Outward processing that begins with import (IM/EX)

The replacement product must be the same as the defective goods in following respects:

• The product must have the same 8-digit CN code as the temporarily exported goods if they had undergone repair under the outward processing procedure.
• The product must also have the same commercial quality and technical characteristics.
• Where the export goods have been used before export, the replacement product must also have been used. However, the replacement products can be new if they are supplied free of charge, either because of a contractual or statutory obligation arising from a guarantee or because of a material or manufacturing defect.

The applicant must be established in the customs territory of the EU. 

• A legal person is considered established in the customs territory of the EU when it has its registered office, central headquarters or a permanent business establishment in the customs territory of the EU. 
• A natural person is considered established in the customs territory of the EU when their habitual residence is within that territory. 

In occasional cases where it is deemed justified, the authorisation can also be granted to an applicant established outside the customs territory of the EU. This is possible, for instance, if the authorisation holder is a private individual and the goods are not intended for commercial use.

Note that you can only use replacement goods in the procedure, not equivalent goods. If you’re applying for the authorisation from the Authorisation Centre, select "Vakiovaihtojärjestelmä" (standard exchange system) in the Authorisations and Decisions Service, and provide the replacement goods you have used for the authorisation.

Written outward processing authorisation (OPO) granted by the Customs Authorisation Centre

A written authorisation granted in advance by the Customs Authorisation Centre is usually valid for 5 years. Fill in the application in the Authorisations and Decisions Service (available in Finnish and Swedish).  Remember to indicate in the application that you wish to use prior import. You can read more about applying for an authorisation on the page Authorisations and registrations.

Outward processing authorisation applied for with a customs declaration

In certain cases, you can apply for the authorisation with a standard customs declaration. This authorisation only covers the goods declared in the customs declaration. In the customs declaration, you should provide the additional information required for the authorisation. In accepting the customs declaration, Customs also accepts the authorisation application.

Other things to note about the use of the authorisation

An authorisation obtained from the Customs Authorisation Centre must be valid when the goods are placed under the procedure. The authorisation does not necessarily need to be valid when the procedure is discharged as long as the time limit for discharging the procedure has not yet run out.

A customs declaration for prior import can only include goods indicated in one authorisation.

When the procedure is discharged, another person established in the customs territory of the EU can use the authorisation holder’s authorisation provided that that person has obtained the authorisation holder’s consent and the conditions of the authorisation are fulfilled (e.g. that the time limit for discharging the procedure and the competent customs offices indicated in the authorisation are observed). However, only the authorisation holder can declare goods for the procedure. If another person wishes to discharge the procedure in another Member State than where the procedure was started, an authorisation involving more than one Member State is always required for the use of the procedure. 

When you are submitting a customs declaration for outward processing involving prior import, provide the following codes:

• requested procedure “48 – entry for home use with simultaneous release for free circulation of replacement products under outward processing prior to the export of the defective goods”
• previous procedure:
  • The possible previous procedures are 51, 53, 54 and 71.
  • If the goods do not have a previous procedure, provide “00 – No previous procedure”. 
• as the additional procedure code either ”240 – The import of replacement goods is subject to a charge” or ”241 – The import of replacement goods is not subject to a charge” 
• nature of transaction “60 – Transactions not involving transfer of ownership, e.g. repair of goods; hire, loan, operational leasing or other temporary uses, for less than 24 months” 
• preference code 100.

You are not required to make an INF request to use the procedure. Read more about INF requests

If you have an authorisation granted by the Customs Authorisation Centre

You can submit the customs declaration in one or two stages. Additional information related to the procedure is generated automatically on the decision according to the authorisation.

Provide the authorisation number in the customs declaration as follows:

• in message exchange under “Authorisations”
• in the Customs Clearance Service in the first choices after choosing the procedure.

