Obtain information from the customs administration

If you have general questions about all areas of customs and excise law, motor vehicle tax and financial control of undeclared work or questions about online customs applications, you can obtain information from the central information desk of the customs administration.

Are you not sure whether you have to pay tax in Germany on a product you bought abroad? Do you have a question about vehicle tax or a user question about online customs applications?

In many cases, you can get information from the Central Information Office of the Customs Administration.

You can also find a lot of helpful information on the Customs Administration website.

You can obtain information on the following topics from the Central Information Office of the Customs Administration:

• Imports into Germany
• Exports from Germany
• Customs tariff
• Excise duties
• Financial control of undeclared work
• Motor vehicle tax
• Online application of the customs, for example:
  • Citizen and business customer portal and services offered therein
  • Internet customs declarations (import, export, postal consignments)
  • ATLAS (Automated Tariff and Local Customs Clearance System)
  • EMCS (Excise Movement and Control System)
  • goAML (online portal for suspicious activity reports on money laundering)

Please note that the Customs Administration cannot replace legal or tax advice and cannot influence the official decisions of other specialized authorities.

Information provided by the Central Information Office of the Customs Administration does not establish any legal claims and refers exclusively to the provisions applicable in Germany. The customs regulations of other countries are not available to German Customs.

You do not need to submit any documents.

Forms available: No

Written form required: No

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance required: No

Online services available: No

There are no prerequisites.

The Central Information Office of the General Directorate of Customs does not process appeals. Inquiries with corresponding content are forwarded to the competent office.

You can submit your inquiry regarding customs or tax issues in the following ways:

• by telephone,
• by e-mail,
• via chatbot or
• in writing, for example by mail.

General inquiries from private individuals and companies on all areas of customs and excise law as well as on the Financial Control of Clandestine Employment are answered by the Central Customs Information Office.

The Customs Service Desk answers questions about using Customs' online applications.

General questions about motor vehicle tax are answered by the Central Vehicle Tax Information Service. Upon request by e-mail or telephone, they can also reactivate a suspended SEPA direct debit.

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For telephone inquiries, the hotline of the Central Information Office of the Customs Administration usually provides information immediately. The chatbots also provide information immediately. Written inquiries are usually processed within a few working days.

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