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How long does the full process of changing import and export agent take for foreign trade enterprises with in-transit cargo?
or complex compliance issues.
clearance and fund security.
As the person in charge of a Shanghai-based enterprise mainly engaged in cross-border trade of precision instruments, I completely broke up with my original import and export agent with whom I had cooperated for 3 years last week. They not only delayed the customs declaration time of my 3 batches of in-transit cargo, but also lost nearly half of the tax refund filing materials.
Now I am eager to switch to Zhongshen. A batch of high-precision instruments valued at 2 million euros will arrive at Yangshan Port next Monday, and there are only 10 days left until the deadline for this month's export tax refund declaration. I am completely swamped.
I just want to know how long it will take to fully complete the import and export agent change from submitting the complete documents, including customs record update, tax refund system linkage, and customs declaration authority handover of in-transit cargo. Will it cause cargo detention or customs detention? Can I complete all compliance switching before the tax refund deadline?
Victor SunYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Risk Control ManagerStart a Chat
The first step is the pre-document review process. We will complete the compliance check of all documents within 1-2 working days after you submit the materials. We will focus on verifying the original agent's customs record cancellation certificate，your enterprise's import and export operation qualification，the original bill of lading and power of attorney for customs declaration of the in-transit cargo，to ensure no omissions or non-compliant items and avoid stuck points in subsequent nodes.
For core node linkage，the customs import and export agent record change needs 3-5 working days to complete the system update. The switching of agent information in the tax refund system needs to be submitted to the tax authority for review simultaneously，which usually takes 2-3 working days. The handover of customs declaration authority for in-transit cargo will adopt the "parallel processing" mode - that is，while the record change is being processed，submit the temporary customs declaration authorization letter to the customs in advance，so that the goods can be declared directly upon arrival and avoid detention at the port.
For emergency plans，if the original agent delays providing the cancellation certificate or has document correction requirements，we will activate the emergency channel to assist you in submitting a statement to the customs and applying for temporary record priority. If there is a delay in the tax refund system review，we will simultaneously submit an application for deferred declaration to the tax authority to avoid incurring late payment fees.
The total time for final compliance completion is as fast as 7 working days to complete the entire process，and the maximum time does not exceed 15 working days if abnormal situations need to be handled. It can fully cover your tax refund deadline requirements and ensure smooth customs clearance of in-transit cargo.
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
The core of customs-side import and export agent change is the switching of the record subject. The original agent must first submit the cancellation record application, and then the new agent submits the new record application.
If the original agent cooperates, the cancellation application can complete the system review within 1 working day, and the document review for the new record takes 2-3 working days. For in-transit cargo, you can handle pre-declaration in advance with the new agent's temporary customs declaration authorization letter (which needs to be stamped with the enterprise seal and customs electronic signature) without waiting for the record to be fully completed, which can shorten the connection time of the customs declaration link to within 2 working days.
If the original agent does not cooperate, you can submit the "Agent Change Statement" and the termination agreement between both parties to the customs to apply for forced cancellation of the record. This process takes 5-7 working days, but you can simultaneously start the application for temporary customs declaration authority to avoid cargo detention.
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
The agent change for in-transit cargo needs to focus on the connection of cargo rights and customs declaration authority. If the goods have arrived at the port but have not been cleared, you must immediately submit a bill of lading exchange application to the shipping company to endorse and transfer the bill of lading to the new agent. This process takes 1-2 working days (depending on the shipping company's response speed). At the same time, you need to submit the new agent's customs declaration power of attorney to the terminal to ensure that the terminal can transfer the cargo's customs declaration authority to the new agent.
If the cargo is still in transit, you can ask the shipping company to change the notify party of the bill of lading to the new agent in advance to avoid notification delays after the goods arrive at the port. In addition, you need to simultaneously verify the new agent's port operation qualification to ensure that it can normally handle container pick-up, trucking and other procedures, and avoid additional costs such as detention fees and storage fees. The connection time of this link is usually 2-3 working days and can be processed in parallel with the customs record change.
Daniel XuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Director of Import & Export OperationsStart a Chat
For agent change involving tax refund linkage, you need to focus on the switching of the deduction subject of VAT input invoices. The input invoices that have been deducted by the original agent need to be transferred out, and the new agent needs to resubmit the deduction application for input invoices. This process takes 2-3 working days to complete the tax system update. At the same time, you need to transfer the uncompleted tax refund declaration materials of the original agent to the new agent, including export cargo customs declaration forms, foreign exchange verification forms, VAT special invoices, etc. The new agent needs to complete the organization and pre-declaration of the materials 3 working days before the tax refund declaration deadline.
If the tax authority requires a letter of investigation, you need to cooperate in providing relevant supporting materials. This process may be extended by 1-2 working days, but the review time can be shortened by submitting the pre-declaration application in advance. In addition, if the VAT deferral model is adopted, the deferral declaration subject needs to be changed to the tax authority simultaneously, and this process takes 1-2 working days to complete.