If you apply for an authorisation with a customs declaration

The customs declaration must be submitted as a standard declaration. Apply for an authorisation as follows:

• When you’re applying for an authorisation with a customs declaration in the Customs Clearance Service, provide the details required for special procedures under “Authorisation request”. 
• When you’re applying for an authorisation with a message, provide the detail about applying for an authorisation using the additional information code “00100 – Application for authorisation for the use of a special procedure other than transit based on the customs declaration”. 

In addition, provide the additional details required for the authorisation application for the special procedure as follows:

• Customs office(s) of discharge with the customs office identifier. If you are a message declarant, use the code “FIXBJ – Customs office(s) of discharge”.
• The customs office supervising the procedure – only in message exchange – with the code “FIXAA – Supervising customs office”.
  • In Finland, always provide “FI002000 – Electronic Service Centre”.
• Rate of yield of the goods as a measurement unit or a percentage (e.g. 100% when all products are used). If you are a message declarant, use the code “FIXBO – Rate of yield”.
• Details of planned activities, e.g. repair of goods based on a warranty. If you are a message declarant, use the code “FIXBN – Details of planned activities”. 
• The processed product obtained from the goods with a 10-digit commodity code. Also provide the goods description of the product obtained through the processing. If you are a message declarant, use the code “FIXBP – Processed products (CN code; description)”. 
• All places of processing and use as well as their address details. If you are a message declarant, use the code “FIXAC – Place(s) of processing or use”.
• The time limit for discharging the procedure is 2 months. In the Customs Clearance Service, the time limit is filled in automatically in the declaration. If you are a message declarant, use the code “FIXBH – Period for discharge”.
• Always provide the procedure record code “7 – Other means of identification (an explanation to be provided on the means of identification used)” as the identification of goods, as well as the address where the procedure records are stored. You can also enter other identification details by which the goods can be identified even after processing. If you are a message declarant, use the code “FIXBQ – Identification of goods”. Always provide the code “7” as the method for identification of goods, and in addition, you can choose one of the following identification codes:
  • “1” – Serial number or manufacturer number 
  • “2” – Affixing lead seals, seals, stamps or other similar distinguishing signs 
  • “4” – Taking samples and using illustrations or technical descriptions  
  • “5” – Carrying out analyses
  • “6” – Communication form to facilitate the temporary export of goods sent from one country to another for manufacturing, processing or repairs (only suitable for the outward processing procedure)

The procedure code for an export declaration for defective goods is 2148.

Determining the customs value in the procedure 4800 for outward processing involving prior import depends on whether the replacement product is subject to a charge or free of charge for the declarant. 

Customs value of a product subject to a charge

If the replacement product is subject to a charge, the customs value and the statistical value in the customs procedure 4800 for outward processing involving prior import are determined as in the outward processing procedure 6121. The additional information code 240 has been provided in the customs declaration. 

An import duty in accordance with outward processing is levied on the product. Upon import, a liability guarantee is also reserved for the amount of import duties not levied when the goods are placed under the procedure (= the difference between the standard third country import duty and the import duty levied in accordance with the tax calculation rules for the outward processing procedure).

See the guidance on how to provide the customs value under “Providing the value details” on the page Outward processing.

Customs value of a product free of charge

The replacement product is free of charge for you, so the additional procedure code 241 has been provided in the customs declaration. The customs value of a product free of charge in the customs procedure 48xx involving prior import is based on the usual transaction value or selling price of the product. A liability guarantee is reserved for the customs duty according to the transaction value of the product.

Value added tax (VAT)

If you are a VAT-registered operator, declare the import VAT to the Finnish Tax Administration.

If you are an operator not registered for VAT, provide the following details in the customs declaration as adjustments to the transaction price for the calculation of the taxable amount for VAT. See the guidance on how to provide the taxable amount for VAT under “Providing the value details” on the page Outward processing.

The value added tax is determined, for both deliveries subject to a charge and deliveries free of charge, on the basis of the customs value provided for in section 88 of the Value Added Tax Act (Articles 69–76 UCC, Article 71 DA and Articles 127–146 IA). The items referred to in sections 91–93 a of the Value Added Tax Act are added to this value.

