What is customs and what are its tasks in Germany?

When you think of "customs", the airport might come to mind - with baggage checks, green and red aisles. But the Customs is much more than that.

In Germany, customs takes on a wide range of tasks - from the Collection of taxes up to the Combating undeclared work. In this article you will find out exactly what customs is and what it is responsible for.

1. what is customs anyway?

The Customs is a Authority of the Federal Ministry of Finance and is organizationally part of the Federal Customs Administration.

It not only controls goods crossing the borders, but also ensures security, economic stability and fair working conditions in Germany.

2. main tasks of customs

Collect import duties & taxes

Customs charges:

• Customs duties (on goods from non-EU countries)

• Import sales tax

• Excise duties (e.g. alcohol, tobacco, energy)

Example:
A company imports T-shirts from Bangladesh. Customs charges import duties before the goods reach the German market.

Border controls & protection of the population

Customs controls the import and export of goods in order to:

• stop illegal products (e.g. weapons, drugs, counterfeit brands)

• recognize dangerous or prohibited goods

• protect intellectual property (trademark, patent and product piracy)

Example:
At Frankfurt Airport, customs discover counterfeit brand-name shoes in a traveler's luggage - they are confiscated.

Combating undeclared work & illegal employment

A major area of responsibility of customs is also the control of:

• Undeclared work

• illegal employment

• Minimum wage violations

There is the Financial Control of Undeclared Work (FKS) - a special customs unit.

Example:
Unregistered workers without valid work permits are discovered on a construction site - customs initiate proceedings.

Advise & control companies

Customs supports companies with:

• Import/export matters

• Questions about customs tariffs, product labeling and rules of origin

• Registrations (e.g. EORI number)

And it also regularly checks whether companies are handling everything correctly - e.g. with the Export of goods to third countries.

3. how is customs organized?

The customs administration consists of:

• Directorate General of Customs (Central control)

• Main customs offices (regionally responsible)

• Customs offices (border and airport clearance)

• FKS (Financial Control of Undeclared Work)

• Customs investigation (Investigations into criminal offenses)

4 Where do you encounter customs in everyday life?

• At the Online shopping from China or the USA → you may have to pay customs duties

• On Airportif you come from a non-EU country

• If you Parcels abroad send or receive

• As an entrepreneur, if you operate import/export