THINK BEFORE YOU START… ALSO IN CUSTOMS AND EXCISE MATTERS

Over the past twenty-two years, I have assisted companies and occasionally private individuals in disputes with the General Administration of Customs and Excise (AAD&A).

Over the past twenty-two years, I have assisted companies and occasionally private individuals in disputes with the General Administration of Customs and Excise (AAD&A).

Sometimes everything turned out well, sometimes not. But always those disputes were accompanied by stress, uncertainty about the outcome, and concerns about their impact and costs.

However, most clients had no intention of violating customs and excise regulations. On the contrary, they often had no idea that they were making a mistake.

"Had I known that, I would not have dealt with that supplier / would have organised my goods flows differently / would never have started this company" and all the variations on this, I heard countless times.

Obligations in the field of customs and excise duties are complex. Penalties for violations of them are particularly severe. And accurate information about what is and is not allowed is only available to a very limited extent.

However, expert advice in the field of customs and excise duties at an early stage - i.e. before goods are brought into or taken out of the EU, or excise products are traded within the EU - is not sufficiently valued and therefore not requested. An independent check on compliance with customs and excise duties by companies and their partners is often considered a waste of valuable time.

Of course, specialized advice and proactive monitoring is not free. But its cost is a fraction of the price of an infringement or of legal proceedings about it. The return lies in the peace of mind for the company, its directors and employees. And surely no one can be against that?

Do you share this vision? Would you like to exchange ideas about this or know more about the solutions we offer? Let us talk.

Written by Jurgen Gevers.