Individual guarantee
An individual guarantee is a one-off guarantee that is lodged for a single import transaction or transit movement.
This means that the company pays or reserves a certain sum in advance for a possible customs and tax debt. The individual guarantee must cover the full amount of the debt and the liability.
You can use an individual guarantee in the following situations
In the customs procedure for release for free circulation, a guarantee is provided in these situations:
- for a movement permit, when the goods are moved for control or sampling
- for a quota benefit when applying for duty-free treatment or a reduced rate of duty for the goods
- for provisional anti-dumping duties or countervailing duties for the period until the final anti-dumping or countervailing duty has been set
The individual guarantee can also be used for special procedures:
- temporary admission
- end-use
- Inward processing
- Transit procedure
Instead of the individual guarantee, you can also use a comprehensive guarantee. A comprehensive guarantee is mandatory in certain situations.
A customs clearance by a private individual may also require an individual guarantee in certain situations (e.g. importing removal goods prior to moving). A private individual can personally provide the guarantee or use a forwarding agency and the agency’s guarantee for the customs clearance.
How to provide an individual guarantee
Provide the individual guarantee in the Customs Clearance Service, when you make a customs declaration or a transit declaration. You can also provide the individual guarantee at a customs office that offers customer service. Note that a company’s individual guarantee for import cannot be provided at a customs office.
Proceed as follows:
- Make a customs declaration or transit declaration and set up an individual guarantee in the Customs Clearance Service.
- Provide the bank account for repayment (IBAN bank account number) and the BIC. Note that the bank account must be located in the SEPA area.
- Accept the pledge agreement.
- Pay the individual guarantee. Read the general guidance on how to pay.
- Continue filling in the declaration in the Customs Clearance Service.
In the Customs Clearance Service, you can set up an individual guarantee for yourself or for the company where you work. You can’t mandate a representative to provide an individual guarantee on behalf of yourself or your company.
Check, which customs offices offer customer service.
The individual guarantee is set up at the customs office as follows:
- Provide the bank account for repayment and the BIC.
- Pay the individual guarantee. Read the general guidance on how to pay.
- Sign the pledge agreement.
- The transit or other customs procedure can begin.
At the customs office, you can also act on behalf of another person based on a power of attorney.