Customs information system with selective transaction audit

#The present invention relates generally to devices and methods of supporting import and export activity and, more particularly, to methods and computer systems configured for creating, auditing and correcting customs documentation.

#In support of an international purchase made by a buyer, a customs broker will typically provide customs documentation to a local customs authority upon the entry of purchased goods into the buyer's country. This customs documentation, which typically will be in either paper or electronic form, contains customs information. The customs information normally includes transaction information, such as the identity and location of the buyer and seller, and the type of goods being sold. The customs information also includes other information such as both a customs classification and a customs value for the imported, purchased goods. Traditionally, customs brokers generate a significant portion of the customs documentation using a commercial invoice that accompanies the goods, along with supplemental documents such as a shipping manifest. The seller of the goods generates the commercial invoice, which they include with shipping documents that accompany the purchased goods during transport.

#The buyer is legally responsible for the content of the customs documents, including being responsible for noting special requirements such as increased, “antidumping duties” on certain goods, setting the appropriate classification of the goods, and determining the correct value of the goods. The commercial invoice sometimes lacks significant information for making these determinations. Additionally, the commercial invoice will not reflect individual buyer-corporation's policies regarding valuation and classification of goods. Procedures and apparatus are therefore needed to ensure customs documents are generated in conformance with both import/export laws and individual corporate policies. Additionally, procedures and apparatus are needed to identify errors in such documents, and the sources of these errors when they are repeated.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the interactions between participants in an international purchase of goods under the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a diagram of a communication system architecture that supports the use of a customs information system embodying the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a diagram of record types and modules contained within the customs information system depicted in FIG. 2.

#The invention summarized above and defined by the enumerated claims may be better understood by referring to the following detailed description, which should be read with the accompanying drawings. This detailed description of particular preferred embodiments of the invention, set out below to enable one to build and use particular implementations of the invention, is not intended to limit the enumerated claims, but rather, it is intended to provide particular examples of them.

#Preferred embodiments of the present invention reside in systems of apparatus and related procedures to ensure customs documents are generated in conformance with both import/export laws and individual corporate policies. Additionally, preferred embodiments of the present invention reside in apparatus and related procedures both to locate filing errors, and to identify and locate the sources and causes of repeated filing errors, leading to the remediation of those causes.

#The Transaction