Amending an import declaration

An import declaration can be amended up until Customs has made a decision regarding the declaration. With a supplementary customs declaration, you can make additions or amendments to some of the details provided in a simplified declaration. If the amendments to a simplified declaration can’t be made using a supplementary declaration, request amendment of the simplified declaration.

If the errors in the declaration can’t be amended or if the customs declaration is unnecessary, the customs declaration must be invalidated. 

Customs may request amendment of the declaration

If Customs notices errors or insufficient details in the submitted customs declaration, a message exchange customer is notified of this with an error notification. In that case, make the appropriate amendments and additions to the customs declaration. You can also amend any other errors or details you notice that are affected by the erroneous detail. The error notification indicates the time limit for making the amendment.

When you have amended the declaration, respond to the error notification sent by Customs with an amendment request message. 

If the customs declaration has been submitted in the Customs Clearance Service and Customs detects errors in the declaration, the customer receives a rejection notification. You can amend the declaration you’ve submitted by opening it again in the online service. Amend the erroneous details and resend the declaration to Customs for processing.  

Amending a customs declaration before a decision

Not all details in the customs declaration can be amended. These include trader details such as declarant (importer), representative (agent) and type of representation. Likewise, the procedure requested in the customs declaration can’t be amended. The additional procedure can’t be amended after the release if, for example, the prerequisite for the release was the presentation of a specific authorisation/document. Other details can be amended before the decision. However, the declaration can’t be amended if Customs has decided to inspect the goods.

  • Import declarations submitted via message exchange can be amended by sending an amendment request message. The amendment request message can only be sent by the submitter of the original declaration. When amendment is requested prior to decision on release, provide “KOR – Amendment before release” as the amendment type. 
  • A customs declaration submitted in the Customs Clearance Service can be amended by clicking on “Amend” on the page “Summary and submission”. Send the amended declaration to Customs again for processing. 

If a declaration has been submitted as a simplified periodic customs declaration, some details can be amended with a supplementary declaration. More information about the supplementary periodic import declaration.

If you submit a supplementary declaration separately for each simplified declaration, certain details can be amended with the supplementary declaration. Read more on the page “Supplementary declaration for each simplified declaration”.

If the goods have been released for the procedure by entry in the declarant’s records and you have submitted the presentation notification, you can amend certain details with the supplementary declaration. Read more on the page ”Entry in the declarant's records”.

If you have received a release decision and you notice an error in the declaration which you can’t amend with a supplementary customs declaration, request amendment of the simplified declaration. either by making an amendment request in the Customs Clearance Service 

You can amend an erroneous detail after receiving the release decision 

  • either by making an amendment request in the Customs Clearance Service
  • or by sending and “Amendment request” message. 

Amend the erroneous detail in the declaration and send the amended declaration to Customs by selecting “OIK – Changes to declared information” as the amendment type and e.g. “T-14 – Other” as the reason for amendment. You can only submit a supplementary customs declaration after Customs has processed the amendment request. 

If the details can’t be amended using a supplementary customs declaration and the customs declaration details can’t be amended, a new, replacement customs declaration must be lodged. In that case, the original customs declaration must be invalidated. Read more about invalidation of a customs declaration. 

Amending declaration details after a customs clearance decision

When you have received a customs clearance decision, you can no longer amed the declaration. Instead you must make an amendment request. Attach the required documents, such as the invoice, to the request More information about making an amendment request in the Customs Clearance Service.

Amendment of a customs clearance decision for a customs declaration submitted via message exchange is requested electronically. Amend the erroneous detail provided in the declaration and submit the amended declaration to Customs using the message “Amendment request” and by providing the amendment type reason.

Amendment of a customs declaration submitted via the Customs Clearance Service can be requested in the Customs Clearance Service, either via the section “Summary and submission” or via the “Contact Customs” button on the front page. Select “Amendment request” and amend the erroneous detail(s) provided in the declaration. When you have amended the erroneous detail(s), return to the page “Amendment request” and select the reason code for amendment.

