Frequently Asked Questions

What does a consultant need from us before they can help?

Import and export data at the line level: entry summaries, commercial invoices, bills of lading or airway bills, and inventory or production records. Most reviews start with a few years of entry data pulled under a power of attorney. Without transaction level detail, any estimate is guesswork.

How much of our own time does an engagement take?

Less than teams expect at the start and more than they expect in the middle. The data pull and the power of attorney move quickly. The time cost sits in tracking down proof of export and inventory records held by other departments or third parties, which is where most reviews stall.

When does it make more sense to build this in house?

In house works when import volume is steady, the product mix is narrow, and someone can own the regulations as a real part of their job. It stops working when rules move quickly or filings are specialized, because the cost of staying current on one narrow area rarely justifies dedicated headcount.

What can a consultant not do on our behalf?

A consultant cannot take on the importer’s legal responsibility, cannot practice law unless licensed to do so, and cannot file entries or drawback claims with CBP without a licensed customs broker and a valid power of attorney. Anyone offering to take the liability off your hands is describing something that does not exist.

How do we tell whether a recommendation is worth acting on?

Ask for the citation. A defensible recommendation points to a specific regulation, ruling, or CBP guidance document rather than to general experience. If the reasoning cannot be traced to a source you can read, it is an opinion, and opinions do not hold up in a CBP review.