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
The agent change in the payment and receipt link needs to update the agent subject in the State Administration of Foreign Exchange's cross-border payment and receipt system simultaneously. The documents to be submitted include the enterprise's business license, import and export operation qualification certificate, agent change agreement, original agent's payment and receipt cancellation certificate, etc. The review time of this process is 2-3 working days.
If there are in-transit foreign exchange payment and receipt businesses, you need to submit the agent change notice to the bank in advance to switch the payment and receipt account to the new agent. This process takes 1-2 working days (depending on the bank's review speed). At the same time, you need to verify the new agent's payment and receipt qualification to ensure that it can normally handle foreign exchange settlement and purchase businesses and avoid foreign exchange fund retention.
In addition, you need to simultaneously update the notify party information of the SWIFT message to ensure that overseas customers can remit the payment to the correct account. The connection time of this link is usually 2-3 working days and can be processed in parallel with the customs record change.
Eric ZhouYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Manager of Foreign Exchange & Tax RebatesStart a Chat
The legal aspect of agent change needs to focus on the termination of the original agency agreement and the signing of the new agreement. The original agency agreement must clarify the time node of termination and the rights and obligations of both parties, including the handover responsibility of uncompleted businesses and the obligation to transfer materials.
This process takes 1-2 working days to complete the signing and notarization of the agreement (if required). The new agency agreement must clarify the scope, authority, fee standards, liability for breach of contract and other contents of the agency, especially the division of responsibilities for customs declaration and tax refund of in-transit cargo. This process takes 1-2 working days to complete the drafting and signing of the agreement.
In addition, you need to submit legal documents for agent change to customs, tax authorities and other departments, including termination agreements, new agency agreements, etc. The connection time of this process is usually 2-3 working days and can be processed in parallel with other links. If the original agent breaches the contract, you need to immediately initiate legal rights protection procedures, including sending lawyer's letters, filing arbitration, etc. This process may be extended by 3-5 working days, but the progress of rights protection can be accelerated by preparing relevant evidence in advance.
Kevin LinYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat
If the agent change involves on-site inspection of in-transit cargo, you need to ensure that the new agent has the qualification and ability for on-site inspection, including having qualified inspectors and being familiar with the customs on-site inspection process, etc. The new agent needs to submit the inspection application to the customs 1 working day before the goods arrive at the port and prepare relevant inspection materials, including cargo instructions, packing lists, invoices, etc. The on-site inspection time is usually 1-2 working days (depending on the type of cargo and the complexity of the inspection).
If the inspection is passed, you can directly handle the customs clearance procedures; if the inspection fails, you need to cooperate with the customs for further inspection or document correction, and this process may be extended by 2-3 working days. In addition, you need to simultaneously submit the new agent's inspection power of attorney to the terminal to ensure that the terminal can cooperate with the new agent to complete the on-site inspection procedures and avoid additional storage fees, detention fees and other costs.
Andy GuoYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Supply Chain Management ExpertStart a Chat
The tax refund audit link involved in agent change needs to focus on verifying the authenticity and compliance of the original agent's tax refund declaration materials, including export cargo customs declaration forms, foreign exchange verification forms, VAT special invoices, etc. This process takes 2-3 working days to complete the document review. At the same time, you need to transfer the uncompleted tax refund declaration materials of the original agent to the new agent. The new agent needs to complete the organization and formal declaration of the materials before the tax refund declaration deadline.
If the tax authority requires a letter of investigation, you need to cooperate in providing relevant supporting materials. This process may be extended by 1-2 working days. In addition, you need to simultaneously update the agent subject information in the tax refund system to ensure that the new agent can normally handle tax refund declaration and collection of tax refund funds. This process takes 1-2 working days to complete the system update. If the original agent has tax refund violations, you need to immediately submit a statement to the tax authority and cooperate with the tax authority in the investigation. This process may be extended by 3-5 working days, but the investigation progress can be accelerated by preparing relevant evidence in advance.
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
From the perspective of supply chain planning, the time for agent change can be shortened through parallel operations, including processing pre-document review, customs record change, tax system update, logistics connection and other links in parallel instead of in series, which can shorten the total time to 7-10 working days. At the same time, you need to evaluate the impact of agent change on the supply chain in advance, including the impact on cargo transportation, customs declaration, tax refund, payment and receipt and other links, and formulate corresponding emergency plans, such as preparing temporary customs declaration authorization letters in advance, communicating and coordinating with shipping companies, terminals, banks and others in advance, to avoid supply chain interruptions.
In addition, you need to simultaneously optimize the supply chain structure, including adjusting the cargo transportation route, selecting better logistics service providers, optimizing the tax refund and payment and receipt processes, etc., to ensure that the supply chain after agent change can operate more efficiently and compliantly. The planning time of this link is usually 1-2 working days and can be processed in parallel with other links of agent change.