Countries › Panama › Guide › 9. Trade and customs › Importing and exporting in Panama: the customs authority, licensed brokers, the B/.50 minimum broker fee and declaring every shipment
Importing and exporting in Panama: the customs authority, licensed brokers, the B/.50 minimum broker fee and declaring every shipment
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Last verified: 2026-10-29 · Status: Stable
Panama's Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas (ANA) runs customs under Decreto Ley 1 de 2008 and, since Panama joined Central American economic integration through Ley 26 de 2013, the Central American customs code (CAUCA) and its regulation (RECAUCA). Every shipment that arrives must be declared, and imports and suspensive regimes need a licensed customs broker whose minimum fee starts at B/.50 per declaration. Duties, ITBMS, excise and customs fees are paid at clearance, and exports and re-exports are declared through the same customs system.
Panama's currency, the balboa (B/.), is at par with the US dollar, which circulates as legal tender; the Superintendencia de Bancos states that the balboa's value is on a par with the US dollar (checked 29 October 2026). USD figures therefore equal the balboa figures.
Key facts
| Licensed customs broker required for imports | Yes, unless a law or treaty excludes it textDecreto Ley 1 de 2008 art. 42, as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
|---|---|
| Minimum customs broker fee per declaration (CIF up to B/.4,999) | 50 PABDecreto Ley 1 de 2008 art. 45-A (Ley 2 de 2016), as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
| Tasa Administrativa por Servicios Aduaneros (declarations of B/.2,000 or more) | 100 PABDecreto Ley 1 de 2008 art. 69; ANA schedule, as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
| Customs value from which the administrative fee applies | 2000 PABDecreto Ley 1 de 2008 art. 69, as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
| ITBMS on imports (general rate) | 7 %Código Fiscal art. 1057-V parágrafo 6, as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
| Time in customs warehouse before tacit abandonment | 3 months monthsDecreto Ley 1 de 2008 art. 150, as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
| Exchange rate used for USD conversions | 1 PAB per USDBalboa at par with the US dollar (Superintendencia de Bancos), as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
The rule
1. The ANA is the customs authority. It applies customs law exclusively, controls the entry, stay and exit of goods, and collects duties and the other taxes it is charged with collecting. Since Ley 26 de 2013 approved Panama's incorporation protocol to the Central American economic integration subsystem, Panama applies the Central American Uniform Customs Code (CAUCA) and its regulation (RECAUCA); Decreto de Gabinete 12 de 2016 adds complementary national rules.Decreto Ley 1 de 13 de febrero de 2008; Ley 26 de 17 de abril de 2013; Decreto de Gabinete 12 de 29 de marzo de 2016, DL 1 art. 1 and 17; Ley 26 art. 1, 2013-04-17 official text · verified 2026-10-29
2. Every good that arrives in national territory must be declared, even if it bears no duty or tax. The declaration may be lodged before the goods arrive, under the self assessment principle.Decreto Ley 1 de 2008, arts. 92 and 113, 2008-02-13 official text · verified 2026-10-29
3. A licensed customs broker (agente corredor de aduana) must intervene in customs regimes, including definitive and temporary imports and duty suspension regimes, unless an international agreement or law expressly excludes it. Only persons holding a broker licence may act or advertise as brokers; violations are fined B/.5,000 to B/.10,000 by the ANA.
Cost to do it: Unlicensed brokerage: fine of B/.5,000 to B/.10,000 (US$5,000 to US$10,000).Decreto Ley 1 de 2008, art. 51 as worded by Ley 2 de 7 de enero de 2016 art. 4, arts. 42 and 51, 2016-01-07 official text · verified 2026-10-29
Cost to do it: Unlicensed brokerage: fine of B/.5,000 to B/.10,000 (US$5,000 to US$10,000).Decreto Ley 1 de 2008, art. 51 as worded by Ley 2 de 7 de enero de 2016 art. 4, arts. 42 and 51, 2016-01-07 official text · verified 2026-10-29
4. Brokers must charge at least a statutory minimum fee: B/.50 for a CIF value up to B/.4,999; B/.80 from B/.4,999.01 to B/.9,999; above B/.9,999.01, B/.80 plus B/.0.25 for each additional balboa; B/.4 per additional tariff line; fees above B/.5,000 per declaration may be negotiated. Related services are priced freely. Charging below the minimum leads to licence suspension of three months, then one year, and cancellation after two sanctions.
