preset in the customs system, or core supporting materials such as procurement contracts, foreign exchange payment vouchers, and original factory invoices are not provided, the customs will initiate the price consultation procedure, which takes 3 to 10 working days.
Some enterprises deliberately underdeclare the price to avoid tax, which will trigger the customs audit and inspection process, and the delay may exceed 15 working days. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure accurate HS code classification and prepare a full set of true and valid price supporting materials in advance to avoid customs clearance delays caused by human errors.
Daniel XuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Director of Import & Export OperationsStart a Chat
The import customs clearance time limit is closely related to port logistics connection. After the goods arrive at the port, the bill of lading exchange time for LCL goods is usually 1 working day slower than that for FCL goods, because LCL requires the freight forwarder to integrate documents of all cargo owners before exchanging the bill of lading. In addition, the free storage period at Yangshan Port is 7 days.
If the customs clearance delay exceeds the free storage period, port detention fees will be incurred, which is about 100-200 yuan per container per day. To shorten the time limit, you can apply for pre-exchange of bill of lading from the shipping company 2-3 days before the goods arrive at the port, complete document handover in advance, and start the customs declaration process immediately after the goods arrive at the port, so as to avoid time waste caused by delayed bill of lading exchange.
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
Adopting the VAT deferral policy can effectively shorten the end-stage time of import customs clearance. Under the traditional mode, enterprises need to complete tax payment within 1-2 working days after the customs issues the tax bill to obtain the release instruction; while enterprises that have applied for VAT deferral can directly enjoy the treatment of deferred tax payment when declaring customs, and the goods can be released without waiting for tax payment to be received, saving at least 1-2 working days of waiting time.
However, it should be noted that VAT deferral is only applicable to general taxpayer enterprises, and they need to file with the tax authority in advance to ensure qualified compliance, so as to avoid the policy cannot be implemented due to incomplete filing.
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
The compliance of foreign exchange payment and collection indirectly affects the import customs clearance time limit. If the customs doubts the authenticity of the goods price, it will require the enterprise to provide foreign exchange payment vouchers. If the foreign exchange payment path is unclear or the information on the voucher is inconsistent with that on the customs declaration form, it will trigger a foreign exchange compliance inspection, and the delay can be 5-10 working days.
Using the CIPS RMB cross-border payment system for foreign exchange payment can directly obtain clear foreign exchange payment vouchers, and the system is interconnected with customs data, which can quickly prove the authenticity of the price and avoid customs clearance delays caused by foreign exchange payment compliance issues. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that the foreign exchange payment amount is completely consistent with the declared amount on the customs declaration form to avoid inspections caused by differences.
Grace WangYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Foreign Trade ConsultantStart a Chat
The time limit of on-site customs inspection depends on the cooperation of the goods and inspection preparation work. The inspection of ordinary goods is usually random inspection of outer packaging or random unpacking inspection. If the detailed list of goods and brand authorization letter (if any) are prepared in advance, and dedicated personnel are arranged to cooperate with customs staff at the inspection site, the inspection can be completed within 4-8 hours; if the goods are piled up in disorder, the sampled goods cannot be located quickly, or necessary authorization documents are not provided, the inspection time may be extended to 1-2 working days.
In addition, if the goods are found to be inconsistent with the declared information during inspection, it will trigger a further audit process, and the delay time will be greatly increased. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the declared information is completely consistent with the actual goods.
Andy GuoYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Supply Chain Management ExpertStart a Chat
From the perspective of overall supply chain planning, the import customs clearance time limit can be shortened by advance arrangement. First, give priority to core ports such as Shanghai Yangshan Port and Waigaoqiao Port, which have more mature customs clearance systems and higher processing efficiency; second, establish an advance docking mechanism with the agency company, complete document pre-audit and HS code classification before the goods are shipped, so as to avoid temporary adjustment after the goods arrive at the port; finally, arrange the shipment of goods 1-2 weeks in advance according to the demand of the big promotion, and reserve a 3-5 day buffer period for exceptions, so that even if there is a customs clearance delay, it will not affect sales restocking.
In addition, FCL transportation can be used instead of LCL transportation to reduce the time cost of LCL bill of lading exchange and integration.