Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 21, 2026

Advante Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Inc ("Advante," "Company," "we," "us," or "our") values your privacy and works to safeguard the personal and business information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how we gather, use, store, disclose, and secure your information whenever you use our website at advantechb.com (the "Site"), our online tools, client portal, or retain us for customs brokerage services (together, the "Services").

Using the Services means you agree to the practices outlined in this Privacy Policy. If you disagree with any practice described here, please refrain from using the Services or submitting personal information to us.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

We gather information you choose to share with us directly, including:

Account Information: Your name, email address, phone number, company name, job title, and password, collected when you set up an account on our client portal or register through our login page.
Power of Attorney Data: Your full legal name, business entity type, IRS/EIN number, importer of record number, physical address, signature, and government-issued photo ID, which are needed to complete customs Power of Attorney (POA) documents filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Customs & Trade Data: Commercial invoices, bills of lading, packing lists, certificates of origin, import/export paperwork, HTS classification data, bond information, entry summaries, ISF filings, and any other documentation needed for customs clearance.
Payment Information: Invoice numbers, amounts, and the email address we use to send invoices. We do not collect credit card numbers on this website.
Communication Data: Emails, phone calls, messages, and any other correspondence exchanged between you and us.
Contact & Quote Form Submissions: Name, email, phone number, company name, shipment details, commodity information, and any other details you supply through our contact, quote request, or onboarding forms.
Shipment Tracking Inquiries: Entry numbers, bill of lading numbers, or other identifiers you enter to check shipment status.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

Certain information may be collected automatically when you visit the Site, including:

Device & Browser Information: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, screen resolution, and language settings.
Usage Data: Which pages you visit, how long you spend on them, links you click, referring URLs, the date and time you access the Site, search queries, and browsing patterns.
Cookies & Similar Technologies: We rely on cookies, web beacons, and comparable technologies to improve your experience, remember your preferences, and keep sessions secure. See Section 8 (Cookies & Tracking Technologies) for more information.
Log Data: Server logs that record requests made to our website, including access times, error logs, and request parameters.

1.3 Information from Third Parties

We may also receive information about you from outside sources, including:

Government Agencies: CBP, FDA, USDA, EPA, and other Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) may share information tied to your customs entries, such as entry status, examination results, liquidation notices, and compliance actions.
Business Partners: Freight forwarders, carriers, and other logistics providers may pass along shipment-related information needed for customs clearance.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we gather for the purposes listed below:

Purpose	Examples
Providing Brokerage Services	Submitting customs entries, ISFs, and PGA data to CBP and other agencies; classifying merchandise; computing duties and taxes; handling your customs bond
Processing Transactions	Issuing invoices, recording ACH or wire settlements, and advancing government charges for you
Account Management	Setting up and maintaining your account, verifying access, and managing user permissions
Communications	Delivering shipment status updates, CSMS alerts, invoice notifications, bond renewal reminders, regulatory updates, and responses to your inquiries
Legal Compliance	Satisfying recordkeeping obligations under 19 CFR Part 163, responding to government inquiries, and complying with sanctions screening requirements
Improving Services	Reviewing usage patterns, enhancing our website and tools, building new features, and training our staff
Security	Identifying and preventing fraud, unauthorized access, and other security incidents
Marketing	Sending trade compliance updates, industry newsletters, and service announcements (only where you've consented or as the law allows; you can opt out at any time)

3. Legal Bases for Processing

We rely on the following legal bases to process your personal information:

Performance of a Contract: Processing that is necessary to deliver our customs brokerage services and meet our obligations under our service agreement and Power of Attorney.
Legal Obligation: Processing required so we can comply with applicable laws, including customs regulations (19 CFR), tax laws, and government reporting requirements.
Legitimate Interests: Processing that serves our legitimate business interests — such as improving our services, securing our systems, and marketing — so long as those interests don't override your rights.
Consent: Where the law requires it, we obtain your consent before processing, such as for certain marketing communications or optional cookies.

5. Data Retention

5.1 Customs Records

Under 19 CFR § 163.4, customs brokers must by law keep records for each customs transaction for at least five (5) years from the date of entry, covering entry summaries, commercial invoices, bills of lading, classification records, and related correspondence. This legal retention obligation continues even after our relationship with you ends.

5.2 Account Data

We keep your account information for as long as your account stays active or as needed to deliver the Services. Should you request account deletion, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within ninety (90) days — except for data we're legally required to retain (see Section 5.1) or data reasonably needed to resolve disputes or enforce our agreements.

5.3 Payment Records

We retain payment and invoicing records for at least seven (7) years to satisfy tax and accounting obligations.

5.4 Website Usage Data

Usage data collected automatically — including log files and analytics data — is generally kept for up to twenty-four (24) months, after which it is deleted or aggregated so it no longer identifies individuals.