Cost to do it: Minimum broker fee B/.50 (US$50) per declaration up to B/.4,999 CIF; B/.80 (US$80) up to B/.9,999 CIF; B/.4 (US$4) per extra tariff line.
Example: A B/.3,000 CIF import with two tariff lines: minimum broker fee B/.50 plus B/.4, total B/.54. / US$3,000 CIF, two lines: minimum broker fee US$54.Decreto Ley 1 de 2008, art. 45-A added by Ley 2 de 2016 art. 2; arts. 50 and 52 as worded by Ley 2 de 2016, art. 45-A, 2016-01-07 official text · verified 2026-10-29
Cost to do it: Minimum broker fee B/.50 (US$50) per declaration up to B/.4,999 CIF; B/.80 (US$80) up to B/.9,999 CIF; B/.4 (US$4) per extra tariff line.
Example: A B/.3,000 CIF import with two tariff lines: minimum broker fee B/.50 plus B/.4, total B/.54. / US$3,000 CIF, two lines: minimum broker fee US$54.Decreto Ley 1 de 2008, art. 45-A added by Ley 2 de 2016 art. 2; arts. 50 and 52 as worded by Ley 2 de 2016, art. 45-A, 2016-01-07 official text · verified 2026-10-29
5. Customs taxes arise when goods enter or leave the customs territory. They include import, export or re-export duties set in the tariff and special laws, the Tasa Administrativa por Servicios Aduaneros, charges for customs custody, seals and special surveillance, and ITBMS, excise (ISC) and other non customs taxes, which customs collects as if they were customs taxes. The taxable base for customs taxes is the customs value.Decreto Ley 1 de 2008, art. 68, 2008-02-13 official text · verified 2026-10-29
6. The ANA publishes its fixed charges: B/.3 for customs seals, B/.3 for use of the customs IT system, B/.5 for a simplified declaration, B/.5 per container for transshipment, B/.1 for the movement form for non nationalized goods, and B/.26 (B/.31 on holidays and weekends) for maritime custody, among others. The Tasa Administrativa por Servicios Aduaneros is due on each import declaration with a taxable customs value of B/.2,000 or more; the ANA lists it at B/.100.
Cost to do it: Typical fixed customs charges: B/.3 seal, B/.3 IT system use, B/.100 administrative fee on declarations of B/.2,000 or more (US$ equal).Decreto Ley 1 de 2008 art. 69; ANA schedule of charges and formalities, art. 69, 2008-02-13 official text · verified 2026-10-29
Cost to do it: Typical fixed customs charges: B/.3 seal, B/.3 IT system use, B/.100 administrative fee on declarations of B/.2,000 or more (US$ equal).Decreto Ley 1 de 2008 art. 69; ANA schedule of charges and formalities, art. 69, 2008-02-13 official text · verified 2026-10-29
7. ITBMS applies to imports at 7 percent, at 10 percent on alcoholic beverages and 15 percent on tobacco products; the tariff schedule shows the ITBMS rate for each tariff line.Código Fiscal art. 1057-V parágrafo 6 as worded by Ley 8 de 2010 art. 76, art. 1057-V parágrafo 6, 2010-03-15 official text · verified 2026-10-29
8. Goods left in customs warehouses without a customs destination for three months from receipt, or not removed within two months after the import declaration is accepted, are deemed tacitly abandoned and pass to the ANA; goods under the deposit regime or consigned to order may stay up to 12 months. The owner may redeem them by paying what is owed up to the business day before the auction.Decreto Ley 1 de 2008, arts. 150 and 151, 2008-02-13 official text · verified 2026-10-29
9. Re-exports from the Colón Free Zone, free zones or customs warehouses need an electronic re-export certificate issued through the customs system (SIGA), for which the user must be registered as an external user.ANA Resolución 422 de 4 de agosto de 2021; Resolución 192 de 1 de agosto de 2011 (SIGA external users registry), whole resolutions (ANA summary), 2021-08-04 official text · verified 2026-10-29
| CIF value of the declaration | Minimum fee |
|---|---|
| Up to B/.4,999 | B/.50 |
| B/.4,999.01 to B/.9,999 | B/.80 |
| Above B/.9,999.01 | B/.80 plus B/.0.25 per additional balboa |
| Each additional tariff line | B/.4 |
| Fee above B/.5,000 | Excess freely negotiated |
Minimum customs broker fee under Decreto Ley 1 de 2008 art. 45-A (Ley 2 de 2016), balboas equal US dollars.
