Duty Calculation Automation for Customs Brokers

Let your AI agent handle complex tariff and duty calculations, so you can focus on client service and compliance. No more late nights with spreadsheets.

You spend hours in Excel and government databases, cross-referencing HS codes and regulatory updates. As a licensed customs broker or import/export specialist, one wrong figure in your duty breakdown can mean delayed shipments, angry clients, or fines. Manual work with email chains and shared drives makes every shipment a risk.

An AI agent that instantly calculates duties and tariffs for customs brokers using real shipment data and current regulations.

What this replaces

Copy HS codes from government tariff databases into Excel
Manually calculate duties for each product in a shipment
Double-check rates against the latest CBP regulations
Email shipment summaries to clients for approval
Update landed cost estimates after regulatory changes

The hidden cost

What this is really costing you

In freight forwarding and customs brokerage, licensed brokers and import/export coordinators must manually calculate duties and tariffs for each shipment. This means pulling product details from SAP or Oracle, searching the Harmonized Tariff Schedule online, and double-checking rates on government portals. Each step is tedious and error-prone, especially when regulations change or shipments have multiple product types.

Time wasted

2 hrs/week

Every week, burned on work an AI agent handles in minutes.

Money lost

$4,700/year

In salary, missed revenue, and operational drag — annually.

If you keep ignoring it

Missed updates or calculation errors can trigger customs holds, compliance penalties, and lost trust with clients relying on accurate landed cost estimates.

Cost estimates derived from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational wage data and O*NET task analysis.

Return on investment

The math speaks for itself

Today — without agent

2 hrs/week

of manual work

$4,700/year/ year

With your AI agent

20 min/week

agent-handled

$780/year/ year

You save

$3,920/year

every year, reinvested into growing your business

Estimates based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics median salary data and O*NET task importance ratings from worker surveys. Time savings assume 80% automation of eligible task components.

Jobs your agent handles

What this agent does for you

Complete jobs, handled end-to-end — so your team focuses on what matters.

Quick Calculation for New Shipment

You ask your agent to calculate all duties and tariffs owed for an incoming electronics shipment from China.

Double-Check Before Filing

You ask your agent to verify your manual calculations for a high-value shipment to ensure compliance before submitting paperwork.

Client Quote Preparation

You ask your agent to estimate total duty and tariff costs for a client considering different shipping routes or product mixes.

Regulation Update Review

You ask your agent to recalculate duties on a shipment after recent regulatory changes to confirm if the owed amount has changed.

How to hire your agent

1

Connect your tools

Link your existing customs records databases, shipment documentation systems, and tariff databases.

2

Tell your agent what you need

Type: 'Calculate duties and tariffs for shipment #A12345, including all electronics and accessories from China.'

3

Agent gets it done

Receive a detailed breakdown of all duties and tariffs owed, with codes and compliance notes, ready for your records or client communication.

You doing it vs. your agent doing it

Search tariff databases and cross-reference product descriptions by hand.
Agent matches shipment details to correct tariff codes automatically.
30 min/shipment
Manually apply duty rates to each product and subtotal by hand or spreadsheet.
Agent calculates and itemizes all duties instantly.
20 min/shipment
Review regulations and double-check calculations for errors.
Agent flags discrepancies and confirms compliance in output.
15 min/shipment
Manually estimate costs for different shipment scenarios or routes.
Agent compares duty and tariff outcomes for multiple scenarios on request.
20 min/comparison

Agent skill set

What this agent knows how to do

Automated HS Code Identification

Pulls product descriptions from SAP and matches them to the correct HS code for customs documentation.

Real-Time Duty & Tariff Computation

Calculates duties and taxes owed per shipment using current rates from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.

Regulation Cross-Verification

Checks each calculation against the latest U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rules, flagging discrepancies for review.

Scenario-Based Cost Comparison

Generates side-by-side landed cost estimates for different routes or product mixes, helping you advise clients with data-backed scenarios.

Shipment Summary Preparation

Drafts a complete breakdown of duties, tariffs, and codes, formatted for easy sharing with clients or uploading to Descartes or WiseTech.

AI Agent FAQ

The agent analyzes product data from ERP systems like SAP or Oracle, matches HS codes, and applies the latest rates from the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. It handles multi-product shipments and provides an itemized breakdown for each line item.

Yes, the agent references current CBP and WCO updates at the time of each calculation. If new rules are published, it applies them automatically, but you should always review outputs for high-value shipments.

You can export summaries for upload into Descartes, WiseTech, or CargoWise. Direct API integration is planned, but for now, copy-paste or CSV export is supported.

All data is encrypted in transit using TLS 1.3 and deleted immediately after processing. No shipment or client information is stored or shared.

The agent handles English-language shipment data and U.S. import regulations. Multi-language and non-U.S. support are on the roadmap. Human review is always recommended for final filings.

See how much your team could save with AI

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