What is a Bonded Warehouse?
A bonded warehouse is a secure storage facility operating under CBP supervision. These facilities allow importers to store imported merchandise without paying duties until the goods enter the U.S. market. The warehouse operator posts a bond with CBP to guarantee compliance with all customs requirements.
Benefits of Bonded Warehouses
Using bonded warehouses offers several advantages:
- Defer duty payments until goods enter commerce
- Store goods for up to 5 years
- Manipulate, repack, or label goods under bond
- Re-export goods without paying U.S. duties
- Conduct quality inspections before duty payment
- Transfer goods between bonded facilities
- Process goods for duty drawback claims
Key Operations and Requirements
Important considerations for bonded warehouse usage:
- Strict inventory control requirements
- Regular CBP oversight and audits
- Secure facilities with controlled access
- Detailed record-keeping requirements
- Specific handling and manipulation rules
- Time limits on storage duration
- Bond maintenance requirements
Develop a clear understanding of your storage duration needs and duty deferral benefits before utilizing bonded warehouses. Work closely with your customs broker to ensure compliance with all CBP requirements and maximize the financial benefits of duty deferral.
