According to the United States Customs Service, most importers are not required to have a special license or permit. However, other government agencies may have conflicting policies that Customs must comply with. For a complete list of restricted merchandise, please contact the U.S. Customs Service. Both goods intended for personal and business use must pass the customs clearance. Depending on the commodity, a license or permit may be necessary for the importer.
All merchandise is subject to a customs duty unless a special exemption applies.
The merchandise carrier typically handles the notification. Customs will not legally accept the goods until the proper documentation is filed by the importer or the agent representing the importer. A shipment must be entered within 30 days of arrival or it is sent to a Customs warehouse to be held, at the importers cost, for up to six months. Four specific types of documentation are necessary to file a customs entry. At this juncture, the importer declares the tariff classification and pays the estimated duty and processing fee.