Read more about import VAT on the Tax Administration website:

• Value added taxation of imported goods
• Taxable amount for import VAT (tax basis) (available in Finnish and Swedish, link to Finnish)

An export declaration cannot be submitted in two stages; it must always be submitted as a complete declaration.

In some cases, the declaration may also be submitted retrospectively. In these cases, Customs checks whether there are prerequisites for submitting the declaration retrospectively, and Customs either accepts or rejects the declaration.

The following details must be provided in the export declaration 

• customs procedure code 2148 – outward processing procedure, export after prior import.
• additional procedure code
  • “240 – Outward processing, prior import; the import of replacement goods is subject to a charge”
  • “241 – Outward processing, prior import; the import of replacement goods is not subject to a charge”
• nature of transaction
  • “60 – Transactions not involving transfer of ownership, e.g. repair of goods; hire, loan, operational leasing or other temporary uses, for less than 24 months”
• authorisation details
  • if you have a written authorisation from the Customs Authorisation Centre, provide the authorisation using the additional document code “C019 – OPO – Authorisation for the use of outward processing procedure (Column 8b, Annex A of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446)”, and provide the authorisation number and date as the description.
  • If the authorisation was applied for with the customs declaration for import, provide the additional information code FISAP in the declaration header details.
• previous document
  • “NMRN – Declaration/notification MRN”, and provide the MRN and goods item number as the reference.
• value details
  • Statistical value 
  • Provide the invoiced price as the total amount invoiced and the invoice currency. The price is the amount actually paid or to be paid for the goods, taking into account any cash, quantity or other discounts. Unlike regarding the statistical value, no additions or deductions are made regarding the total amount invoiced, and it is not converted into euros if the invoice currency is not euro.
• additional documents
  • other documents relating to the export declaration, e.g. export licences and commercial invoices.

Any export restrictions that may apply should be handled in the same way as for exports in general and the related condition codes must be used.

If you have a written authorisation granted by the Customs Authorisation Centre

• You can only declare goods indicated in one authorisation in a single export declaration.
• In the export declaration, you can provide several customs declarations for special procedures as previous documents. 

If you have an authorisation applied for with a customs declaration

• You can provide several customs declarations for special procedures as previous documents in the export declaration.

The applicant must be established in the customs territory of the EU. 

• A legal person is considered established in the customs territory of the EU when it has its registered office, central headquarters or a permanent business establishment in the customs territory of the EU. 
• A natural person is considered established in the customs territory of the EU when their habitual residence is within that territory. 

In occasional cases where it is deemed justified, the authorisation can also be granted to an applicant established outside the customs territory of the EU. This is possible, for instance, if the authorisation holder is a private individual and the goods are not intended for commercial use.

Written outward processing authorisation (OPO) granted by the Authorisation Centre

Apply for the authorisation from the Customs Authorisation Centre in advance via the Authorisations and Decisions Service (available in Finnish and Swedish). Remember to indicate in the application that you wish to use both prior import and equivalent goods.

Please note: When the intention is to use equivalent goods, a written authorisation must always be applied for in advance from the Authorisation Centre; you cannot apply for authorisation using the customs declaration.

You may need an authorisation involving more than one Member State

If the import and export of the goods takes place in different EU countries, you need an authorisation involving more than one Member State. Submit the application in the EU’s Customs Decisions Service.  This type of authorisation cannot be applied for with a customs declaration.

The use of equivalent goods always requires a written authorisation granted by the Authorisation Centre. If you have an authorisation granted by the Authorisation Centre, additional information related to the procedure is generated automatically on the decision according to the authorisation.

In your customs declaration for outward processing starting with import, include the following details:

• The number of the authorisation granted by the Authorisation Centre under “Authorisations”
• procedure
  • requested procedure “46 – Import of processed products obtained from equivalent goods under the outward-processing procedure before exportation of goods they are replacing” 
  • The previous procedure can be one of the following: 51, 53, 54, 71 or 78. If the goods do not have a previous procedure, provide “00 – No previous procedure”. 
• additional procedure code “999 – No additional procedure”
• one of the following as the nature of transaction code:
  • “51 – Returning goods after processing under contract to the initial Member State/country of export”
  • “52 – Returning goods after processing under contract, not to the initial Member State/country of export”
• preference “100 – Erga Omnes third country duty rates” 
•  value details:
  • The customs value of the goods, the statistical value and the taxable amount for VAT are provided in the same way as in the customs procedure 6121.

