What is Customs Compliance with Freight Forwarding?

Getting your shipment from one place to another isn’t always as simple as a good freight forwarder may make it seem. There are a number of obstacles that get in the way for both import and export. A key one of these challenges is customs compliance, as there are many regulations and pieces of legislation that surround goods of varying types as they enter and leave a country.

At Allegro Freight Forwarding, we have over forty years of experience in managing freight. This, combined with our trusted connections and full understanding of regulations and compliance, puts us in a unique position that allows us to deliver results.

In this article, we’ll be discussing the details behind customs compliance, the differences between a freight forwarder and a customs broker, and how to select the right forwarder to ensure your shipments are transported smoothly.

If you’re interested in our services, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’ll connect you with a named contact who can provide the solutions you need.

Customs compliance can be a daunting prospect, but it can be made simpler by breaking it down. To begin with, customs compliance is defined as the adherence to the trade regulations of the country that is receiving your goods – either through import or export. This by nature includes customs at the shipment’s destination.

In the UK, there are a number of organisations involved with border control such as:

• The HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
• The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• The Rural Payments Agency

These bodies oversee the regulations surrounding products that cross into the UK.

Funds need to be managed to deal with the bond guarantees that relate to duty and tax payments. Specialist software is used for communicating with the HMRC computer systems which are used for reports, records, and payments. These are some of the other hurdles freight forwarders face when dealing with customs compliance.

Freight forwarders can handle customs themselves. They are well suited to doing so, as the navigation of country borders and regulatory compliance is one of their primary functions. With a forwarder handling the legal side of things, the manufacturer can get on with their own interests with ease.

It may also be the case that a freight forwarder occasionally outsources the customs compliance with a trusted customs broker. In this case, there will be no noticeable change to the customer – just a smooth shipping journey.

Contact the team at Allegro Freight Forwarding for reliable shippers that can navigate customs for you.

While we have covered some of the regulatory bodies within the UK, it is important to note that there will be differences with other countries. Exporting your goods abroad to the USA, China, Europe, or anywhere else, will come with individual hurdles that need to be navigated by a specialist forwarder.

There is a regulation known as the UK Trade Tariff that details the requirements surrounding the import, export, and transportation of goods both in and out of the UK. It also sets out to consolidate and compare UK data with EU TARIC data (TARIC is the integrated tariff of the European Union).

A good freight forwarder, like Allegro, understands the customs and methods needed to comply with them for each country that they provide their services for. This all goes on in the background – all you need to know it that we’ve got you covered.

Customs brokers differ from freight forwarders in many ways. However, the main way that their functions are separate is that a customs broker cannot deal with the transportation of goods.

A customs broker focuses solely on the regulations involved with international trade. Among others, their services can include:

• Import & export
• Classification codes
• Origin rules

While a customs broker has specialist knowledge that enables compliancy with customs and regulations, they are not the only ones to have access to this expertise.

While there are differences between a freight forwarder and a customs broker, there doesn’t need to be for you. Use a reliable freight forwarding provider like Allegro to skip the hassle, leaving the details up to us. Find out more about our services.

Using a freight forwarder to handle your customs compliancy comes with a number of benefits over using a customs broker. These may include:

• Less administration
• Better communication
• Reduced costs
• Streamlined shipping
• Other services that may be included like warehousing

In particular, Allegro Freight Forwarding offers an end-to-end forwarding solution that is driven by our over forty years of experience and innumerable connections to reputable shippers and legislative bodies.

Start taking advantage of a freight forwarder’s benefits today by getting in touch with the team at Allegro.

The differences for import and export primarily come about due to the different countries involved. For example the UK Trade Tariff contains specific comparisons with customs processes in the EU, while other countries may by covered by the UK Global Tariff (UKGT) or have a specific tariff-rate quota (TRQ).

With Allegro Freight Forwarding’s seamless end-to-end supply chain management, you won’t even notice a difference between import and export. Simply provide us with your specifications and we can find a solution for you.

Integrate your logistics and freight forwarding suppliers by using the services offered by the Allegro group. We provide comprehensive cover that includes storage, shipping, customs compliance, warehousing, packing, picking, and distribution. We can take your product all the way from company to customer, with supply chains that conclude at port or door.

With an end-to-end system, you can relax without having to worry about complications with customs or other regulatory compliance. An all-in-one solution comes with a full understanding of your goods and their requirements across all stages of their journey, asking minimum input for exemplary output.