Customs Document Pack
Confirm the customs pack is complete, consistent, and admissible before the broker files at destination.
For: An importer, exporter, or trade-ops owner assembling the documents needed to clear a shipment through customs without hold or refusal.
Use when: A shipment is booked or in transit and you need to confirm the customs pack is complete, consistent, and admissible at destination.
- HS code can't be confirmed against the destination tariff.
- A mandatory certificate (origin, phyto, health, halal) is missing or expired.
- Documents contradict each other on value, quantity, or origin.
- Country-of-origin marking on the goods doesn't match the paperwork.
- Preferential-origin claim can't be evidenced by the exporter.
- Match invoice, packing list, and transport doc
- Reconcile quantity, weight, and value
- Check currency, Incoterm, and named place
- Note any assist, royalty, or discount
· Commercial consistency
Do the commercial and transport documents agree?
Go — Quantity, weight, value, currency, and Incoterm reconcile end-to-end.
Hold — A minor mismatch — reissue before filing.
Stop — Documents contradict on value or origin.
· Classification
Is the tariff position defensible?
Go — HS code confirmed and duty, VAT, and any anti-dumping duty documented.
Hold — Borderline classification — get a ruling or broker sign-off.
Stop — HS code can't be confirmed in the destination tariff.
· Certificates
Are all required certificates issued and consistent?
Go — Every certificate is issued, valid to arrival, and matches the goods.
Hold — A certificate is pending — don't file yet.
Stop — A mandatory certificate can't be obtained.
· Ready to file
Can the broker file cleanly?
Go — Broker briefed and pack complete — FILE.
Hold — One question outstanding — resolve first.
Stop — Pack is materially incomplete — DON'T FILE.
- 1Filing on the supplier's HS code without checking the destination tariff.
- 2Missing an assist or royalty in the customs value.
- 3Origin marking on the goods contradicting the certificate of origin.
- 4Certificate expiring between filing and arrival.
- 5Handing the broker a folder they have to reconcile themselves.
The invoice said 1,000 cartons. The B/L said 1,020.
- Invoice cartons1,000
- Packing list cartons1,020
- B/L cartons1,020
- Value on invoice€ 24,000
- Value implied by cartons × unit€ 24,480
- Origin certificate quantity1,000
Decision record
Record your outcome — a static, no-login summary you can copy, print, or screenshot.
- Doc reconciliation
- Qty / value / origin match
- HS code + duty
- Confirmed in destination tariff
- Certificates issued
- Origin, phyto, health, etc.
- Broker briefed
- (y/n) + reference
- Decision
- FILE / HOLD / DON'T FILE
- Pack stored
- Location + shipment ref