Customs clearance procedures from Turkey to Iraq
Have you ever been exposed to a situation in which the supplier prepared your goods that you wish to import, wrapped them and sent them to Iraq, and you waited for them in Iraq, but it was delayed and did not arrive?! After investigation, you discovered that your goods were seized by customs!
A large percentage of importers have been exposed to these repeated situations, which are often caused by lack of full knowledge and knowledge of customs procedures in Turkey and Iraq and the documents required for the customs clearance process.
As with most stages of shipping, Trusty Trans provides you with a customs clearance service for your goods, in addition to photocopying the documents used in customs operations and sending them via email for review, but there is no harm in reviewing our current article to be aware of the necessary procedures in the customs clearance process.
First: Customs clearance steps:
Customs procedures are considered one of the most routine processes in trade and import, and customs procedures at Turkish ports usually take approximately 5 working days, if the process does not encounter any obstacles.
Having adequate knowledge of the necessary documents and procedures for customs clearance will save you time, effort, and perhaps money in the event of fees or fines. Here are now the most important steps that a customs employee usually follows during the customs clearance process:
1- View the documents related to your shipment:
In our articles, we have previously talked about the most important papers required for customs procedures when shipping from Turkey to Iraq, so the customs officer will verify the presence of these papers and their validity and credibility, and he will verify the commercial invoice that includes information about the supplier, the importer, and the goods such as their quantity, size, weight, and commercial value.
One of the most important papers whose omission may cause your goods to be seized at customs and the imposition of a fine is the certificate of origin, meaning specifying the source of the imported products by placing the phrase “Made in Turkey” on the papers and goods.
2- Verify that there are no duties or taxes imposed on your shipment:
The imposition of duties and taxes on imported goods often varies according to the type and value of these goods, but the main difference depends on the importing country, meaning that the imposition of duties on your goods is linked to the regulations, rules and import taxes of Iraq, as these fees differ from one country to another.
Therefore, the customs officer looks at your goods and verifies their value. If the value of the goods is higher than the value specified and accepted by customs in the importing country, then the customs officer verifies that these taxes and fees have been paid.
3- Requesting payment of taxes and fees if they are not paid:
After the customs officer has seen and verified the papers and documents related to your goods, and made sure that there are fees and taxes imposed on you, the officer then works to collect these fees and then release the shipment if it is seized to its final destination.
Here it is necessary to point out two terms that are usually applied to imported goods and through which one can know whether the duties imposed on the shipment have actually been paid or not:
- Deliver Duty Paid “DDP”: This mark is placed on the shipment in the event that the importer pays the taxes imposed on him.
- Value of unpaid tax “DDU” Deliver Duty Unpaid: This mark indicates that the importer has not paid the fees incurred, in which case the shipment is redirected to an independent customs broker to collect the imposed fees, then the customs broker communicates with the importer to collect the amount.
This step is one of the many steps in which you can rely on Trusty Trans, as we have a network of specialized customs brokers who can pay the fees incurred for you, handle the problem, and release your shipment to reach Iraq as soon as possible.
Second: Documents and papers required for customs clearance operations:
The documents required for customs clearance operations vary according to the country from which you wish to import, and the most important papers and documents necessary for importing from Turkey to Iraq can be identified. Below:
1- Commercial or industrial register.
2- Import card (import license).
3- Tax card.
4- The commercial invoice.
5- Certificate of origin.
6- CMR
7- A certificate of conformity with specifications issued by Turkish accredited bodies.
8- A payment document from the bank proving that the importer transferred the value of the goods he imported to the supplier.
9- A general authorization for the customs broker certified by the Chamber of Commerce or Industry.
In Trieste Trans articles, we have previously provided a detailed explanation of the papers required for customs clearance operations when shipping from Turkey to Iraq, their importance, the method of issuance, and the information they contain, and they can be found through the following link.
Third: Why do you need a customs broker?
The customs broker is a reliable person or agency who is fully aware of all the laws related to the foreign trade of countries, and the documents, papers and certificates that must be submitted to the state authorities to complete the export or import process without obstacles, after the completion of the customs clearance process.
The customs broker when importing from Turkey to Iraq guarantees you that the goods you import will be cleared quickly and without problems, as he is an essential intermediary between you and the official authorities in Turkey.
The broker helps you complete your import process quickly and without obstacles due to his experience in obtaining the necessary papers to complete the import process, conforming the goods to the country’s laws and complying with local and international laws and regulations.
The customs broker contributes to reducing taxes imposed on imported goods based on his knowledge of the legal ways that can be followed to reduce taxes.
The broker also ensures that you reduce the costs and risks that your shipment may encounter, by providing accurate and complete information to ensure that your shipments comply with the applicable rules and regulations, given that incorrect information may cause audits and inspections, or the imposition of penalties, or confiscation of goods.
After reviewing our article and the information contained in it, you will believe that the customs clearance process is one of the difficult and delicate operations due to the different papers and documents required in the import process according to the importing country and the type of goods.
Of course, this is true, but you can disclaim your responsibility and search for peace of mind by relying on a company that provides a full shipping service specialized in importing from Turkey, such as Trusty Trans, which will help you to overcome the obstacles that hinder your shipment smoothly and reach you safely and at the lowest possible costs.
