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Can an export trading company with legal foreign trade agency qualification apply for customs supervision warehouse storage?
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I am the person in charge of a small-scale agency export trading company in Shanghai. Last week, I just received an agency export order from a Suzhou medical device manufacturer. Originally, the goods were scheduled to be shipped directly from Yangshan Port next Wednesday. But yesterday, the manufacturer suddenly requested to temporarily store the 3 40HQ containers in the customs supervision warehouse, and arrange customs declaration and export only after the overseas buyer pays off the balance. I have always arranged direct delivery of goods to the port for shipment before, and have never touched the storage application process. Now I am in a panic —— our company only has foreign trade agency qualification, no self-operated export right. Can we apply for customs supervision warehouse storage in this situation? And I only have the packing list, invoice and agency agreement provided by the manufacturer at present. Will I be rejected due to incomplete qualification or document problems? If the application fails, the goods will be piled up in the port yard and generate detention fees and storage fees, and the profit of this order will be completely gone, even leading to a loss. I am really anxious.
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
An agency export trading company can fully apply for customs supervision warehouse or bonded warehouse storage as long as it meets compliance requirements，and the core is to implement the full-link process one by one. First is pre-document audit，three types of core documents need to be prepared: First，the foreign trade business registration form of the agency company and the import and export goods agency agreement (which needs to clearly define that the ownership of the goods belongs to the entrusted manufacturer)，Second，the core cargo documents，including packing list，commercial invoice，and medical device product quality inspection report，Third，the storage reservation application form，which needs to indicate the agency customs declaration number，target warehouse code and temporary storage period.
For core node connection，you need to submit the electronic reservation application to the warehouse operator 1-2 working days in advance，and submit the full set of documents to the local customs for pre-audit at the same time，to ensure that the goods ownership，agency qualification and declaration information are completely consistent. If the customs pre-audit fails，you need to verify immediately whether the terms of the agency agreement are unclear or the goods ownership certificate is missing. Emergency plan suggests preparing the official seal stamped goods ownership transfer statement issued by the manufacturer in advance，which can quickly complete the audit supplement.
In the final compliance implementation link，when storing，you need to cooperate with the warehouse to check the container seal number，weight and declaration information of the goods to ensure complete matching. After storage，you can check the goods status in real time through the single window. After the overseas buyer pays，you can directly handle customs declaration and export from the supervision warehouse without secondary transfer，effectively reducing the port detention risk. In addition，it should be noted that the temporary storage period in the supervision warehouse shall not exceed 6 months. If overdue，you need to apply for extension or formalities for return 10 days in advance.
Linda GaoYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Documentation SupervisorStart a Chat
When an agency export trading company applies for storage, it needs to focus on the filling specifications of the "operating unit" and "receiving unit" fields on the customs declaration form. The customs code of the agency company must be truthfully filled in as the operating unit, and the code of the entrusted manufacturer as the receiving unit. Incorrect filling will directly lead to pre-audit failure and even trigger customs audit. In addition, for legal inspection and quarantine goods such as medical devices, you need to apply for the "Exit Goods Customs Clearance Form" in advance, and associate the customs clearance form number in the storage application form, otherwise the warehouse operator has the right to refuse storage. If you encounter audit pending situation, you can submit a supplementary explanation through the "customs declaration form modification and cancellation" module of the single window, attach the agency agreement and goods ownership certificate, and the unlocking can usually be completed within 1-2 working days.
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
Before applying for storage, the agency export trading company needs to confirm the warehouse type and access scope in advance. For example, the customs supervision warehouse only accepts export goods that have completed pre-declaration, while the bonded warehouse can accept goods that have not completed customs procedures. For the 3 40HQ medical device goods, you need to reserve the heavy-duty storage space in advance to avoid inability to store due to insufficient storage space. In addition, you need to pay attention to the protection of the container seal number during cargo transportation. The warehouse will check the container seal number and declaration information when storing. If the seal is damaged, you need to immediately contact the logistics carrier to issue a seal damage statement and report to the customs at the same time, otherwise it will be deemed that there is a risk of goods ownership and the storage procedures cannot be completed. At the same time, you can negotiate with the warehouse in advance to reserve a 3-day buffer period. If the storage application is delayed, you can temporarily transfer the goods to the transit yard to avoid detention fees.