Provide one of the following as the amendment type or the reason code for amendment:

  • Select “OIK – Changes to declared information” if you assume that the amendment won’t affect any charges to be collected.
  • Please note this when you are making an amendment request concerning a supplementary customs declaration after receiving a customs clearance decision and you are using the amendment type or reason code ““OIK – Changes to declared information”: Certain details in the data content can’t be amended in the supplementary declaration. Instead, the amendment must be made by providing the reasons for the amendment verbally. These include, for example mass (weight) and package details. 
  • Select “JAL – Post-clearance recovery”, when you assume that the amendment leads to post-clearance recovery.
  • Select the amendment type “PAL – Repayment or remission”, when you expect a repayment based on the amendment. Always enter the details of the bank account to which the repayment should be made. If the account number is not provided, the repayment request cannot be processed.
    • Example: If you have received a credit note, because the product wasn’t complying with the terms of the contract, provide ”F10 – Defective goods” as the type or reason for amendment, see code list NCL062 – Reason for contact - amendment. 
      • If there is no account number, the repayment can be directed to the bank as a payment order in exceptional circumstances. 
        • In such cases, the message declarant selects “K – Payment order/Cash delivery” and enters the name of the account holder and the person’s address details in Finland.
        • In the Customs Clearance Service, select “Payment order/Cash delivery” and enter the name of the account holder and the person’s address details in Finland.

Customs will respond to the amendment request by accepting or rejecting the request.

Even if the declaration had been submitted to Customs via message exchange or via the Import Declaration Service for private persons, you can request amendment of the declaration in the Customs Clearance Service. Read more about this in the user interface guidance, under “Browsing a declaration lodged via another transaction channel and switching the transaction channel”.

If you wish to amend a customs declaration after receiving the release decision or customs clearance decision, you can use the following codes in the request:

For statistical amendments, use the code “OIK – Changes to declared information”. If you have submitted a customs declaration with erroneous details and have received a customs clearance decision, you must make an amendment request or a statistical amendment. The statistical amendment and an amendment request must be made if the erroneous detail concerns e.g. the commodity code, value or quantity, even if you haven’t paid any customs duty for the goods. If needed, you can attach documents, such as the invoice, to the request. 

Use the code “OIK – Changes to declared information”, when you assume that the amendment won’t affect any charges to be collected. In that case, you have to select one of the following reason codes:

  • ”T-01 – Origin”
  • ”T-04 – Commodity code”
  • ”T-07 – Customs value”
  • ”T-09 – Error relating to release from storage”, if the storage operator doesn’t release the goods due to an erroneous detail
  • ”T-14 – Other”.

Use the code “JAL – Post-clearance recovery”, when you assume that the amendment leads to post-clearance recovery. In that case, you must select one of the following reason codes:

  • ”X-01 – Origin”
  • ”X-02 – Quota”
  • ”X-04 – Commodity code”
  • ”X-07 – Customs value”
  • ”X-08 – Relief from customs duty”
  • ”X-09 – Error relating to release from storage”, if the storage operator doesn’t release the goods due to an erroneous detail
  • ”X-14 – Other”.

Use the code “PAL – Repayment or remission”, when you expect a repayment based on the amendment. In that case, you must select one of the following reason codes:

  • ”B-01 – Origin”
  • ”B-04 – Commodity code”
  • ”B-07 – Customs value”
  • ”B-08 – Relief from customs duty”
  • ”B-09 – Error relating to release from storage”, if the storage operator doesn’t release the goods due to an erroneous detail
  • ”B-14 – Other”
  • ”C-02 – Quota”, when you make a quota claim after receiving a customs clearance decision
  • ”F-10 – Defective goods”, if you notice after customs clearance that the goods are defective
  • ”I-11 – Error by the authority”
  • ”J-03 – Equity”.

If you don’t use message exchange or you can’t submit an amendment request via the Customs Clearance Service, you can make the amendment or invalidation request with a customs form. Read more about submitting an amendment request.

If you notice an error in the customs declaration regarding the details of packages or mass (weight), you can request amendment of the declaration with an “Amendment request” message or in the Customs Clearance Service with an “Amendment request”. In urgent cases you can submit a new customs declaration at once and ask that the erroneous customs declaration be invalidated. If your amendment concerns number of packages or mass, present the document where Customs can verify the correct detail. 

