In customs processing, who is a declarant?

• A. The person declaring goods or items for customs duties; interacts with the officer
• B. The officer declaring their route
• C. A bystander at the port of entry
• D. The airline agent declaring flight status

Answer: (A)

The declarant is the person who presents the goods and makes the formal declaration to customs for clearance and duties. This can be the importer or a licensed customs broker or authorized agent acting on the importer’s behalf. The declarant provides accurate details about the goods—description, quantity, value, country of origin, and tariff classification—and submits the required documentation for the entry. This declaration is the basis the customs officer uses to assess duties and ensure compliance, and it is the declarant who interacts with the officer to complete the clearance. The other roles described don’t involve making the official declaration to customs.