J W Smith Customs Broker: What Importers Need to Know
As of June 2026, importers searching “J W Smith customs broker” are looking for one of two things: they have already been referred to this broker and want to verify their credentials, or they are researching individual licensed brokers to handle their U.S. customs clearance. Either way, understanding what a CBP-licensed individual broker does — and how to evaluate one — is the most important step before any shipment moves.
What We Know About J W Smith
CBP-Licensed Customs Broker: A customs broker licensed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection under 19 USC §1641, authorized to transact customs business on behalf of importers, including filing entry documents, calculating and paying duties, and managing communication with CBP during the clearance process.
J W Smith appears in CBP’s official licensed customs broker records. Like all brokers in that database, J W Smith holds a license number issued after passing the CBP Customs Broker License Examination — a rigorous four-hour, 80-question test with a historical pass rate below 25% — and satisfying CBP’s background check requirements.
Individual licensed brokers like J W Smith operate differently from large brokerage firms. They typically serve a defined set of importers, file at specific ports, and handle a narrower commodity range. This can be an advantage for importers who want direct, consistent contact with the person handling their entries — rather than being passed between agents at a large firm.
To confirm current license status, check CBP’s official broker lookup at CBP.gov or search CustomsBrokerIndex.com, where J W Smith’s profile is sourced directly from CBP data.
Why Individual Broker Credentials Matter to Importers
Hiring an unlicensed person to clear goods on your behalf is a federal violation. Under 19 USC §1641, only CBP-licensed brokers may conduct customs business for compensation. That means filing entry summaries (CBP Form 7501), preparing ISF (Importer Security Filing) documents, and paying duties on your behalf all require a valid, active license.
| Affected Party | What to Verify | Risk if Ignored |
|---|---|---|
| Importer hiring a broker | Active CBP license number | Penalties, delayed clearance, potential seizure |
| Importer using freight forwarder | Whether they hold brokerage license | Unlicensed practice violation |
| E-commerce seller | Broker’s port coverage matches entry port | Missed ISF deadlines, fines up to $5,000/shipment |
| First-time importer | Broker’s commodity experience | Misclassification, duty underpayment, CBP audits |
CBP can revoke or suspend broker licenses for cause. A broker whose license is suspended cannot legally clear your shipments. Verifying license status before your cargo ships — not after it arrives at port — is the correct sequence.
Who Typically Works With an Individual Licensed Broker
Individual brokers like J W Smith are most common in these scenarios:
- Small importers with consistent volume. A single importer bringing in the same commodity on a regular schedule often prefers one broker who knows their business.
- Regional port specialists. Some individual brokers develop deep expertise at a single port — a land border crossing, a smaller air cargo facility, or a regional seaport — where larger firms may not have dedicated staff.
- Commodity specialists. An individual broker may have built expertise in a specific HS chapter: automotive parts, food products, textiles, or industrial equipment.
- Freight forwarder referrals. Freight forwarders that do not hold their own brokerage license routinely refer clients to licensed individual brokers for the customs clearance component of a shipment.
If you work with a freight forwarder, confirm whether they hold a customs broker license themselves or whether they subcontract that work. For context on how these two roles interact, see our guide on 3PL With Customs Clearance and Warehousing Explained.
What Importers Should Do Before Hiring Any Customs Broker
Regardless of whether you are evaluating J W Smith specifically or comparing multiple brokers, follow these steps before signing a power of attorney.
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Verify the license number through CBP.gov or CustomsBrokerIndex.com. Confirm the license is active, not suspended or revoked. CBP’s official broker search is the authoritative source: CBP.gov.
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Confirm port coverage. Ask which ports the broker actively files at and which ports they are licensed to file at. A broker licensed nationally can file at any port, but practical filing relationships and familiarity vary.
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Match your commodity to their experience. Ask for examples of HS codes or commodity types they regularly clear. If you import pharmaceutical products, food, automotive parts, or chemicals, ask specifically about that category. You can also browse brokers by specialty on CustomsBrokerIndex.com to compare options.
