A customs broker is a licensed professional specializing in customs, fiscal, and commercial regulations who represents importers and exporters before official tax and customs authorities.

They are essential in foreign trade operations, ensuring that goods enter or leave the country in full compliance with current laws, preventing costly delays, procedural errors, and penalties.

• Provides technical and regulatory advice.
• Correctly classifies goods according to the Harmonized System (HS code).
• Calculates duties and tax incentives.
• Prepares and submits documentation to ARCA/Customs and regulatory agencies.
• Supervises every stage of the shipment process.
• Optimizes costs and timelines for the client.

In short, a customs broker is a strategic partner protecting your interests, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring legal compliance in every international operation.

Hiring a customs broker is required for most formal import and export transactions. Except for minor exceptions (such as personal baggage or specific courier regimes), all commercial shipments require a licensed broker.

Furthermore, working with a professional is highly recommended if:

• This is your first import or export operation.
• You need guidance on regulations, licenses, or compliance deadlines.
• You want to avoid regulatory errors and border delays.
• You require a detailed cost and tax projection before ordering goods.
• You import products subject to special technical controls (SENASA, ANMAT, INAL, CITES, etc.).

Required documentation varies depending on product nature and regime, but standard requirements include:

• Commercial Invoice from the supplier.
• Packing List.
• Transport Document (Bill of Lading, Air Waybill, or Inland Waybill).
• Certificate of Origin (if applying trade preferences).
• Active Importer/Exporter Registry Status.
• Technical certs or safety approvals (if applicable).

Yes, under specific conditions. Individuals can import items for personal, professional, or capital use within regulatory limits. However, for recurring commercial activities or resale in the domestic market, you must be officially registered as an importer with local tax authorities.

Standard duties and taxes on import operations in Argentina generally include:

• Import Duties (0% to 35% depending on HS Code)
• Statistical Fee (usually 3%)
• Value-Added Tax / VAT (21% standard or 10.5% reduced)
• Additional VAT Withholding (up to 20%)
• Income Tax Withholding (6%)
• Gross Receipts Withholding (2.5% average)

The total landed cost consists of:

• FOB or CIF price of the goods.
• International freight and cargo insurance.
• Customs duties and import taxes.
• Customs brokerage and port/terminal handling fees.
• Local transportation and logistics costs.

At Borel Foreign Trade, we provide detailed landed cost analyses before shipping to ensure financial predictability.

Exporting can unlock key regulatory benefits, such as:

• Export Duty Tax Refunds (Reembolsos/Reintegros).
• Drawback mechanisms to recover duties paid on imported raw components.
• Temporary Import Regimes with duty suspensions.

Yes, but subject to specific regulatory permits, technical inspections, and special authorization frameworks before purchase and dispatch.

For registered taxpayers (Responsables Inscriptos), VAT paid during importation functions as a fiscal credit deductible against future sales. For end consumers or special simplified tax regimes, it constitutes part of the final landed cost.

Transit time from main Asian ports (e.g., Shanghai, Ningbo) to Buenos Aires typically ranges between 35 to 45 days at sea, plus supplier production time and local customs clearance (7 to 10 business days).

Yes, via LCL (Less-than-Container Load) consolidation. Your cargo shares container space with other goods, allowing you to pay only for the specific volume (CBM) or weight used.

Yes. We offer specialized technical consultations to review regulatory feasibility, HS code classification, duty estimations, and logistics routes before you commit to international suppliers.