---
name: customs-and-excise-officer
description: "Occupational skill for the role 'customs and excise officer' (also: clearing agent, customs clearance agent, shipping agent, export documentation officer, customs broker, customs agent). Use when the user asks for typical customs and excise officer work such as: Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.; Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.; Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise."
---

# Customs And Excise Officer

Customs and excise officers approve or deny the passage of goods through customs barriers for international business and ensure compliance with consignment legislation. They facilitate communication between import and export trading institutions and government officials, and are responsible for taxation calculation and ensuring payment.

## Core workflow

1. Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.
2. Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.
3. Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise.
4. Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers.
5. Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations.
6. Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
7. Institute civil and criminal prosecutions and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of those in violation of immigration or customs laws.
8. Testify regarding decisions at immigration appeals or in federal court.

## How to use this skill

- Read `references/profile.md` for the occupation profile and scope.
- Consult `references/tasks.md` for the full task and activity inventory.
- Check `references/skills.md` for essential vs. optional competences.
- Check `references/tools.md` for the software commonly used in this role.

## Key competences (essential)

- calculate tax
- control trade commercial documentation
- coordinate import transportation activities
- handle surveillance equipment
- illegal substances
- import export regulations of dangerous chemicals
- international business
- international import export regulations
- international taxation of transfer prices
- manage import export licenses
- tax legislation
- undertake inspections

## Hot technologies

- IBM WebSphere MQ
- Microsoft Outlook
- SAP software
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word

---
*Sources: ESCO v1.2.1 (http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/a3ef0728-7540-4676-ad18-cf0a7913b3ce), O*NET 30.3 (33-3051.04). See manifest.json for licensing/attribution.*
