When you import goods from a foreign vendor, you must submit documents such as invoices and declaration forms to customs officials for inspection. Often these forms take time to complete, and they may even be more complicated if the value of a shipment exceeds a certain limit. That is why many companies choose to use a customs broker to have goods cleared through customs on their behalf.
Because customs brokers are skilled at matching imported items with the commodity codes used by your government for calculating duty and tariffs, they can speed up the clearing process and offer you advice about the need for special permits or other restrictions. When the shipment is cleared, the customs broker pays the necessary duties, and sends you an invoice for the duty and their service. If you have not configured Sage Simply Accounting to calculate import duties, you can enter this as a regular invoice.
If you choose not to use a customs broker, you should contact your local customs authorities for information about your country's import laws and procedures.