Service Finder
Obtain information from the customs administration
Service Description
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.
Process flow
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.
Requirements
There are no prerequisites.
Which documents are required?
You do not need to submit any documents.
What are the fees?
none
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
none
Processing duration
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.
Legal basis
- Artikel 14 Unionszollkodex (UZK)
- Kapitel 1.1 und 8.1 der Verfahrensanweisung des IT-Verfahrens "Automatisiertes Tarif- und Lokales Zollabwicklungssystem" (ATLAS)
- Kapitel 1.1 und 8 der Verfahrensanweisung EMCS
- § 12b Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz (BGG) (Kontaktstelle für Meldungen zur Barrierefreiheit von Informationstechnik des Zolls)
- Kapitel 3.3 der Verfahrensanweisung des IT-Verfahrens ATLAS
- in Verbindung mit ATLAS Info 3670/17 (1st und 2nd Level Support für das EU-Trader-Portal)
Applications / forms
The Central Information Office of the General Directorate of Customs does not process appeals. Inquiries with corresponding content are forwarded to the competent office.
Appeal
Forms available: No
Written form required: No
Informal application possible: Yes
Personal appearance required: No
Online services available: No
Further Information
Author
Technically approved by
Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF)
Translation reference
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)
Competent Authority
Generalzolldirektion (GZD), Service Desk Zoll (Anwenderfragen)
Postal address
01077 Dresden, Stadt
Telephone
+49 800 8007-5452Telephone
+49 228 303-26090Fax
+49 228 303-97925DE-Mail
auskunft-zoll.gzd@zoll.de-mail.deOpening times
Call times:
Monday 08:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 17:00
Further Authorities
Postal address
01077 Dresden, Stadt
Telephone
+49 228 303-26010Telephone
+49 351 44834-550Fax
+49 228 303-97926DE-Mail
auskunft-zoll.gzd@zoll.de-mail.deAddress
01099 Dresden, Stadt