Worked example
- A distributor imports laptops worth B/.900 each, CIF value B/.4,500 for five units, tariff line 8471.30.10 (CIF up to B/.1,000 per unit): import duty 0 percent, ITBMS 7 percent, ISC 0 percent per the 2026 tariff.
- ITBMS is B/.315 (US$315); the declaration exceeds B/.2,000 so the B/.100 administrative fee applies; add B/.3 for IT system use and a minimum broker fee of B/.50.
- Total official and broker cost at clearance: about B/.468 (US$468) before freight, storage and port charges; the ITBMS is recoverable as input tax by an ITBMS registered business.
Step by step
- Register the importing company and obtain its RUC and, for local trading, the Aviso de Operación (see Entities).
- Hire a licensed customs broker and give a power of attorney; check the broker on the ANA broker search.
- Classify the goods in the national tariff and check permits from other agencies (health, agriculture, controlled goods).
- Lodge the declaration in the customs system (SIGA), if useful before arrival, and pay duties, ITBMS, ISC and fees.
- Remove the goods within two months after acceptance to avoid abandonment; keep records for post clearance audits.
- For exports and re-exports, file the export declaration or the electronic re-export certificate.
Common traps
- Non dutiable goods must still be declared; undeclared goods are a customs offense.
- Brokers cannot discount below the statutory minimum, so quotes below it signal a problem.
- The B/.100 administrative fee makes several small declarations above B/.2,000 more expensive than one consolidated declaration.
- Goods left uncleared for three months pass to the ANA and can be auctioned.
Sources
- Decreto Ley 1 de 13 de febrero de 2008, creating the ANA, Gaceta Oficial 25984 (Legispan)
- Decreto Ley 1 de 2008, text published by the Órgano Judicial
- Ley 2 de 7 de enero de 2016, customs brokers and minimum fees, Gaceta Oficial 27944-B
- Ley 26 de 17 de abril de 2013, protocol of incorporation to Central American economic integration, Gaceta Oficial 27268-B
- Decreto de Gabinete 12 de 29 de marzo de 2016, complementary provisions to CAUCA and RECAUCA, Gaceta Oficial 28013-B
- Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas, charges and formalities
- Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas, re-export certificate
- Arancel Nacional de Importación, VII Enmienda updated to 2026 (ANA)
- Ley 8 de 15 de marzo de 2010, ITBMS rates, Gaceta Oficial 26489-A
- Superintendencia de Bancos de Panamá, historical review (balboa at par with the US dollar)
Related pages
- trade/tariffs-and-import-taxes
- trade/customs-regimes-and-clearance
- trade/courier-and-low-value-imports
- trade/customs-penalties-and-audits
- taxes/vat
- entities/choosing-an-entity
- /country/panama/
- /calendar/
- Live dashboard
Related: Panama country profile · live dashboard · central bank and release calendar · our posts on X · where Argentina is involved, see The Argentine Thread guide
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