After the importing enterprise applies for customs declaration and the customs verifies that the price of the imported goods is correct, the “Customs Import Tariff Special Payment Slip” and “Customs Import Value-Added Tax Special Payment Slip” for the imported goods are printed. The importing enterprise shall pay the payment within 15 days from the date of receipt of the payment slip filled out by the customs (extended in case of statutory holidays). If the payment is overdue, a late payment fee of 0.05% of the total tax amount shall be levied daily. After the importing enterprise pays the relevant taxes, the customs releases the goods.
The importing enterprise shall go to the container management department of the shipping company or the shipping agent with the original bill of lading with endorsement (fax of the telex release bill of lading and the telex release guarantee) to handle the equipment handover procedures and sign on the handover form.
The equipment handover form is a certificate for the exchange of containers and other mechanical equipment between the returner, the transporter and the container manager or his agent when the container enters and leaves the port area or terminal, and has the function of the container manager issuing container certificates. The equipment handover form is divided into two types: entry and exit, and the exchange procedures are handled at the gate of the terminal yard.
For LCL cargo (CFS delivery terms) from container freight station to container freight station, the import document fee can be paid to the container management department with the notification form of the import department of the shipping agency business department, and then the goods can be directly picked up at the terminal with the small bill of lading (i.e. delivery order, D/O) and the split bill, without the need to handle the equipment handover order.
Imported goods can be picked up after customs clearance.
There are three forms for importers to pick up goods from shipping companies: warehouse pick-up, container pick-up and shipside pick-up.
1. Warehouse pick-up
After the importer has completed the import declaration, tax payment and release procedures, the importer can prepare the vehicle, pay the relevant fees (such as storage fees, yard fees) with the electronic information instructions of D/O and customs release of goods, and then go through the pick-up and outbound procedures, and load the goods and transport them away.
If it is FOB import, freight and other payable fees, the importer should pay the freight to the carrier (shipping company) in time, otherwise it may affect the pick-up.
When picking up the goods, you should carefully check whether the number of boxes matches the record on the freight bill, and pay attention to whether the packing is complete. If you find that the number of boxes is insufficient or the packaged goods are damaged, you should stop picking up the goods immediately, ask the warehouse manager and the notary office to jointly open the boxes and check and weigh them, and obtain a shortage certificate from the warehouse or shipping company as the basis for future claims.
2. Picking up goods in containers
After the importer receives the arrival notice from the shipping company, if it is a full container of goods, he will go to the container yard to pick up the goods, use a trailer to transport the container, and return the empty container after unloading the goods; if it is a less than container load, he will go to the container freight station to pick up the goods and hire a truck to pick it up.
(1) With the small bill of lading and the container pick-up application form of the trailer company, go to the container management department to handle the deposit procedures for the import container overdue use fee, unloading fee, import document fee and other fees.
(2) If the guarantor is not the consignee specified on the bill of lading, the guarantor must issue a letter of guarantee (guarantee letter) agreeing to pledge the money for the consignee and pay the corresponding fees.
(3) After the pledge is completed, the consignee shall go to the import container release post to handle the container pick-up procedures after being authorized by the shipping agent’s container management department, receive the container equipment handover form, and check whether the content is correct.
(4) After the consignee has unpacked the imported goods, he shall return the empty container to the designated return location.
(5) After the empty container returns to the designated yard, the consignee shall promptly go to the container management department with the pledge voucher to handle the container fee settlement procedures.
Tips
Container Equipment Handover Instructions
During the container pick-up process, you should check with the relevant personnel of the container yard whether the container is damaged. If so, ask the container yard to sign the word “damaged” on the equipment handover form. If there is no confirmation, if the container is damaged when returning the empty container, the container yard will charge the container repair fee.
3. Pick up goods at the shipside
If the imported goods are dangerous goods, perishable goods, live animals, or goods that are too large to enter the warehouse, the shipside pick up procedure should be carried out. After the importer hands over the D/O to the captain or the first mate, the goods are directly lifted to the owner’s truck or barge with the crane on the ship, and then shipped away after inspection by the customs.