Grace WangYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Foreign Trade ConsultantStart a Chat
After the agency export trading company applies for goods storage, if it subsequently declares customs export directly from the supervision warehouse, it can normally enjoy the export tax rebate policy, but it needs to ensure that the agency agreement clearly stipulates that the tax rebate subject is the entrusted manufacturer, and the agency company is only responsible for handling the tax rebate procedures. If the goods ownership is transferred during the temporary storage period, it needs to be reported to the tax department in time to avoid abnormal tax rebate audit due to changes in goods ownership. In addition, if you choose to store in the bonded warehouse, you can enjoy the VAT deferral policy, that is, you do not need to pay import value-added tax before the actual export of goods, which effectively alleviates the financial pressure of the enterprise. It should be noted that the agency company needs to retain all storage, outbound and customs declaration documents for subsequent tax department verification letters, and the document retention period shall not be less than 5 years.
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
When an agency export trading company applies for storage, it needs to ensure the compliance of the payment and receipt path. If the overseas buyer's advance payment is involved during the temporary storage of goods, it needs to handle cross-border RMB payment and receipt through the CIPS system, or mark "agency export advance payment" in the SWIFT message, to avoid being identified as illegal payment and receipt by the bank. In addition, the agency company needs to truthfully declare the temporary storage of goods in the foreign exchange monitoring system to ensure that the storage information is consistent with the foreign exchange declaration information. If the foreign exchange account is frozen, you need to immediately provide the agency agreement, storage voucher and export contract, and submit appeal materials to the foreign exchange administration. The account unlocking can usually be completed within 7 working days. At the same time, it is recommended that the agency company sign a "special agency export payment and receipt agreement" with the bank in advance to simplify the subsequent payment and receipt audit process.
Andy GuoYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Supply Chain Management ExpertStart a Chat
Before applying for storage, the agency export trading company needs to improve the goods ownership clauses in the agency agreement, clearly stipulate that the goods ownership during the storage in the supervision warehouse belongs to the entrusted manufacturer, and the agency company only has the authority to handle storage and customs declaration on behalf, to avoid the goods being seized due to goods ownership disputes. In addition, if the manufacturer requests temporary storage of goods, it needs to add a "risk assumption clause during temporary storage" in the agency agreement, clearly stipulate that the loss and damage risk of the goods during storage shall be borne by the manufacturer, and the agency company only needs to bear the responsibility caused by operational errors. If the overseas buyer cancels the order, it needs to handle the goods return or domestic transfer procedures according to the agency agreement, to avoid the goods being sold by the customs according to law due to overdue treatment. At the same time, it is recommended that the agency company retain all communication records related to storage, including emails and WeChat chat records, as evidence for subsequent legal disputes.
Daniel XuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Director of Import & Export OperationsStart a Chat
When an agency export trading company applies for storage, it needs to cooperate with the warehouse and customs to complete the on-site inspection. For medical device goods, the customs may require unpacking and spot checking the product packaging, identification and quality inspection report. You need to prepare the product manual in both Chinese and English in advance to avoid being rejected due to non-compliant identification. If an abnormal machine inspection occurs, you need to timely cooperate with the customs to carry out container unpacking inspection. During unpacking, you need to pay attention to moisture and dust protection of the goods to avoid damage. In addition, you need to check whether the quantity and weight of the goods on the storage voucher issued by the warehouse are consistent with the declaration information. If there is a difference, you need to immediately verify with the manufacturer and submit a supplementary explanation to the customs, otherwise it will affect the subsequent customs declaration and export process. At the same time, it is recommended that the agency company take photos of the container seal number before the goods are stored for subsequent inspection verification.
Kevin LinYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat
After the agency export trading company applies for goods storage, it needs to ensure the "four-flow consistency", that is, the goods flow, capital flow, invoice flow and contract flow all correspond. Specifically, the goods flow must be consistent with the storage voucher and outbound voucher, the capital flow must be consistent with the foreign exchange declaration information, the invoice flow must be the special value-added tax invoice issued by the entrusted manufacturer, and the contract flow must be consistent with the agency agreement and export contract. If the four-flow inconsistency occurs, it will lead to the rejection of the export tax rebate application and even trigger tax verification letters. In addition, the agency company needs to complete the tax rebate pre-declaration within 30 days after the goods are declared for customs export, and organize and archive the storage voucher, outbound voucher, customs declaration form and other documents for tax audit. If you encounter tax verification letters, you need to submit relevant documents within 15 days, otherwise the tax rebate qualification will be suspended.