6. Data Security

We put in place and maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, including:

Encryption in Transit: All data traveling between your browser and our servers is encrypted with TLS 1.2 or higher (HTTPS).
Encryption at Rest: Sensitive data held in our systems is encrypted at rest using industry-standard algorithms.
Access Controls: Access to personal information is limited to employees and contractors who need it to do their jobs, and employee access requires multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Invoice Records: Invoice and settlement records are stored for accounting and tax purposes. Credit card numbers are not collected on this website.
Infrastructure Security: Our infrastructure providers hold SOC 2 Type II or equivalent certifications and run comprehensive security programs.
Incident Response: We maintain an incident response plan and will notify affected individuals and relevant authorities of any data breach as required by applicable law.

Browser-Only Processing

Our IEEPA Tariff Refund Calculator processes CBP Form 7501 entry summaries entirely within your browser — uploaded documents are never sent to or stored on Advante servers. The Customs Power of Attorney is offered as a downloadable template; completed forms and identification you email to us are kept as part of your brokerage records.

7. Your Rights & Choices

Depending on where you're located, you may have some or all of the following rights over your personal information:

Access: Ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Correction: Ask us to fix inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
Deletion: Ask us to delete your personal information, subject to our legal retention obligations (see Section 5).
Portability: Ask for a copy of your personal information in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.
Restriction: Ask us to limit processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
Objection: Object to our processing of your personal information for direct marketing or where it's based on legitimate interests.
Withdraw Consent: If processing relies on your consent, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing that occurred before the withdrawal.
Opt-Out of Marketing: You can opt out of marketing emails at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email or by contacting us directly.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@advantechb.com. We will respond within thirty (30) days. Note that certain information may be exempt from such requests under applicable law, particularly records we must maintain under customs regulations.

8. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

8.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device. They're commonly used to help websites run efficiently and to give site operators information.

8.2 How We Use Cookies

We use the following cookie types:

Strictly Necessary Cookies: Needed for the Site to work properly, covering session management, authentication, and security. These can't be turned off.
Functional Cookies: Save your preferences and settings to improve your experience (for example, duty calculator inputs or form progress).

We don't currently use third-party analytics or advertising cookies on the Site. Should we add analytics tools later, we will update this policy and obtain your consent where required.

8.3 Managing Cookies

Most browsers let you manage cookies through their settings — you can configure your browser to reject cookies or notify you when they're sent. Keep in mind that disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain Site features.

8.4 Do Not Track

Our Site does not currently honor "Do Not Track" (DNT) signals sent by browsers, as no accepted industry standard yet exists for handling them.

9. California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)

California residents are granted specific rights over their personal information under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):

Right to Know: You can request disclosure of the categories and specific pieces of personal information we've collected about you, the categories of sources, our business purposes for collecting it, and the categories of third parties we share it with.
Right to Delete: You can request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain exceptions, including our legal recordkeeping obligations.
Right to Correct: You can request correction of inaccurate personal information.
Right to Opt-Out of Sale/Sharing: We don't sell your personal information, and we don't share it for cross-context behavioral advertising.
Right to Non-Discrimination: We won't discriminate against you for exercising any CCPA/CPRA right.

To exercise your California privacy rights, contact us at info@advantechb.com. We may need to verify your identity before we can fulfill your request.

10. International Data Transfers

Our Services are designed primarily for users and importers based in the United States. If you access the Services from outside the U.S., you acknowledge and agree that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where our servers, service providers, and team are located, and that U.S. data protection laws may differ from those of your own jurisdiction.

If you're located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom (UK), or another jurisdiction with its own data protection laws, using the Services means you consent to the transfer of your personal information to the United States. Where applicable law requires it, we will put appropriate safeguards in place for such transfers, such as standard contractual clauses or other legally approved mechanisms.

11. Children's Privacy

The Services are meant for business use and are not directed at anyone under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18, and if we learn that we have, we will promptly delete it. Please contact us right away if you believe we've collected information from a child under 18.

Please reach us at info@advantechb.com with any concerns about information collected from a minor.

12. Third-Party Links & Services

The Site may link to third-party websites and services, including but not limited to CBP.gov, GovDelivery (CSMS), the Federal Register, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and various government agency sites. These third-party sites maintain their own privacy policies and practices, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices or content. We recommend reviewing the privacy policy of any third-party site you visit.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may revise this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or other factors. Updated versions will be posted on the Site along with a revised "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. For material changes, we may also provide notice by email or through a prominent notice on the Site. If you keep using the Services after any changes take effect, you accept the revised Privacy Policy. We recommend checking this Privacy Policy from time to time.

14. Contact Us

For questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, reach us at:

Advante Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Inc Attn: Privacy Los Angeles, CA 90045-6243 Email: info@advantechb.com Website: advantechb.com

For general customer service questions, contact us at info@advantechb.com.

Have questions about your data?

We respond to privacy-related inquiries within 2 business days.

This Privacy Policy is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Advante Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Inc recommends consulting a qualified attorney specializing in data privacy and customs law before relying on this document for compliance purposes.