Definition
A customs broker is a person or firm licensed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to file customs entries and conduct customs business on behalf of importers. The broker is responsible for the accuracy of the filings they submit.
Why it matters
Many small freight forwarders are not licensed customs brokers and outsource entry filing, while still preparing the data. The filer of record carries regulatory responsibility, so the review step is not optional.
How TIO handles it
TIO pre-fills the data and enforces filer-in-loop review. It never files with CBP autonomously; the licensed filer approves and submits.
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