PAXTON SHREVE HAYS INC

Paxton Shreve Hays Inc holds a rare distinction in the customs brokerage industry: it is widely cited as the oldest and largest full-service customs house brokerage firm in San Diego, California, having served the importing public since 1934. Operating under CBP filer code 534, the firm has navigated nearly a century of tariff changes, regulatory shifts, and evolving trade policy — experience that translates directly into reliable, knowledgeable service for today's importers.

San Diego sits at one of the most active international trade corridors in North America, sharing a border with Tijuana, Baja California. This geography places Paxton Shreve Hays at the center of cross-border commerce involving consumer goods, textiles and apparel, food and beverage products, automotive parts, electronics, and manufactured goods flowing northbound from Mexico. Importers searching for a customs broker near the California-Mexico border will find few firms with deeper roots in this specific trade lane.

The firm's experience with formal vs informal entry customs procedures, CBP entry type selection, and HTS code classification — including the schedule B vs HTS code distinction that trips up many first-time importers — reflects the kind of practical expertise built over decades of real-world filings. Importers dealing with partner government agency requirements from FDA, USDA, or other regulatory bodies benefit from a broker that understands how those agencies interact with CBP during the clearance process.

Beyond basic entry preparation, a firm of this tenure typically handles the full range of US import compliance needs: customs bond requirements including continuous customs bond procurement, importer security filing (ISF) for ocean shipments, and guidance through customs compliance audits. For importers looking to recover overpaid duties, a seasoned San Diego broker is also well-positioned to assist with duty drawback program claims.

With West Coast ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach within reach, and direct access to the busiest land border crossing in the Western Hemisphere, Paxton Shreve Hays Inc serves importers who need a broker with genuine local presence and a track record measured not in years, but in generations. Whether you are new to importing or managing an established supply chain, the firm's longevity in San Diego is a meaningful signal of stability and expertise.