Definition

1. Noun:
   • A formal list or declaration of goods submitted to customs: A "bill of entry" is an official document presented to a customs authority. It provides a detailed list of goods that have arrived at a customhouse and are being declared for either import into a country or export out of it. This document is required for customs clearance, allowing authorities to assess duties and taxes and to ensure the goods comply with regulations.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The shipping agent submitted the bill of entry to customs for the imported machinery.
  • Before the goods could be released from the port, a complete and accurate bill of entry was required.
  • The customs officer checked the quantities on the bill of entry against the physical cargo.

Advanced Usage

• "To lodge/file a bill of entry": The formal act of submitting this document to customs authorities.
  • The importer must lodge the bill of entry within 24 hours of the ship's arrival.
• "Provisional bill of entry": A temporary document filed when complete details are not yet available, subject to later amendment.
  • They filed a provisional bill of entry to secure the release of the shipment pending final documentation.

Variants and Related Words

• Customs declaration: A broader term for any form declaring goods to customs, which may include a bill of entry.
• Entry inwards/outwards: Specific terms sometimes used for bills of entry for import (inwards) and export (outwards).
• Manifest: A document listing cargo, passengers, and crew, often related to but distinct from a bill of entry.

Synonyms

• Customs invoice: A commercial invoice adapted for customs purposes, often containing similar information.
• Import/export declaration: A direct synonym describing the document's purpose.

Related Phrases

• Clear customs: The process a shipment undergoes, for which a bill of entry is essential.
  • The shipment cannot clear customs without a valid bill of entry.
• Duty assessment: The evaluation of taxes owed, based on the information in the bill of entry.
  • The duty assessment was calculated from the values declared on the bill of entry.

Noun

1. a list of goods received at a customhouse for export or import