Your Broker Knows Blog

Spring Cleaning: Tips on How to Prepare for an Audit
Breanna Leininger

With tax season still fresh on everyone’s mind, now is the perfect time to test your importer health. When it comes to taxes, most businesses scrutinize their internal processes every year to help keep things running smoothly and avoid the worst effects of a potential audit - often going so far as to hire an outside consultant to serve as a kind of test auditor.

April 26, 2024
How CBP Keeps A Close Eye On Relationships Within The Customs Transaction
Breanna Leininger

This week, we thought we would explore a little-known US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulation on relationships: what is the relationship between the Importer of Record and the international seller? In other words, are they Related Parties?

March 21, 2024
Corporate Identity Theft and the Limits of Prior Disclosure
Breanna Leininger

Rarely does a single hole sink an entire ship, and never has that been more true than in the mini case study we have for you today. There are many valuable issues tackled in this one, including: Is corporate identity theft a real thing?

March 7, 2024
Why Is Customs Classification Important - A Cautionary Tale
Breanna Leininger

For those who don’t know what ‘classification of goods’ at Customs is, it is the declaration, in precise detail, of the exact nature of an import. It is a process that uses a sophisticated system referred to as the ‘Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System” or the HS Code.

February 22, 2024
How Does Duty Drawback Work?
Misty Gibbins

Before we begin with this week’s blog post, there are a few questions you should answer: Are you a commercial importer importing into Canada or the US? Do some or all of your imports fall under one of the following categories? They are imported and then later exported as-is.

February 8, 2024
Grow Your Import Knowledge With the 2024 PCB Learning Center
PCB Group

It’s a new year filled with opportunities for those ready to seize them. The calendar of 2024 trade education courses is up at the PCB Learning Center, so if you have been waiting for the chance to level up your international trade game, this is opportunity knocking. Whether you are a long-time importer looking to brush up on the fundamentals or a brand-new business hoping to get started on the right foot, we have the track record and industry leaders to keep your skills sharp in the ever-changing world of international trade. 

February 1, 2024
Shipping Gifts Into The US? Here Is What You Need To Know
Misty Gibbins

Each year around this time, consumers ship gifts to clients, friends and family. If these gifts are crossing into the US from a foreign country, there are a few things you should know.

November 30, 2023
It’s Time to Renew Your Free Trade Agreement Documents
PCB Group

If you are already a business professional who knows what a USMCA or CUSMA Certificate of Origin is, what its benefits are, and

October 19, 2023
The Importance Of An Ironclad Record Keeping System
Aimee Miller

In today's compliance driven world, where US Customs is enforcing rules more than ever and issuing penalties, importers are left wondering how...

September 28, 2023
Merchandise Processing Fee 2023
Aimee Miller

Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) | So you have just cleared your first shipment into the U.S. and the prospects for increasing exports to the U.S. are high; your business plan is coming together.

August 10, 2023