There isn’t anything about international trade that is easy. The trade between two parties across foreign countries’ boundaries necessitates a wealth of experience and skills, from restrictions on manufactured products to enforcement issues. Importing goods can be a complex and time-consuming procedure, from following specific regulations to filing the proper paperwork with customs at the destination country.

An Importer of Record is committed to ensuring that all importing laws are followed in any country’s jurisdiction. This person or company may be the shipper, receiver, or a third party. IOR is determined by the Incoterms of the shipment. So, what are the responsibilities of the importer of record? Here we will discuss more things related to that topic.

Importer Of Record Definition and Meaning

They are the authorized people or entities that take responsibility for importing an item. They get their name on all shipping paperwork and have to go through customs, so IOR is a term reserved primarily for companies with extensive importation experience. The party responsible for importation has the legal responsibility to take care of any paperwork, processing shipping for imports, and customs clearance. They are responsible not only for providing documentation at customs but also ensuring that it is correct.

They can give a clear definition of how goods were imported into the destination country’s borders when they went through customs checkpoints or other border crossings to prevent confusion with consumers about what duties should be paid and whether tariffs had been applied during importation procedures.

What is IOR service?

Simply put, the IOR service providers can import your products to your preferred destination country, and deliver them to your end user and clients. During the process, the service provider will deliver multiple services on your behalf such as customs clearance, record services, product classification, use of compliance tools to advise on customs and border protection regulations, estimate (VAT, duties, and taxes), and pay them on your behalf, and many more services to ensure your product is cleared from customs and border protection and delivered to your clients. These are just a few examples of the offered services, contact our experts today and they will help you choose the best solution from our wide range of solutions.

What is the IOR number in shipping?

Identifying your importer number is the first step in importing goods, but not all countries have a set of guidelines for assigning these numbers.

The Customs authority within an importing country assigns unique identifiers to their registered foreign and domestic companies that import products into their territory. These registries serve as identification systems with no universal standards across borders; some international registry IDs may even be formatted differently than those from the home country’s jurisdiction!

What Are the Responsibilities of Importer of Record?

It is your duty as the IOR to be well-informed and to take “reasonable care” in providing Customs with the details they need to do their job (without necessitating examinations). It would usually allow a customs broker to file on their behalf.

IOR responsibilities can be summed up as follows:

  • Focus on ensuring that consumer goods comply with relevant laws and regulations.
  • Take care of the duty entry and all related paperwork.
  • Charge the import duties and other taxes on certain products that have been measured.
  • Ensure compliance for the minimum amount of time needed by law and by customers.
  • Save money by avoiding expensive trade enforcement fines.

 

Is the Consignee the Same as the Importer of Record?

The owner, seller, or consignee of imported products at the time of importation is known as the Importer of Record. An IOR may also be a licensed Customs broker who has been approved to make entry by the owner, purchaser, or consignee. An IOR may be a group or a single person. Discover more about the difference between consignee and Importer and Exporter, and this table will show the differences between the consignee and importer of record:

 

comparison

Consignee

Importer of record

Definition The consignee is the person who receives the package and is normally the owner of the products. The consignee is the party that assumes possession of the products after they have passed through customs. The consignee is generally the party who pays import duties and taxes in a simple import/export trade. The  IOR is the individual or organization in charge of all legally required documents and other formal prerequisites for importing goods worldwide.
Characteristics The consignee doesn’t need to be a government-registered importer. Whereas cargo forwarding is used in a shipment, the MAWB or MBL’s consignee may be the freight forwarder rather than the final customer of goods. Responsible for paying the assessed import duties and other taxes on the imported goods. Furthermore, the IOR must ensure that all goods are accurately recorded and accepted.

 

Compliance Concerns for the Importer of Record

Exchanging goods internationally in the global world in which we work often entails basic customs issues. The import/entry method, tariff classification, valuation, country of origin marking, and duty determination are all examples of these. Import problems as fundamental as these, emerging from various customs law disciplines, have long posed enforcement challenges for the average importer.

Compliance with the Importer of Record may be implemented. Import checks and reviews, documentation audits, monetary fines, inquiries into official importer business dealings, civil penalties, and additional criminal penalties are all part of the process.

Many government entities have the power to act independently of the Importer of Record and refuse imports based on potential risks to a country’s general welfare. Any substance could be denied admission by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, for example. CBP would not take liability for products imported if such a rejection occurs. CBP may instead be in charge of overseeing the export or destruction of such products.

 

What is EOR service?

EOR service is similar to IOR service, the main difference is the EOR would handle all the processes to ship and clear your product from the exporting country, click here to learn more about the EOR service.

 

Conclusion

IOR service is our core business, contact us today and we will help you import your company products across 55 countries in Africa GET QUOTE FOR IMPORTER OF RECORD SERVICES

FAQs

Does the importer of record own the goods?

In the world of importing goods, the IOR, or Importer of Record, is typically the individual or entity who either owns or purchases the imported goods. Alternatively, if the end-user prefers not to handle the logistics, a properly authorized agent or legal entity in the destination country can also take on the role of the IOR.

Can the shipper be the importer of record?

Importers of Record, often known as IOR, play a crucial role not only as temporary owners during importation but also potentially as the permanent custodians of shipped goods. This transition typically occurs when private entities handling shipments prefer to take charge of the entire importation process. In such cases, they willingly step into the shoes of an Importer of Record, occasionally becoming the genuine owners of the goods in question.