Frequently Asked Questions

IMP Ship is an all-in-one shipping platform that simplifies importing goods from China to the United States. We use AI to scan your documents, automatically generate customs paperwork, calculate duties and tariffs, and help you compare carrier rates — all in one place.

For most commercial shipments, yes. IMP Ship can connect you with licensed customs brokers, or if you already have one, our generated documents are fully compatible with their workflows. For express shipments under $2,500, formal customs entry may not be required.

Just two: your Commercial Invoice and Packing List from your supplier. Our AI will scan these and automatically generate all other required documents including Certificate of Origin, Bill of Lading, Customs Declaration, and ISF (10+2) filing.

We offer a free tier with 3 shipments per month and basic features. Our Pro plan ($49/month) includes unlimited shipments, AI scanning, and carrier comparison. Enterprise plans are available for high-volume importers.

Import duties are calculated based on several components: the HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) code assigned to your product determines the base duty rate. On top of that, Section 301 tariffs may apply to goods from China, ranging from 0% to 25%+ depending on the product category. For aluminum and steel products, Section 232 tariffs of 10-25% may also apply. Additionally, a Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) of 0.3464% of the declared value (min $31.67, max $614.35) is charged on all shipments, and a Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) of 0.125% applies to ocean shipments. Rates vary significantly by product category — use our calculator for a detailed estimate.

Section 301 tariffs are additional tariffs imposed on goods imported from China, enacted in 2018-2019 as part of US trade policy. The rates range from 0% to 25% or more depending on the product category. For example, electronics, machinery, and CNC parts face a 25% rate, while textiles and furniture face 7.5%. Some categories like medical devices and food products are currently exempt. Some exclusions and exemptions exist and are periodically reviewed by the US Trade Representative.

Section 232 tariffs apply specifically to steel and aluminum products at rates of 10-25%. These tariffs were enacted to protect US national security interests in maintaining domestic manufacturing capacity for these critical materials. If you're importing CNC machined aluminum or steel parts, this tariff will apply on top of any other duties. Currently, aluminum products face a 10% Section 232 tariff.

Our duty calculations use current HTS rates and tariff schedules. Shipping costs are estimates based on weight and volume — final rates are confirmed at carrier booking. Typically our estimates are within 5-10% of the final cost.

MPF (Merchandise Processing Fee) is a fee charged by US Customs on most imported goods. It's calculated at 0.3464% of the declared value, with a minimum of $31.67 and a maximum of $614.35 per entry. HMF (Harbor Maintenance Fee) is charged on goods arriving by ocean vessel at 0.125% of the declared value. HMF does not apply to air or express shipments — only sea freight.

Shipping times vary by method: Express (DHL, FedEx, UPS) takes 3-5 business days and is best for small, urgent shipments. Air freight takes 5-8 business days and offers a good balance of speed and cost for medium shipments. Sea freight takes 25-35 days but is the most economical for large or heavy shipments. Actual transit times can vary based on origin/destination cities, customs clearance time, carrier schedules, and seasonal demand.

We support a wide range of carriers across all shipping methods. For express: DHL Express, FedEx International Priority, FedEx International Economy, and UPS Worldwide Express. For air freight: Cathay Cargo, China Airlines Cargo, EVA Air Cargo, and Air China Cargo. For sea freight: Maersk, COSCO Shipping, MSC, and Evergreen. We continuously add new carriers and routes to offer you the best rates.

Yes, once your shipment is booked, you'll receive real-time tracking updates directly in your IMP Ship dashboard. We integrate with all major carrier tracking systems.

Our AI validation checks for common errors including missing fields, inconsistent values, and formatting issues. If errors are found, we'll flag them before submission so you can correct them.

We use bank-level encryption (AES-256) for all data. Your documents are stored securely and never shared with third parties. We're SOC 2 Type II compliant.

Pro and Enterprise plans support multiple team members with role-based access. Invite your supplier, broker, or colleagues to collaborate on shipments.

Yes, all plans are month-to-month with no long-term contracts. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time.