How to Self-Clear a Package on Click2Clear
By George · updated 2026-08-24 · checked against the 2026 Bahamas tariff schedule
Click2Clear is Bahamas Customs' online clearance system. Self-clearing means you (not a broker) declare the shipment, get it classified, and pay duty + VAT directly — typically saving broker fees on small shipments and guaranteeing you pay the actual charges rather than an estimate.
The short version
- Register for a Click2Clear individual account (one-time; you'll need your NIB number and ID).
- Gather documents: the commercial invoice (your Amazon order confirmation with prices), the airway bill / bill of lading from your forwarder, and the freight charge.
- Create the entry: a Home Consumption declaration for ordinary purchases. Enter each item with its value and tariff code — this is where knowing the correct classification (look it up here) saves real money.
- Submit and pay online once the assessment comes back; duty, processing fee, levy and VAT are itemized exactly as in our fee guide.
- Collect the package from your forwarder or the carrier with the release.
What you need before you start
- Your NIB number and photo ID for registration.
- A commercial invoice showing real prices. An order confirmation with the item prices visible is what most people use. A packing slip with no values is not enough.
- The airway bill or bill of lading from your forwarder or carrier.
- The freight charge as a number. Customs assesses on the CIF value — goods, insurance and freight — so the entry needs the freight figure, and it feeds the duty and VAT calculation.
- A tariff code per item. This is the part that takes the longest the first time.
Where people go wrong
Guessing the tariff code. It is the single field that determines your bill. Getting it wrong in your favour is a compliance problem; getting it wrong against yourself is money given away. Headphones at 0% and speakers at 45% are the same four-digit heading — the classification guide covers how to read the schedule properly.
Leaving freight out. A common first-time error. The value declared should reflect the goods plus freight, and Customs will assess on that basis regardless of what you entered.
Forgetting the levy or excise. A television carries a $5 environmental levy on top of duty. A vehicle is customs-free and then pays excise of up to 65%. Neither shows up if you only look at the duty column.
Understating value. Declaring less than you paid is not a grey area, and the invoice is in the file.
Is it worth it for your shipment?
Self-clearing trades your time for a broker's fee. Roughly:
- Small, simple, regular shipments — clearly worth it. One or two line items, a code you have used before, and an entry that takes fifteen minutes.
- One large mixed consolidation — usually worth it, but budget an hour for classification the first time. This is also where the savings are largest in dollars.
- Vehicles, restricted goods, or anything needing a permit — use a broker. The rules around these are where an expensive mistake lives.
First-time setup takes an evening; after that a typical entry is 15–20 minutes. For a $600 TV the broker fee saved usually exceeds $50 — and on a monthly consolidation habit that compounds into real money over a year.
Whether you self-clear or not, knowing the correct figure in advance is what stops a surprise at the counter. Run the shipment through the calculator with your freight cost before it ships.