Customs, as one of the most important regulatory and enforcement institutions in international trade, plays a key role in controlling the entry and exit of goods, collecting duties and taxes, and facilitating legitimate trade between countries. Familiarity with customs concepts is essential for trading companies, exporters, importers, and international transportation operators.
1. Customs Clearance
It is the legal process of importing or exporting goods from a country’s borders, which includes providing documents, paying customs duties and taxes, inspecting, and obtaining an exit or entry permit.
2. Customs Declaration
It is an official form in which the owner of the goods or his representative records information related to the type, quantity, value, and origin of the goods and submits it to customs.
3. Customs Tariff
It is a table in which the import duty rate for each type of product is specified based on the tariff codes (HS Code). These rates are the basis for calculating import or export duties.
4. Customs Duties & Taxes
They are amounts that the government collects as taxes or duties on imported and sometimes exported goods. The purpose is to support domestic production and provide government revenue.
5. Transit of goods (Transit)
The passage of goods from the territory of one country to another without carrying out import or export formalities. Transit goods are transported from the entry border to the exit border only under customs supervision.
6. Customs Permit
Official authorization issued by customs for the clearance of goods after completing legal procedures, reviewing documents, and paying fees.
7. Customs Warehouse
A place under customs supervision where goods are held until final clearance or final disposition.
8. TIR Convention
It is an international road transport system that allows trucks to move goods across multiple borders without undergoing full inspection at each border, provided the customs seal is intact.
9. Customs Broker
An individual or company licensed by customs that, on behalf of the owners of goods, carries out matters related to clearance, declaration, and obtaining permits.
10. Preferential Tariff
It is a discount or exemption that is applied based on trade agreements between countries to facilitate exports and imports between them