Please note that the storage operator can still exceptionally release the goods, in which case, a replacement customs clearance is not required. Read more on exceptions on the page End of temporary storage.

If the customs debtor in the custom declaration is incorrect, that is, the declarant or the importer changes, submit a new import declaration with the details of the correct declarant, the importer. 

Submit a new replacement customs declaration with information on the correct customs debtor, but provide an exceptional tax determination date, i.e. the tax determination date of the original decision, in the customs declaration. 

  • In the Customs Clearance Service, choose “Standard customs declaration” (additional declaration type A) and provide the additional information code “FISUR – Replacement declaration” and as its description, the MRN of the original customs declaration to be replaced. 
  • In message exchange, provide the additional declaration type “A – Standard customs declaration” and the additional information code “FISUR – Replacement declaration” and as its description, the MRN of the original customs declaration to be replaced. Read more about lodging a customs declaration retrospectively.

Please note that consignments for businesses can’t be declared in the Import Declaration Service for private persons. If a VAT-registered business has lodged a customs declaration in the Import Declaration Service for private persons, the Business ID is not provided in the declaration. This means that the collection of VAT is not aimed at the company in the MyTax service. In the Import Declaration Service for private persons, the VAT is always collected with a customs clearance decision upon import.

Businesses can use the Customs Clearance Service with Suomi.fi identification. Read more about the Customs Clearance Service.

If you are a new importer, check that your company has an EORI number. If the customs debtor in the original customs declaration was incorrect, the correct customs debtor must be verifiable in the attached documents.

Once you have received a decision on release for the new replacement declaration, you can request invalidation of the original declaration. If the customs debtor in the original customs declaration was incorrect, the correct customs debtor must be verifiable in the attached documents. For example, attach an invoice or order confirmation by which Customs can verify the person who ordered or bought the goods.

Where can I submit an invalidation request?

  • If the declaration was submitted via the Import Declaration Service for private persons, via the Customs Clearance Service or via message exchange, you can request invalidation electronically via the Customs Clearance Service.
    • In the invalidation request, you must enter “V-12 – Incorrect declarant / incorrect form of representation” as the reason for invalidation in the Customs Clearance Service and the MRN of the new, replacement customs declaration. Provide a more specific explanation on the reasons for the invalidation, and add the attachments based on which Customs can verify the reason for the invalidation.
  • If the declaration was submitted via message exchange, you can request invalidation via message exchange or via the Customs Clearance Service. 
    • In an invalidation request submitted via message exchange, you must provide the reason for invalidation with the code “V-12 – Incorrect declarant / incorrect form of representation” as well as the MRN of the new, replacement customs declaration. Provide a more specific explanation on the reasons for the invalidation, and add the attachments based on which Customs can verify the reason for the invalidation. 
  • You can also request invalidation using Customs form 643 (in Finnish or Swedish). Attach the MRN of the replacement customs declaration to the request.

When you are submitting an invalidation request, follow the same guidance as when submitting an amendment request. 

Read more detailed instructions on the page Appeals.

In the declaration support service “Declarations in the Import Declaration Service (ITU)”, you can browse declarations submitted to these services.

Commodity code amendments and ambiguous applications cannot be processed as express claims. More information about express claims.

How to make an amendment request

You can request amendment of the customs clearance by sending an application for repayment or remission of customs duties (Customs form 643s (in Finnish)) or an amendment notification leading to post-clearance recovery (Customs form 99s (in Finnish)). Read more on How to write a claim for revision with an application.

Please note: If you have cleared goods for the wrong customer in the service Import declarations for businesses – special procedures, you can immediately submit a new replacement clearance for the right customer. Use the same tax determination date in the replacement clearance as in the original customs clearance.  Request an invalidation of the erroneous declaration.

Statistical amendment

If you have submitted a customs declaration with erroneous details and have received a customs clearance decision, you must make a statistical amendment also for goods subject to relief from customs duty. A statistical amendment must always be made when you’ve provided an erroneous detail of the declarant, commodity code, value or quantity. You can make a statistical amendment e.g. with a form. Read more on How to write a claim for revision with an application.