Customs declaration is an indispensable procedure for all kinds of import and export goods. So what is customs declaration? What is the current process to declare customs information?
Some definitions related to customs declaration
Before we talk about procedures, let’s take a look at some concepts of current import and export customs procedures.
What is customs declaration?
Customs declaration is the completion of the procedures required by the customs authority at seaports, shops and airports. This activity ensures that goods and means of transport are allowed to be imported and exported in that country.
Customs declaration is made for the purpose of goods management, ensuring that imported and exported goods are not banned or smuggled goods. At the same time, this activity is also carried out for the state to manage the collection of goods tax. Because of this purpose, declaration and customs clearance activities often take a lot of time, effort and cumbersome procedures.
What is electronic customs declaration?
What is e-customs?
E-customs is understood as a form of customs declaration through software provided by the customs authority. Businesses will need to register an account with the customs office in advance to be allowed to declare electronically.
When declaring import and export goods, the enterprise will correctly fill in the information displayed on the customs declaration form. The customs authority is responsible for reviewing and approving the shipment’s clearance request.
What are the benefits and limitations of electronic customs declaration?
The development of science and technology brings a lot of convenience to businesses in customs clearance activities. The use of electronic customs declaration is now used in almost every enterprise specializing in importing and exporting goods. So what benefits and limitations does this move bring to businesses?
Benefit
Electronic customs declaration helps to shorten the time of customs clearance for businesses. Accordingly, businesses only need to fill in all information on the declaration on the software and send it to the customs office. Within 1 minute, the enterprise’s declaration was processed and distributed by the system.
Electronic declaration brings maximum convenience to businesses when they do not need to go to the customs office to declare. With only 1 device, businesses can meet all requirements from the customs office to complete the declaration.
Thanks to electronic declaration, businesses can save on travel costs. Instead of having to move to the customs office, now you can fill out the customs declaration for your import and export shipments anywhere.
Defect
Besides the above advantages, the electronic customs declaration still has some disadvantages that need to be overcome.
The software of the customs office still has many errors that make it difficult for businesses to declare. Electronic customs declaration causes disadvantages for the state in tax control because many individuals and businesses take advantage of e-customs to evade taxes.
In particular, the major disadvantage of this operation is that it is difficult to correct falsely declared information. Businesses will have to wait until the last minute to change the wrong information, so it takes more time.
Electronic customs declaration steps
Electronic customs declaration is quite simple and you can do it anywhere. However, you should go to the customs office to ask for an account to declare first before you can log in to the software. Specific electronic customs information declaration process.
Customs declaration steps
Step 1: Download and log in to your account on Ecus software
First, you need to download the Ecus software to your computer. Next go to the software and click on system. Select the import-export business and fill in the required information about the declared account number and then click “Select”.
Step 2: Set up the system
Before declaring import-export information, you need to set up some information to connect with the customs authority. Accordingly, select the item “System” in the menu and select “Set up declaration parameters” VNACCS” and enter the requested information. Next select “Record” and select “Test Connection”.
Step 3: Select the declaration
You need to choose to access the menu “customs declaration” to register for a customs declaration. Here, you choose to register a new import declaration (IDA).
Step 4: Enter information
In the general information section, you need to enter the requested data about the shipment. Boxes showing * are required items to declare. The gray boxes are only information items that the system automatically returns and businesses do not need to enter this information.
On the declaration criteria, there will be an input guide at the bottom left corner of the declaration screen. If you are making an electronic customs declaration for the first time, you can follow these instructions.
- Type code: Information about import type code.
- Customs authority: You need to choose a customs unit to declare.
- Organization classification: There are options such as individual-to-personal goods, organization-to-individual shipments, individual-to-organizational shipments, and organization-to-organizational shipments.
- Processing department code: Information representing the team-level department that receives the declaration procedure.
- Codes of shipping methods: You can choose codes suitable for shipping goods such as sea, railway, air …
- Information about import-export units including importers, export partners, customs clearance agents.
- Information about the bill of lading such as bill of lading number, number of packages, total weight of goods sent, storage location code, means of transport, date of arrival, place of discharge, loading and number of containers if any.
Step 5: Enter information in the general information tab
In this section, businesses must declare information related to commercial invoices such as invoice number, issue date, payment method, invoice value and delivery conditions.
Step 6: Enter the information related to the consignment list
Enterprises are responsible for fully and accurately declaring information on goods names, brands, models, HS codes, origin, volume, units of calculation, invoice unit prices, import tariff codes, tax rates. VAT and other tax rates.
Step 7: Submit the customs declaration
After you have filled in all the information, you choose the code of declaration in advance of declaration information (IDA) to send information. Next, enter the PIN code and digital signature that the customs office grants to the business. Successful registration, the system will return the declaration number and copy including information about name, business address and tax.
Step 8: Get the stream result
The system of the customs office will carry out the customs clearance procedures and you select the item “get results of channeling and clearing”. After selecting, you will receive information about the results of channeling, customs fees, and taxes. Please print the declaration and proceed to the next steps.