About Us

“ACP Japan” is a service brand managed by SK Advisory, Inc., a professional Attorney for Customs Procedures (ACP) service provider. We have extensive experience in assisting non-resident companies to become a Japan Importer of Record (Japan IOR) and a Japan Exporter of Record (Japan EOR).

Company Name SK Advisory, Inc
CEO Sawada Keisuke
Address 11-2-C 2002, Numakage 1, Minami-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan
Tel +81-8025677140
E-mail
Website https://skadvisory.jp/en/
Establish Year 2020
Business
  • Trade & Customs, FTA Consulting Service
  • Attorney for Customs Procedure (ACP), Japan Importer of Record (IOR) & Tax Representative Service
  • Import Support for Regulated Products — Domestic Representative Service for Product Safety Laws (PSE/PSC), Food Contact Products
  • HS Classification Service   etc.
Accreditation
Official Amazon’s SPN (Service Provider Network) under the Compliance category

Contact us

 

 

Our ACP Service: The Best Solution for the Japan Importer of Record (IOR) and Exporter of Record (EOR)

Attorney for Customs Procedures (ACP) is the best solution for addressing the issue of Japan IOR – Importer of Record. Below is an outline of our primary services and a diagram illustrating the operational structure of the ACP service. Upon successful ACP registration, a foreign entity can become the Japan IOR – Importer of Record.

Basic Scope of Services:

  • Consultation with the Japan Customs Office for successful ACP registration. 
  • Liaising with stakeholders, including Logistics Forwarding Companies and the Customs Offices, on behalf of non-resident clients (i.e., non-resident Japan IOR) to ensure the secure importation of goods.
  • Assistance in preparing the necessary documentation for import clearance.
  • Support of calculation of Customs Value (Customs Valuation Formula), in accordance with appropriate compliance under the Japan Tariff Customs Law.
  • Advance Rulings on HS Classification, Customs Value, Rule of Origin.
  • Import Support for Regulated Products — Domestic Representative Service for Product Safety Laws (PSE/PSC), Food Contact Products, etc.
  • Security Export Control (Classification for List Control, Examination for Catch-All Control, Application of the license to Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
  • Documents keeping, required under article 95 – Japan Customs Law
  • Providing professional trade/customs advice if any issues arise.

**Both import and export activities can benefit from the use of an ACP (Attorney for Customs Procedures). This support is applicable in scenarios where a non-resident acts as the Importer of Record (IOR) for imports and as the Exporter of Record (EOR) for exports.

 

Three Steps to Initiate Shipments Under the ACP Program: :

  1. Quotation Review to Contract Conclusion: Upon receiving your contact details, we will promptly provide a quotation for your review.
  2. Commencing the Registration of ACP (Attorney for Customs Procedure) to Japan Customs: This process is generally completed in about two weeks.
  3. Initiation of First Shipment, Import/Export

 

 

Track Record – Attorney for Customs Procedures (ACP) Services

We have supported import and export operations in Japan for over 200 clients across more than 40 countries.

 

Examples of International Logistics Partners We Have Worked With

We have a proven track record of working with a wide range of logistics providers. As the Attorney for Customs Procedures (ACP), we handle customs-related responsibilities while logistics companies manage transportation and warehousing operations.

  • Apex International
  • Brink’s
  • CEVA Logistics
  • Crane Worldwide Logistics
  • DB Shenker
  • DGX(Dependable Global Express)
  • DHL Express
  • DHL Global Forwarding
  • Dimerco
  • DSV Air & Sea
  • Expeditors
  • FedEx Express
  • FERCAM
  • Harumigumi
  • Herport
  • ICL Logistics
  • JAS Forwarding
  • Kintetsu Express
  • Kokusai Express
  • Kuehne + Nagel
  • Mitsubishi Logistics
  • MOL Logistics
  • Nankai Express
  • Nippon Express
  • OIA Global
  • PGS
  • Rhenus Group
  • Röhlig
  • Sankyu
  • Sanyo Logistics
  • Scan Global Logistics
  • Seino Schenker
  • SEKO Logistics
  • Shin-Ei gumi
  • Sumitomo Warehouse
  • UPS
  • UPS Supply Chain Solutions
  • Yamato Transport

…and many other logistics providers in Japan and around the world.

 

Why choose us?