The procedure is discharged by lodging an export declaration (procedure code 2146 and additional procedure 999). In order for preferential treatment to be applied, the Union goods must be exported within 6 months of the import of the processed products. Read more on the page How to make an export declaration.

The procedure must be discharged within the prescribed time limit, and a discharge notification must be submitted to Customs. Read more on this page under “Discharge of the procedure and notification to Customs”.

Outward processing procedure using the standard exchange system (48)

When using the standard exchange system for outward processing, the time limit for discharging the procedure must be the time that the exchange procedure is expected to take at its longest. However, the defective goods must be exported within 2 months from the day when the replacement goods were imported. Only in exceptional circumstances can Customs grant an extension to the 2-month time limit. 

Outward processing procedure with prior import (46)

The maximum time limit for discharging the procedure for goods placed under the outward processing procedure IM/EX is 6 months, and it is confirmed in the standard authorisation for the procedure. The procedure is discharged by lodging an export declaration (procedure code 2146). In order for preferential treatment to be applied, the Union goods must be exported within 6 months of the import of the processed products.

You can request an extension of the time limit for the procedure from the supervising customs office (FI00200). You should request an extension before the time limit has run out, as the maximum time limits for the procedure are short. 

If you have submitted an electronic customs declaration, request the extension as follows:

• In the Customs Clearance Service, the extension is requested in the “Summary and submission” section of the customs declaration. Click on “Request an extension”, then enter the new time limit and send the request to Customs.
• If you are a message declarant, request an extension of the time limit with the message “Free-form contact” and choose the reason code “003 – Request for time limit extension”.
• If you are unable to request an extension electronically, you can request it using customs form 975e “Extension of procedure time limits”. Send the application to the Electronic Service Centre (valvovatulli@tulli.fi).  

If the holder of the authorisation personally requests an extension in the Customs Clearance Service, and the customs declaration was submitted via message exchange by using a direct representative on guarantor’s responsibility, Customs will ask for the representative’s consent.

If you wish to extend the time limit of an authorisation applied for from the Customs Authorisation Centre, submit an amendment application in the Authorisations and Decisions Service.

You can submit an electronic notification of discharge when the customs declaration discharging the procedure has been appropriately submitted. The notification of discharge of the procedure 46 or 48 must be submitted no later than on the day following the expiry of the time limit for the procedure.

When Customs has processed the discharge notification, the status of the notification in the Customs Clearance Service changes to “Closed”, whereas a message declarant receives a status update notification from Customs. If no payable customs debt is incurred for the goods, the guarantee for the customs declaration to be discharged will also be released.

If the procedure is not appropriately discharged, the authorisation holder can be deemed to have violated the conditions and obligations for the procedure, and as a result, a customs debt is incurred. Read more about customs debt.

How to submit a notification of discharge to Customs?

In the case of outward processing that begins with import (IM/EX), submit the notification of discharge in one of the following ways:

• In the Customs Clearance Service: 
  • Choose “Submit discharge notification” as the type of import declaration and “46” or “48” as the procedure. Start submitting the notification by clicking on “Discharge notification”. 
• Via message exchange:
  • If you are a message declarant, send the notification of discharge with the message “FI488 – Discharge notification”. 
  • If you have been granted a transition period for deployment of the message “FI488 Discharge notification”, you can send the notification of discharge with the message “Free-form contact”. Choose “007 – Bill of discharge / notification of discharge” as the code for the reason for contact.

You can also appoint a representative to submit the notification if, for example, it is not possible to log in to the Customs Clearance Service and you are not a message exchange customer of Customs.

