United States Customs Service Law & Legal Definition

United States Customs Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Agency is responsible for collecting import duties on goods, wares, and merchandise, and for enforcing customs and related laws. The United States Customs Service was established in 1863. It was during 2003, that the Agency was transferred from the Department of the Treasury. The Agency is also known as Bureau of Customs.