Customs clearance of imports

Cargo insurance is one of the most popular types of insurance protection today. Delivery often takes some time, and it is difficult to be sure of the safety of goods due to unforeseen situations. Transportation almost always involves risk. Theft, robbery, accidents, and other factors can cause quite serious financial consequences.

Property insurance will help you avoid this situation. It is produced by the owner or tenant. The carrier does not have the right to insure the cargo, since he does not own the goods. Protection for the carrier is insurance of its liability. If products are damaged or destroyed through no fault of the carrier, he will not be held financially liable.

At the time of concluding the contract, the carrier enters a clause stating that he has the right to insure the cargo, adding insurance costs to the total amount of services provided. In this case, all financial transactions related to insurance are specified in a separate clause in the contract for the provision of services and are subject to compensation by the owner of the cargo.

Using «gray» schemes, the importer optimizes costs, but does not violate the law. In this case, the role of importer-buyer is not the customer, but the logistics company. When the cargo passes the customs inspection procedure and is delivered to the territory of the country, the customer receives the goods on the basis of a delivery agreement concluded between compatriot companies.

Documents for importing goods include in their list declarations, which are most often used to implement «gray» schemes, indicating in them the undervalued value of the cargo. This move allows you to reduce the cost of paying customs duties.

The meaning of the «gray» scheme is that documents for importing goods are issued while safely optimizing costs. This technique is most often used by entrepreneurs in order to maintain competitive prices for their goods.

The most popular are «gray» customs clearance schemes. Analysts have different opinions on this matter, but most of them agree that 70–80% of Chinese products imported to Russia are imported under «gray» schemes. In this case, documents for importing goods are prepared by the logistics company and the customer does not waste time and effort on this. Delay of cargo at customs, fines and other troubles for the parties to the transaction will not arise, because the goods are imported legally. In addition, as a rule, there are no problems with the tax authorities, since the customer receives both a copy of the declaration and closing documents.

Despite the fact that «white» schemes are the safest, their popularity is quite low for two reasons:

The cost of goods increases greatly. Quite often, budding entrepreneurs and small firms facing financial difficulties are simply unable to pay customs duties and other payments related to paperwork in full.

During customs clearance, it is necessary to overcome many bureaucratic «obstacles». In order for cargo to cross the border, documents for importing goods must include statutory, tax, banking and foreign trade documents, specifications, invoices, technical descriptions of products, certificates, etc.

Competent execution of such a volume of documentation can only be done by a professional who knows all the nuances of foreign trade. Naturally, the customer of the cargo is forced to turn to such specialists, and their services are not cheap.

That is why the «white» scheme is most often used by large and medium-sized companies that have achieved financial stability. In addition, companies that have entered into agreements with large «network operators» or operate on the basis of a concluded government contract operate under «white» schemes.