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In the future, message exchange customers will be notified of Customs-initiated clearances by message even when they have not submitted a declaration personally

Publication date 7.3.2024 12.23

In certain situations, Customs makes proposals and decisions on levying customs debt on its own initiative. Customs may do so for example when, in connection with controls, Customs finds that goods declared under some other customs procedure have gone missing from customs supervision. Currently, Customs-initiated decision proposals and actual decisions are sent by mail to all customs debtors. In the future, all customs debtors who are import message exchange customers will receive proposals and decisions along with attachments also in message format as of 25 May 2024.

Message exchange involving Customs-initiated decisions on levying customs debt ‒ example

  • A customer has submitted a transit declaration to Customs. In connection with a customs control, Customs finds that some of the goods have gone missing during the transit procedure. 
  • If the customs debtor responsible for the transit procedure is an import message declarant, Customs will send them a hearing request with message FI430. The request contains a new import declaration MRN based on declaration details generated by Customs.  
    • Attached to the message is a proposed customs clearance decision in PDF format. The proposed decision contains the MRN of the original transit declaration which the proposed customs clearance decision concerns. 
  • When the customer has replied to the hearing request with message FI446 or the time limit for the hearing has expired, Customs will send the customer a decision on levying customs debt with message FI468. The MRN of the original transit declaration is in the message data element “Additional LRN” (FI468B/FunctionalReference@function="AdditionalLRN").
  • Message exchange customers can also obtain PDF printouts of the invoice and the decision on levying customs debt. The customs clearance decision is somewhat different to a regular customs clearance decision in terms of content. The invoice is always a cash invoice.  

The example of message exchange will be published later in the guidebook for message exchange in import as a new case of use.

Import message declarants will receive information also by mail

In addition to messages, Customs will send proposed decisions, actual decisions and their attachments by mail to message declarants even after 25 May 2024. Customers can reply to mailed hearing requests by mail or email.

Hearing requests and documentation regarding Customs-initiated decision proposals and actual decisions will not be submitted via the Customs Clearance Service. It is not possible to reply to requests sent as messages or by mail in the Customs Clearance Service.  

Testing 

When software developers so wish, they can test the message exchange around Customs-initiated decisions on subsequent levy with Customs. For the time being, testing can however be arranged only during a pre-arranged period of two weeks. You should contact Customs for arranging a test period.  

More information: UCC(at)tulli.fi
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