Amendment of a customs warehousing declaration before release

If you notice that there are errors in the customs declaration, you may request permission from Customs to amend them, also after Customs has accepted the declaration for processing. However, the amendment request must be made before the goods have been released for the procedure. Customs may also request you to amend the declaration.

Almost all details in the customs declaration can be amended. If you have lodged the customs declaration with a message, submit the amendment request with a message as well. If you have lodged the customs declaration via Customs’ online service, make the amendment request and amend the declaration in the online service.

If the following details are incorrect, the declaration must be invalidated and a new declaration must be lodged:

  • The first two digits of the customs procedure code
  • The declarant’s identification number (the EORI number)
  • The representative’s identification number (the EORI number)
  • Type of representation

The first two digits of the customs procedure code cannot be amended, but you can amend the last two digits of the procedure code. For example, procedure 7100 can be amended to procedure 7171. If you have lodged e.g. a customs warehousing declaration (7100) by mistake, even though you were supposed to clear the goods for free circulation (4000), you will have to request that the declaration be invalidated and lodge a new customs declaration using the correct procedure code.

The name and address details provided in the trader details can be amended by changing the trader office identifier. The trader office identifier is a three-digit number, e.g. ‘000’, provided after the EORI number.

Customs will reject the amendment request if

• it has notified you that it is going to carry out a goods control.

• it has found that the details in the original customs declaration are incorrect.

• the goods have already been released for the customs procedure. In this case, you have to apply for amendment after release.

Customs can also request you to amend the declaration details

Customs can request you to amend the declaration details if it detects errors in them e.g. during the processing of the declaration or during goods control.

If you have lodged the customs declaration with a message, Customs will send you an error notification (FI444A). The error notification is a request to amend the detected errors.

If you have lodged the customs declaration via Customs’ online service, you will be notified of the error via the user interface of the online service. Make the required amendment and submit the declaration to Customs.

Check the error notification to see whether the error concerns the whole declaration or an individual goods item. Check also how much time Customs has given you for making the amendment. If you do not respond within the prescribed time limit, Customs will invalidate your declaration. If you need more time, request more time by responding with the message ‘Free-form contact’ or using the appropriate function in the online service.

How shall I amend a declaration?

If you have lodged a standard customs declaration with the message FI415A, submit the amendment request message FI413A to Customs.

If you have lodged a presentation notification with the message FI475A, submit the amendment request for the presentation notification with the message FI473A to Customs.

If you have lodged a standard customs declaration or a presentation notification in Customs’ online service, amend the declaration via the online service. The instructions for using Customs’ online service contain more detailed instructions on making an amendment request.

When Customs has accepted your amendment request, you will receive the release decision according to your service channel, either to Customs’ online service or via message exchange.

Applicable legislation

  • UCC, Article 173