We specialize in navigating complex issues at the intersection of customs procedures and taxation—an area where our ability to offer practical, comprehensive support from both perspectives sets us apart. Understanding the close relationship between customs duties and national taxes (especially, Japan Consumption Tax – JCT), and addressing both in an integrated manner, is crucial in the context of international trade.

  • Customs and International Trade Professionals – Led by our CEO, Mr. Sawada—Certified Customs Specialist and former KPMG professional—ACP JAPAN provides expert-level support in Customs and international trade.
  • Full Compliance with Japanese Customs Law – We ensure full adherence to Japanese Customs Law, including Importer of Record (IOR) structure, HS code classification, and customs valuation. We assist in preparing all essential shipping documents for non-resident entities.
  • One-Stop Support for ACP and JCT Tax Representative Services – In collaboration with trusted partner tax accountants, we provide comprehensive support for both customs procedures through the Attorney for Customs Procedures (ACP) and Japan Consumption Tax (JCT) filings through the JCT Tax Representative.
  • Multilingual Communication – Our team communicates fluently in English, Japanese, and Chinese, offering smooth coordination with global clients and authorities in Japan.
  • Support for Regulated Products – Our ACP/IOR partnership system can manage regulated items, including cosmetics, PSE-products, foodstuffs, and tableware.
  • Trusted by Global Clients – Serving around 100 ACP clients annually, including many Amazon sellers, we’re a certified provider on Amazon SPN (Service Provider Network) under Trade Compliance.

     

 

 

 

FAQ for ACP (Attorney for Customs Procedures)

What is the role of ACP (ACP Japan)?

  • Representation: ACP (ACP Japan) represents the foreign importer and liaises with Japan Customs and the Forwarding Company/Customs Broker.
  • Documentation and Compliance: ACP assists in preparing essential import documents (e.g., Invoices) in compliance with Japan Customs Law and formally requests the Customs Broker to proceed with customs clearance.
  • Expert Consultation and Troubleshooting: We are a team of legal experts in Customs Laws, providing direct consultations with Japan Customs to ensure compliance and address issues, including troubleshooting unique challenges in non-resident imports.

 

How long time does it require to get ACP’s registration?

It will take approximately 2 weeks until getting an approval from Japan Customs Office.
The breakdown of the task is as follows.

  • Prepare the necessary documentation between us
  • Start pre-consultation with Japan Customs Office and proceed initial review
  • Submit paper-based set of application documents to Japan Customs Office for final review

 

What kind of documents to be necessary for ACP application?

Not limited, but for instance – Power of Attorney, Company Registry, The calculation method of Customs Valuation, Catalog of the import goods, business/logistic flow

 

ACP can handle all kinds of goods?

Whereas many ACP service providers do not handle regulated items, our company’s competitive advantage stems from our ability to manage such products. We can support regulated items, including cosmetics, PSE-regulated products, foodstuffs, and tableware.

 

Which regions in Japan are we covering?

Any region in Japan, we can handle.

 

What is difference between ACP and IOR?

ACP is not the Importer. ACP enables non-resident entities to become IOR (Importer of Record).

 

 


[Our Service]

Our ACP Service for Importer of Record (IOR)

Our ACP Service for Exporter of Record (EOR)

 

[Knowledge Pages]

What is ACP? – Attorney for Customs Procedures

Steps of using ACP, how foreign entity can import into Japan by ACP

What is IOR? – Importer of Record

Amazon won’t become an IOR

Customs Valuation System in Japan

Customs Valuation When You Import By ACP

Consumption Tax in Japan

IOR and ACP

IOR Service

ACP’s Limitation on Handling by ACP in Japan – Our System Enables Us to Handle Regulated Items

ACP’s Qualification

ACP’s registration

 

[Recent Updates]

Urgent Compliance Alert for E-Commerce Sellers: Avoid Penalties with Japan’s New Import Regulations – Act Now!

October 2023: Introduction of Two New Systems in Japan – (1) Switching from IOR Provider to ACP & (2) QIS: Japan Consumption Tax’s Qualified Invoice System

ACP Japan Became Amazon’s SPN Provider as Qualified ACP Service Provider

Taxes on Imports: Customs Duty and Japan Consumption Tax (JCT)

Import Permit Document and Alert on IOR Service

New Japan Qualified Invoice System and import JCT (Japan Consumption Tax)

 

 

Japan ACP – Attorney for Customs Procedures (ACP) professional company, supporting non-resident companies to become Japan IOR – Importer of Record

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