A customs exam fee is a charge paid when customs authorities select a shipment for inspection. The fee may cover handling, labour, terminal work, container movement, scanning, storage, drayage to an exam site, or the cost of opening and inspecting cargo. Customs exam fees can vary depending on whether the shipment receives a document review, X-ray exam, tailgate exam, intensive exam, or another inspection type. The importer is usually responsible for these costs, even if no violation is found.
A customs exam fee is charged to the importer when CBP selects a shipment for physical or documentary inspection. The fee covers the cost of transporting the container to an exam facility and the handling charges of the exam station.
- Applies to CES, tailgate, intensive, and VACIS exam types
- Includes trucking to the CES and facility handling charges
- Can range from a few hundred to over $1,500 per container for a full intensive exam
Exam fees are not refunded even if the exam results in cargo being released without issues.
For related logistics context, see glossary entries on Customs Exam, CES, Demurrage, and CBP.