If it is not possible to use a representative and it is not possible for the company to log in to the Customs Clearance Service for IT reasons, Customs can accept that the notification is sent as a separate document by email to valvovatulli@tulli.fi. Documents sent by email are usually only accepted from private individuals. 

A notification of discharge is submitted with a discharge notification in the Customs Clearance Service or with the message FI488. A discharge notification submitted in the Customs Clearance or via message exchange will be issued an MRN relating to the customs declaration to be discharged.

Details of several different customs declarations to be discharged can be provided with a single discharge notification, if the time limits for the procedure allow it.

Check that you provide all the goods items declared for the procedure in each customs declaration.

Who can be the declarant in the notification?

The notification of discharge can be submitted by a party other than the one that submitted the customs declarations for placement under the procedure and for discharge. However, the declarant in the notification must be the same party as the one that was provided as the declarant in the customs declaration for the outward processing procedure that begins with import.

For example, you can submit the notification of discharge yourself even if a representative had submitted the customs declarations for placement under the procedure and for discharge on your behalf.

What details to provide in the notification?

The electronic notification of discharge must contain all the details required by Annex 71–06 of the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446.

Provide the details as follows:

• Parties: 
  • As the contact person, provide the submitter of the notification.
  • As the declarant, provide the same party as the one that was provided as the declarant in the customs declarations to be discharged.
  • You can also appoint a representative to submit the notification, in which case the representative's details are provided in the notification. The representative can only act as a direct representative.

• Declaration data – details common to all the goods to be discharged with the notification:
  • In the Customs Clearance Service: Provide the details on the page “Declaration data”.
  • Via message exchange: Provide the details in the data groups of the message.
  • Procedure 46 or 48
  • Trader reference
  • Additional trader reference (optional)
  • Total customs debt (€)
    • Provide the amount of customs debt incurred for the goods to be discharged. 
    • If no payable customs debt is being incurred for the goods to be discharged based on the notification of discharge, enter zero as the value.
  • Number of the written authorisation granted by the Authorisation Centre (do not provide the MRN of an authorisation applied for with a customs declaration here)
    • If you are submitting a notification of discharge for the procedure 46, you should always provide the written authorisation, because using the procedure requires a written authorisation.
    • In the Customs Clearance Service: In addition to the authorisation number, you should also provide the start date of the validity of the authorisation.
    • Via message exchange: In addition to the authorisation number, you should also provide the authorisation type and the authorisation holder’s identification number. 
  • Additional information concerning the whole notification
    • You can provide additional information with the appropriate additional information codes.
    • You can provide documents with the appropriate document codes. Remember to attach the documents to the notification.

