Surety Bonds

Purchasing your surety bond through Deringer ensures that your shipments have the appropriate bond as well as adequate coverage. Companies from all over the world have come to rely on Deringer for competitive pricing and best-in-class service. Deringer offers coverage on a single transaction basis or importers can purchase an annual surety bond, which is sometimes more cost effective.

Why is a bond required to import goods? A party that imports merchandise into the US or transports imported goods through the US must provide a surety bond (customs bond) to US Customs and Border Protection to assure financial responsibility. The bond protects the US government in the event the importer does not fulfill their obligation to pay monies due (e.g., duties, monetary penalties, etc.) while the goods are in Customs custody and/or following the release of the goods. Additionally, a continuous bond may allow importers' shipments to be cleared through Customs with greater ease.

Similar to an insurance policy, if the importer fails to meet their financial obligation to the government, the surety is required to pay the amount owed to the government on behalf of the importer. Coverage includes monetary penalties such as liquidated damages. Customs can issue a claim for liquidated damages for a variety of reasons including failure to produce necessary documents on an import entry, failure to file an entry in a timely manner, pay duty owed, or failure to redeliver goods.