Customs clearance - what is it and how long does it take?
Many people wonder whether they will have to pay additional costs or fill out documents when buying goods abroad or shipping them out of the country. At the outset, let's emphasize that such procedures do not apply to packages sent within the European Union. This means that if you buy goods from a store located in the EU or send a parcel within the EU, the procedure is exactly the same as sending parcels within the country.
EU countries are part of the so-called Customs Union, in which there is freedom of trade. All regulations on the movement of goods within the European Union are written down in the Union Customs Code, which applies to all member countries.
The situation is different if the package is sent to a country outside the European Union or sent from there to Poland, for example, it is a shipment from the USA, Canada or China. Such parcels go through customs clearance and for some of them an additional fee will be necessary.
What is customs clearance of a parcel?
However, let's start at the beginning, that is, by explaining the concept itself. Well, customs clearance includes all procedures whose purpose is to check the contents of a shipment in order to let it pass for further travel.
As part of the customs inspection, customs officials check whether the contents of the shipment agree with what is specified in the shipping documents, verify whether the goods are subject to VAT and additional customs duty. In addition, they check whether the goods are intended for trade, whether they are private consignments, whether the packages contain prohibited products, etc.
It is worth noting that all shipments with a value of less than 150 euros are not subject to customs duty. VAT, on the other hand, must be paid by those ordering items from a country outside the European Union.
The issue of customs clearance and the associated fee most often concerns entrepreneurs who order goods from abroad or export them from the country. Then the value of their shipments definitely exceeds 150 euros. In such a situation you have to reckon with the need for additional fees. Their amount is always fixed and depends on the type of goods transported. You can check it in the ISZTAR system, the Information System of Integrated Customs Tariff.
How exactly does customs clearance work?
When ordering or shipping goods from or to countries outside the European Union, it is necessary to specify the contents of each package in a special document. A so-called customs declaration is filled out. This procedure usually lies with the sender of the package.
Customs inspections are carried out by customs at warehouses. It is necessary to check every single parcel. Verification consists in comparing the contents of the parcel with what is specified in the documents. When everything agrees, the customs officer agrees to export the goods abroad or allow them into the country.
On the other hand, if there is a discrepancy between what is declared and the expected contents of the package, you need to unpack the shipment and check exactly what is in it. If the contents differ from what is declared, the package may be requisitioned or even destroyed if potentially dangerous goods are found in it. The sender of such a shipment will also be summoned to give an explanation of the package.
What are the types of customs clearance?
There are 3 types of customs clearance:
- temporary clearance, otherwise known as conditional clearance - applies to those goods that are only temporarily shipped abroad, such as items for trade fairs, exhibitions or those intended for repair;
- final clearance - that is, when the shipment is only one-way, usually applies to purchased goods;
- deferred clearance - it may happen that at a particular customs office there are no conditions or tools to check a particular shipment, in which case the package is transferred to another customs office, where the verification can be carried out.
Customs clearance can also be performed with varying degrees of accuracy. The simplified version is faster and less detailed. It is most often performed for companies that have been deemed trustworthy as a result of previous verifications. In contrast, the ordinary version of customs clearance covers every step of the procedure and is more meticulous.
How long does customs clearance take?
For private shipments, customs clearance can take from a few hours to a maximum of two business days. It is important to remember that the courier service will be extended by this time.
If any complications arise, such as the parcel being requisitioned, or additional explanations need to be given, then the whole procedure can extend up to a month, and in exceptional cases the parcel will not be allowed to be shipped.
In the event that the package is seized at customs, the need for additional explanations should be expected. In such a situation, the sender should receive an appropriate letter from customs about the need to pay VAT, customs fees or provide additional documents or personal information.
What goods will not pass customs clearance?
When clearing customs, similar rules apply to domestic parcels or those sent within the European Union. Thus, you cannot send such goods as:
- weapons,
- pyrotechnic materials,
- stimulants - alcohol, cigarettes,
- corrosive and flammable materials,
- live and dead plants, as well as animals and their remains,
- goods of high value such as antiques, works of art, jewelry, for example,
- foodstuffs with a short shelf life.
On top of this, each country may have its own additional restrictions, which are worth verifying before exporting or importing goods.
At the end of a successful clearance, an EAD document is issued and the customs officer confirms that customs clearance has been completed. Customs then approves the export of the goods from the country. If the package is shipped from an EU country then its export is also confirmed with an IE599 document.