How to pay the customs invoice

When you clear the goods, pay the customs invoice in the Customs Clearance Service or at the customs office.

Paying in the Customs Clearance Service

You can clear the goods and pay the customs invoice by identifying yourself in the Customs Clearance Service. Please note that you need the mandate Customs clearance for transaction in the Customs Clearance Service.

You can pay the customs invoice in the following ways:

The payment intermediator is Paytrail Oyj. Read more about the payment service provider. 

The customs invoice shows the import taxes and other payments levied by Customs, such as the account and reference number. Take into account that if you pay the invoice using incorrect or insufficient payment details, the allocation of the payment is delayed.

If you don’t pay the customs invoice by the due date, Customs sends you a payment reminder. Pay the invoice with the interest on arrears by the new due date. Read more about delayed payments and financial difficulties.

Please note that if you paid too much customs duty, you can apply for amendment.

If your company has been granted a comprehensive guarantee authorisation and a payment deferment authorisation, you can receive customs invoices with periodic filing, i.e. a consolidated invoice. Read more about the periodic filing.

The payment intermediator service is implemented and provide by Paytrail Oyj. The company is a payment institution that cooperates with Finnish banks and credit institutions.

Paytrail Oyj forwards the payment to Customs. Paytrail Oyj is shown as the recipient of the payment in the account statement or the card invoice.

In cases of complaints, we ask you to contact Paytrail primarily. 

Paytrail Oyj, business ID: 2122839-7 
Innova 2 
Lutakonaukio 7 
40100 Jyväskylä 
Telephone: 020 718 1830 
www.paytrail.com

If the card payment is not working, the reason can be one of the following:

  • Your payment card does not support online payments.
  • Your online payments are restricted in some way.
  • You have entered an incorrect payment card number, validity period or card verification code. Note that credit/debit payment cards have separate card numbers and verification codes for credit and debit transactions.
  • There are insufficient funds in your bank account or not enough credit.

If you encounter problems, please contact the card issuer or your bank. Customs cannot determine the reason for an unsuccessful card payment.

If you are paying the customs invoice later as an account transfer online, note the following:

  • The customs invoice is available in the Customs Clearance Service under “Documents.” Note that you need the MRN of the customs clearance.
  • Pay the customs invoice by the due date. Please take into account that it takes 2–3 banking days for the payment to reach Customs, after which the goods you declared are released to you.
  • If you didn’t pay the customs invoice on time, the transport company may return the goods to the sender. Check with the transport company to see if it has returned the goods. If the goods have not been returned, pay the customs invoice and the interest on arrears to receive the goods. Ask Customs about the amount of the interest on arrears.

Interest on arrears is collected on customs duty. The interest on arrears consists of the variable reference rate of the European Central Bank plus two percentage points. The reference rate is the interest rate, which the European Central Bank has applied to its main refinancing operations on the first day of the month in which the payment is due. If the amount of interest on arrears is less than 10 euros, it is not collected.

Late payment interest

For national taxes such as VAT and excise duty, late payment interest or additional tax is collected in accordance with the relevant Act (1556/1995). Please note that the amount of additional tax or late payment interest is always at least 3 euros for each decision. 

Financial difficulties

You can apply for additional time to pay the customs invoice if you company is experiencing temporary financial difficulties. Send a free form application for deferment of payment to Customs Debt Collection. In the application, indicate the invoice for which you are applying for deferment of payment, the reasons for your application as well as your suggestion for a payment schedule.

Posti’s handling fee

Note that you must also pay Posti’s handling fee if Posti transports your goods and you paid import duties or taxes in connection with your customs clearance. You can pay Posti’s handling fee on Posti’s website.

Decision on release

When you have paid the customs invoice and the payment has been transferred to Customs, you receive the decision on release, i.e. information that the goods have been cleared and can be released to you company. Take into account that it takes around 2–3 banking days if you pay the customs invoice as an account transfer from you online bank.

A company that has a comprehensive guarantee authorisation and a payment deferment authorisation, will receive a decision on release in conjunction with the clearance decision, even though the customs invoice has not yet been paid.

Paying at a customs office

You can pay the customs invoice at some of the customs offices. Check the contact information and services at the customs office nearest to you.

You can pay the customs invoice

  • with cash (euro, at border crossings between Norway and Finland with Norwegian krone or euro)
  • payment card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)

Posti’s handling fee

Note that you must also pay Posti’s handling fee if Posti transports your goods and you paid import duties or taxes in connection with your customs clearance. You can pay Posti’s handling fee on Posti’s website.

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