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Ask about their ISF process. ISF must be filed 24 hours before vessel departure for ocean freight. Confirm the broker’s process for collecting ISF data from you, their filing timeline, and who is liable if a late ISF triggers a CBP penalty (typically $5,000 per violation).
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Get the fee structure in writing. Broker fees vary: entry filing fees typically range from $75 to $200 per shipment, ISF filing fees run $25 to $75, and additional fees apply for remote location filings, FDA coordination, or AMS entry types. Confirm all fees before authorizing a power of attorney.
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Check for disciplinary history. CBP publishes broker penalty actions. For additional background on evaluating broker credentials, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America maintains resources on broker standards and professional conduct.
Background: How CBP Licenses Individual Brokers
The U.S. customs broker licensing system is governed by 19 USC §1641 and implemented through 19 CFR Part 111. There are two license types: individual licenses (held by a specific person) and corporate permits (held by a business entity, which must employ at least one individually licensed broker as a qualifying member).
J W Smith, as an individual licensed broker, holds a personal license. That license is tied to their identity, not to a business entity. If they work through a company, that company likely also holds a separate permit — but the underlying expertise and legal authority rests with the licensed individual.
To obtain a license, a candidate must:
- Pass the CBP Customs Broker License Examination (offered twice yearly, pass rate historically under 25%)
- Submit a license application to their local CBP port director
- Pass a background investigation
- Pay the applicable license fee (currently $200 under 19 CFR §111.96)
Licenses must be renewed triennially, and brokers must complete continuing education requirements. This is a meaningful credential — not a registration or certification anyone can obtain by paying a fee.
For comparison, you can read how other individual licensed brokers operate in our profiles of Davidson and Sons Customs Broker, Interglobo Customs Broker Inc, and Soo Hoo Customs Broker.
Where to Find the Right Broker for Your Shipment
If J W Smith is not the right fit for your commodity, port, or volume, the correct next step is a structured broker search — not another round of Google searches.
CustomsBrokerIndex.com indexes all 11,000+ CBP-licensed customs brokers in the U.S. with:
- Verified CBP license numbers
- Filtering by state, city, port of entry, and specialty
- Claimed profiles where brokers have added direct contact information
Start your search by location using browse brokers by state, or filter by your specific port of entry at browse by U.S. port of entry. If your goods fall into a regulated category — food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, automotive — use the specialty filter to find brokers with documented experience in that area.
Tariff classification questions and binding ruling research can be handled directly at hts.usitc.gov and rulings.cbp.gov — both free tools that complement what your broker does, and that you should understand regardless of who you hire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is J W Smith customs broker? J W Smith is a CBP-licensed customs broker appearing in official U.S. Customs and Border Protection records. Licensed brokers like J W Smith are authorized to file entry documents, pay duties, and clear goods through U.S. ports of entry on behalf of importers.
How do I verify J W Smith’s customs broker license? You can verify any licensed broker’s credentials directly through CBP’s official broker search tool at CBP.gov, or by searching the CustomsBrokerIndex.com directory. Every broker entry on CustomsBrokerIndex.com is sourced from CBP’s official licensed broker records and includes a license number.
What types of importers typically work with a broker like J W Smith? Small and mid-size importers, e-commerce sellers, and freight forwarders commonly work with individual licensed brokers for routine clearance, ISF filings, and bond management. Larger shippers may also use individual brokers for specific ports or commodity types.
What should I ask J W Smith or any customs broker before hiring them? Ask for their CBP license number and confirm it is active, ask which ports they actively file at, ask about their experience with your specific commodity (HS code range), ask how they handle antidumping or countervailing duty cases, and confirm their fee structure in writing before any shipment moves.
Where can I find other CBP-licensed customs brokers if J W Smith is not the right fit? You can search all 11,000+ CBP-licensed customs brokers at CustomsBrokerIndex.com by city, state, port of entry, or specialty. Every listing is sourced from official CBP data and includes license verification details.