A customs brokerage fee is a charge for preparing, submitting and managing customs-clearance work on behalf of an importer or exporter. It is separate from customs duty and import tax, although one invoice may include all three.
What can the fee cover?
Services may include document review, tariff classification support, entry filing, communication with customs, duty advancement, permit coordination and release follow-up.
How is it priced?
Pricing may be fixed per entry, tiered by line count, based on shipment value or supplemented by disbursement and after-hours charges. Request an itemized schedule.
Illustrative clearance cost
If a shipment incurs a $150 brokerage fee, $40 documentation fee and a 2% duty-advancement fee on $3,000 of duty, the service-related cost is $250: $150 + $40 + $60. The $3,000 duty itself is separate.
What should an importer verify?
Confirm which filings are included, who determines classification, whether corrections cost extra, how duties are funded and which charges are third-party pass-throughs.
What should the record contain?
Keep the broker, entry number, classification, customs value, duty and tax, service fees, supporting documents, release result and any post-entry adjustment.
