ATLAS procedure: The digital processing of customs declarations in Germany
The ATLAS procedure (Automated Tariff and Local Customs Clearance System) is the electronic customs system of the German customs administration. It enables the Digital registration and clearance of imports and exports.
1. what is ATLAS?
ATLAS is a IT systemthat companies, freight forwarders and customs authorities use to Electronic processing of customs formalities. It largely replaces paper-based customs declarations and speeds up the process.
Main functions of ATLAS:
Electronic Import and export declarations
Tariff classification of goods (based on the HS code)
Customs notices and tax assessments retrieve online
Status tracking of customs procedures in real time
Automated communication with customs offices
2. who must use ATLAS?
- Companies that import or export goods
- Freight forwarders and logistics service providers
- Customs agents and consultants
- Large online retailers and manufacturers with international business
Private individuals do not have to use ATLASbut can process their customs declarations via local customs offices.
3. advantages of the ATLAS system
Faster customs clearance → Less waiting time at customs offices
Paperless registrations → Less bureaucracy and costs
Electronic tax calculation → Direct indication of the duties & taxes to be paid
Better control & transparency → Status tracking of customs procedures at any time
Simplified communication with customs
4 How does ATLAS work in practice?
The system runs via Special software solutionswhich are directly connected to the customs administration.
Companies can use their Customs declarations either submit them yourself using ATLAS-compatible software or use a Commission a customs service provider.
a) Steps of an ATLAS customs declaration:
Record data:
- Goods data (quantity, weight, HS code)
- Sender and recipient
- Customs value (incl. freight costs)
Submit customs declaration electronically About ATLAS
Automatic inspection by customs
- If anything is unclear Inquiries or checks be requested
Receive customs notification & make payment
Release of goods & onward transportation
5 Which customs procedures are integrated in ATLAS?
ATLAS supports Various customs procedures:
Import procedure → Import clearance & customs clearance
Export procedure → Export declaration & export accompanying documents (ABD)
Customs warehousing procedure → Storage of duty unpaid goods
Transit procedure (NCTS) → Transportation of goods without direct customs clearance
6. requirements for the use of ATLAS
To use ATLAS, a company needs:
- One EORI number (for identification at customs)
- Certified ATLAS software or access via a Customs service provider
- Access to the IT system of the customs administration
Alternative: If you don't want to use ATLAS yourself, you can use a Customs agents or forwarding agent commission.
Recent Posts
All Categories
- 13 Tax obligations for foreign companies in Germany
- Work permits for foreign skilled workers: What employers in Germany need to know
- Labor law & employees from abroad
- Employment contract for foreign skilled workers - what needs to be included?
- ATLAS procedure: The digital processing of customs declarations in Germany
- Residence permit for entrepreneurs: How the visa for the self-employed works
- Bank financing and promotional loans for international investors in Germany
- Popular products: What sells best in German-Turkish online retail?
- Payment methods in German-Turkish e-commerce: What customers prefer
- Bureaucracy in German labor law: What companies from the EU need to consider
- Mastering bureaucracy: step-by-step guide to the most important official channels for companies
- Bureaucracy and official channels for companies
- Opportunity card & EU Blue Card: How employers in Germany can attract skilled workers from abroad
- German tax authorities: Who is responsible for what?
- The most important customs and tax duties for foreign companies in Germany
- Discrimination in the workplace - legal protection of foreign employees
- Dual-use goods and export controls: When are licenses required?
- E-Commerce
- E-commerce between Germany and Turkey: opportunities and challenges
- Import successfully: The most important customs procedures at a glance
- Successful e-commerce examples: These companies are leading the way
- EU-wide trade via Germany: When does the reverse charge procedure apply?
- Company formation & investment in Germany
- Setting up a company in Germany: Your guide to a successful start
- Opening a business account in Germany: What foreign investors need to consider
- Business registration - explained step by step (for people from abroad)
- Business registration for foreign entrepreneurs: The path to your own company in Germany
- Business registration and entry in the commercial register for foreign companies
- Trade unions and works councils: What co-determination exists in Germany?
- Trade unions and works councils: What co-determination exists in Germany? - A guide for employers from the EU
- Cross-border e-commerce: selling successfully in Europe and worldwide
- Commercial register entry - when is it necessary?
- Sales representative or own company? The best market entry strategies for Germany
- Import of foodstuffs
- International shipping strategies: How to deliver your products abroad efficiently
- Investing in Germany: opportunities & challenges for entrepreneurs
- Investment promotion in Germany: What grants and subsidies are available?
- Cultural differences in purchasing behavior: What distinguishes German and Turkish customers
- Logistics and shipping: the best solutions for cross-border trade
- Payroll accounting in Germany: Obligations for foreign employers
- Marketing strategies for successful online sales in Turkey
- Marketplaces vs. your own online store: Which strategy is more worthwhile?
- Reporting obligations for managing directors from abroad
- Minimum wage and social security obligations for foreign employers in Germany
- Posting employees abroad: Everything you need to know about the A1 certificate for employers
- Posting employees to Germany: How the A1 certificate works for employers in the EU
- Necessary permits for various industries in Germany
- Pharmaceuticals and machines: What regulations apply?
- Trial period
- Legal framework: Which laws and regulations apply to e-commerce?
- Choice of legal form and its bureaucratic consequences (e.g. GbR vs. GmbH)
- How the German VAT system works for foreign retailers
- Collective agreements & minimum wage - what applies to international employees?
- Uncategorized
- Difference: Trade office vs. tax office - who does what?
- Proof of origin and trade agreements: How foreign companies save on customs duties
- VAT ID & Co - what you get and need from the tax office
- Packaging Act and disposal obligations for foreign companies
- From registration to approval: how to navigate the bureaucracy as an entrepreneur
- When does a foreign company need a branch in Germany?
- Exporting goods to Germany: Which customs procedures apply?
- What is customs and what are its tasks in Germany?
- Which professions need recognition in Germany? Important information for employers
- What types of companies are there in Germany? A comparison for investors
- Important contacts: Which authorities help foreign companies?
- How do I get a VAT ID as a foreign company?
- How to sell internationally - Customs
- How do I obtain an EORI number for trade with Germany?
- How does the electronic tax return work (ELSTER) for foreign companies?
- How does fiscal representation work for companies not based in Germany?
- Customs & import procedures
- Customs & import procedures: How to import goods into Germany with legal certainty
- Customs and taxes: What retailers need to consider when exporting from Germany to Turkey
- Duty-free allowances and exemptions: When is no import tax due?
- Customs tariff numbers (HS codes) correctly: How to avoid delays