• Customs declarations to be discharged
  • Add the customs declarations to be discharged:
    • In the Customs Clearance Service: Add customs declarations by clicking on “+ Add customs declaration to be discharged”. Each customs declaration to be discharged receives a unique item number, which is a running number. The Customs Clearance Service compiles a list of the customs declarations to be discharged on a separate tab.   
    • Via message exchange: Provide the details in the data group “Goods to be discharged”, where you provide the goods placed under the procedure with one customs declaration. If you provide several customs declarations to be discharged in the discharge notification, provide them by repeating the data group “Goods to be discharged”.
  • Provide the following details of each customs declaration to be discharged: 
    • Provide the MRN of the customs declaration to be discharged.
      • Provide the customs declaration with which the goods were released for the procedure. If the goods were released for the procedure using a simplified customs declaration or a presentation notification for which the supplementary declaration is a summarising declaration, provide here the simplified customs declaration or the presentation notification.
      • In the Customs Clearance Service: Provide the detail under “Customs declaration to be discharged”.
      • Via message exchange: Provide the detail in the element “Previous document reference”.
    • All the goods covered by the customs declaration to be discharged must be discharged at the same time, so choose “Yes”.
  • Provide the amount of unlevied customs debt incurred for the goods to be discharged.
    • For example: A customs debt may be incurred for the goods if the procedure has not been discharged by submitting an export declaration in the procedure 21 and you do not notice that until you are submitting a notification of discharge. 
    • If no customs debt is being incurred for the goods based on the notification of discharge, enter zero as the value. 
  • Provide the following detailed information on the goods to be discharged:
    • In the Customs Clearance Service: Provide the details under “Goods to be discharged”.
    • Via message exchange: Provide the details in the data elements of the message.
    • Provide all the goods placed under the procedure with the customs declaration. If several goods have been placed under the procedure with the customs declaration, provide according to commodity code.
      • (10-digit) commodity code
      • Exact goods description
      • Accounting quantity of the goods placed under the procedure
        • You can use the same quantity as in the customs declaration for placing the goods under the procedure.
      • Accounting quantity unit of the goods placed under the procedure
        • If you use, as the accounting quantity, the same quantity as in the customs declaration for placement under the procedure, you should also use the same quantity unit here.
  • Provide the details of discharge:
    • Provide the MRN of the customs declaration discharging the procedure, that is, the MRN of the export declaration (procedure 2148 or 2146). 
      • If there are several export declarations (2148 or 2148) discharging the procedure, provide them in the Customs Clearance Service in separate rows. You can add rows, if needed. Provide several customs declarations via message exchange by repeating the element “Following document reference”.
      • Under “Exported goods”, you should also provide a detailed description of the goods declared with the export declaration that discharges the procedure. 
    • Indicate whether you have used equivalent goods or not for the procedure to be discharged. 
      • If you are submitting a notification of discharge under the procedure 46, you can only indicate “Yes”, because equivalent goods are always used under the procedure. 
      • If you are submitting a discharge notification under the procedure 48, you cannot provide this detail, because equivalent goods cannot be used under the procedure. 
  • Provide the necessary additional documents using the appropriate document codes and attach the documents. 
    • Proforma invoices or invoices, that is, import and export documents, must always be attached to the notification of discharge if they have not been attached to the customs declarations submitted earlier.
  • Provide the necessary additional information with the appropriate additional information codes.

If the notification of discharge cannot be submitted

The notification of discharge cannot be submitted to Customs if all required details have not been provided or if the automatic check detects content-related errors. For example, the automatic check does not accept that the notification contains customs declarations where the declarant is other than in the notification.

The automatic check has accepted the notification of discharge when 

• the message declarant receives a registration notification (FI426) from Customs 
• the status of the notification changes to “Registered” in the Customs Clearance Service. 

If you receive a notification that the discharge notification has been rejected, Customs has not accepted the discharge notification for processing. Before sending the notification again to Customs, correct any errors and add any missing details to the notification.

If details of discharge are missing

It is not possible to submit the notification of discharge if details of the customs declaration discharging the procedure are missing. If you cannot provide any customs declaration discharging the procedure in the notification, you should contact the supervising customs office by email.

If you notice an error after submitting the notification

The details in a notification of discharge submitted via message exchange or in the Customs Clearance Service cannot be removed or changed. If, after submitting the notification, you notice an incorrect or missing detail, you should immediately send a request for withdrawal of the notification.

• Via message exchange: Request withdrawal with a free-form contact request using the reason code “011 – Request for cancellation of bill of discharge/notification of discharge”. Customs responds and confirms the withdrawal with Customs’ notification (FI470). Customs also sends a status update notification (FI905) with the reason code R013.       
• In the Customs Clearance Service: Request withdrawal by clicking on “Cancel BoD/NoD” on the page “Summary and submission”. Customs responds and confirms the withdrawal in the Customs Clearance Service with Customs’ notification, and the status of the notification changes to “Invalidated”.  

You can supplement the notification afterwards

You can supplement the notification after submission by attaching missing documents to it. Customs may also ask you to provide additional information or a missing document.

• Customs will send you any additional information requests electronically (FI452). Respond to Customs’ additional information request either in the Customs Clearance Service or via message exchange. 
• You can also send Customs free-form contact requests after submitting the notification. Use the reason code “006 – Other reason” in Customs Clearance Service / in the message.