Insights
Customs, in plain English
Practical guidance on compliance, tariffs, and duty savings, written for the people who move goods, not lawyers.
The Amazon FBA import guide for late 2026: your importer number, your bond, and September 18
Amazon won't be your importer of record, de minimis is gone, and on September 18 CBP starts voiding importer numbers with bad Form 5106 data. What FBA and e-commerce sellers actually need on file, what's a myth, and what to fix this week.
Read moreYou got a CBP Form 28 (or 29). Here's the clock, the fork, and the plan.
A CF-28 asks; a CF-29 tells. One runs on 30 days, the other on 20, and mixing them up is how importers get hurt. What each form is, how to answer, when a PSC or prior disclosure fits, and where the broker's lane ends.
Read moreHow the 2026 tariff layers actually stack: CBP's real sequence, and the myths to unlearn
Four Chapter 99 numbers on one entry line: what order they go in, why they don't compound, which carve-outs actually change the bill, where the Canada 50% stands, and the China '37.5%' myth, all cited to the primary documents.
Read moreLow-value shipments after de minimis: how the two entry paths actually work now
The $800 exemption is suspended in every mode and the flat 10% postal duty is gone. Here is exactly who files what, the monthly postal spreadsheet, the October 22 formal-entry trap, the September 22 escape hatch, and what it all costs, cited to the rules.
Read moreSection 122 refunds: the other tariff refund pool, and why nobody is being paid yet
A 10% import surcharge ran from February to July 2026. A court held it unlawful in May. As of August 30, 2026, not one dollar has been refunded to anyone, and most protest clocks haven't even started. Here's the accurate state of play and how to preserve a claim.
Read moreCBP Form 5106 enforcement: what to check before September 18
CBP will void importer of record numbers with inaccurate Form 5106 data starting September 18, 2026. A licensed customs broker explains what CBP actually checks, what the scary emails get wrong, and how to fix your record in time.
Read moreSwitching customs brokers without missing a shipment: a step-by-step guide
Switching brokers has a reputation for being painful. Here's what actually happens the week you switch (POA, bond continuity, CBP payment setup) and how to keep cargo moving.
Read morePartner customs brokerage for freight forwarders: how it actually works
What a forwarder keeps, what the broker owns, and how the client relationship and power of attorney stay clean when you partner with a licensed customs broker behind your freight.
Read moreSingle-entry vs. continuous customs bond: which one actually saves you money
A plain-English, break-even look at the two customs bond types, so you can tell which one fits your import volume instead of guessing.
Read moreHow to choose a customs broker: 9 questions before you sign a power of attorney
A vendor-neutral checklist for picking a customs broker, from license verification to how they handle classification, fees, and being reachable when it matters.
Read moreDe minimis is dead: what every small importer and e-commerce seller must do now
The $800 duty-free exemption is gone in practice and gone in law by 2027. Here's what changes for small and first-time importers, and the compliant path forward.
Read moreFive legitimate ways to lower your duty bill (and who should be checking them)
Importers often pay more duty than the law requires. Here are five strategies a proactive broker should be checking on your behalf.
Read moreThe customs fee most importers never notice: the duty-advance charge
Many brokers and carriers charge 2–5% just to advance your duty to CBP. Here's what the fee is, why it's often bigger than the brokerage fee, and how to make it disappear.
Read moreLanded cost 101: everything that hits your bill between the factory and your door
A plain walkthrough of what really makes up your landed cost, with a worked example, so the number stops surprising you.
Read moreIEEPA tariff refunds: which of the three buckets your entries are in
CBP has certified about $106.6 billion in IEEPA refunds to Treasury. Whether you see yours depends on how long ago each entry liquidated: automatic through CAPE, racing an 80-day window, or plaintiff-only. Updated with the verified status as of September 2, 2026.
Read moreReasonable care: the quiet thing that protects your import business
“Reasonable care” isn't legal boilerplate. It's the standard CBP holds every importer to. Here's what it means in practice, and how a good broker helps you meet it.
Read moreDuty drawback in 2026: what you can (and can't) recover
If you import goods and later export them, you may be able to recover up to 99% of the duties you paid. Here's how drawback works, and the 2026 exclusions that trip people up.
Read moreForeign importer of record in 2026: the new rules, explained for forwarders
A 2026 executive order set out sweeping new scrutiny for non-resident importers of record: CTPAT, bonding, and vetting. Here's what forwarders placing foreign clients need to watch.
Read moreIs the first sale rule still worth using in 2026?
First sale valuation can lower your dutiable value in multi-tier transactions. But a legislative threat and stricter enforcement mean it needs a fresh look this year.
Read moreHow to read an HTS code (and why the wrong one is costing you)
The 10-digit code that sets your duty rate, explained the way a broker reads it, including the step most guides skip.
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