What is a Customs Bond and am I required to have one?
U.S. customs regulations provide that a customs bond be posted for each importation of merchandise entering the United States. When goods are imported into the United States, the importer is responsible for making the goods available to the U.S. Customs Service for inspection, ensuring that labeling and packaging requirements have been met, making transaction records available for audit and paying estimated or additional duties and fees, where applicable. The surety company issuing the bond guarantees that the importer will comply with U.S. customs regulations. The bond is not designed or intended to protect the importer, nor does it relieve importers of any of their obligations. The surety company issuing the bond can be called on for payment only when importers cannot or will not fulfill their obligations to the United States government; the surety company is entitled to full recovery of any loss from the importer. The surety company assumes the importer’s duties and the responsibili
