How to Get Customs Broker License
Customs brokers are persons that are licensed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to ensure the guidelines and regulations for importing and exporting are met. Brokers will submit the necessary information and payments to the CBP on behalf of their clients and will receive a fee for their services.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Ensure your business is legally established. You can establish your business as a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation. You can form a corporation online by going to your Secretary of State's website. Otherwise, you can speak with your certified public accountant or lawyer to establish the proper business for your needs.
-
2
Determine who in your company will be the customs broker. Each corporation, partnership or association must have a least one individually licensed officer to qualify for the company's license. The person must be a U.S. citizen, must be at least 21 years of age, cannot be a current federal government employee, and should possess good moral character.
-
-
3
Obtain the reference materials for the broker license examination. The test is based on the following materials: The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, Title 19, Code of Federal Regulations, Specified Customs Directives, and Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements document. You can find these reference materials on the U.S. International Trade Commission's website at hts.usitc.gov.
-
4
Take and pass the customs broker license examination. The customs broker license examination is an open-book test with 80 multiple-choice questions from various editions of import and export regulations and tariffs. The test is normally given at CBP service ports the first Monday in April and the first Monday in October. Be sure to bring proof of registration, a picture ID, and the recommended reference materials to the examination.
-
5
Submit your broker license application with the appropriate fees. You have within three years of the date you were informed you passed the customs broker license examination. Be sure to include a $200 application fee with your application. There may also be a fingerprint check and processing fee. Submit your application at the port where you want to conduct your customs business as a broker.
-
6
Consider joining any trade organizations to keep you trained and up-to-date or any changes in the customs industry. An example would be the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America Inc.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Also consider taking training classes to prepare you for the customs broker exam. There are many homestudy programs that can prepare you for the exam, such as www.logistics.com.
