Where shipments actually get stuck
Customs clearance and brokerage
Freight rarely fails in transit. It fails at the border, on a classification nobody checked or a document that arrived an hour late. We file the declarations, classify the goods and keep the shipment moving.
At a glance
- Standard import clearance
- Same day when documents are complete
- Export clearance
- Typically within hours
- Record retention
- 10 years, archived by us
- EU import VAT, Romania
- 21 percent standard rate
- Customs value basis
- Transaction value, CIF at the EU border
- Low value consignment relief
- Duty relief below 150 EUR, VAT from the first euro
Customs is the part of international trade where small mistakes get expensive quickly. A wrong tariff code can mean paying duty you did not owe, or owing duty you did not pay, with interest. A missing certificate of origin can turn a preferential rate into the full rate. A transit document that is not discharged correctly leaves a guarantee open and a liability sitting on your company.
We act as customs broker for import, export and transit through Romanian offices, and we coordinate clearance at destination through our partner network. The work starts before the goods move: getting the classification right, confirming whether a preferential origin claim is available, and making sure the commercial documents actually say what the declaration will say.
For companies that import regularly, the bigger win is usually structural rather than transactional. Customs warehousing, inward processing and correct use of preferential trade agreements routinely save more than any freight rate negotiation. We will tell you when one of those applies to your flow.
What we take care of
- Import clearance and release for free circulation
- Export clearance and EX1 declarations
- T1 and T2 transit documents and their discharge
- Tariff classification and duty rate confirmation
- Customs value determination and valuation methods
- Preferential origin claims and EUR.1 certificates
- Excise and restricted goods procedures
- Post clearance amendments and repayment claims
What we do
Import and export declarations
Full customs declarations filed in the Romanian systems, with duty and VAT calculated before the goods arrive.
Tariff classification
Correct commodity codes determined against the combined nomenclature, with binding tariff information applied for where the answer is genuinely unclear.
T1 transit documents
Transit declarations issued and discharged properly, so the guarantee closes and no liability is left hanging.
Preferential origin
EUR.1 certificates, origin declarations and free trade agreement claims, where the goods genuinely qualify.
Document review before arrival
We check the invoice, packing list and transport document against each other while there is still time to fix a discrepancy.
Duty relief and procedures
Customs warehousing, inward processing and temporary admission, assessed against how you actually trade.
How it works
- 1
Send the commercial documents
Invoice, packing list, transport document and any certificates. We review them against each other before filing anything.
- 2
Classification and calculation
We confirm the commodity code, the duty rate and the import VAT, and tell you the landed cost before the goods arrive.
- 3
Declaration filed
The declaration goes in ahead of arrival wherever the procedure allows, so clearance happens on arrival rather than after it.
- 4
Release and records
Goods are released, the documents are archived for the statutory retention period and any transit guarantee is discharged.
Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible if a customs declaration is wrong?
The importer of record remains legally liable to the customs authority, even when a broker files on their behalf. That is precisely why the classification and valuation work matters. We do it carefully, we document the reasoning, and where a code is genuinely ambiguous we recommend applying for binding tariff information so the position is protected.
How is import duty calculated?
Duty is a percentage of the customs value, which is normally the price paid plus transport and insurance up to the EU border. The percentage comes from the commodity code and the country of origin. Import VAT is then charged on the customs value plus the duty. Get the code wrong and both numbers are wrong.
What is a T1 and when do I need one?
A T1 is a transit document that lets non-EU goods move between two points under customs control without duty being paid at the point of entry. You need one when goods arrive at, say, Hamburg but will be cleared in Romania. It has to be discharged at the destination office, and an undischarged T1 eventually becomes a demand for the full duty.
Can you reduce the duty we pay?
Sometimes, legitimately. The three common routes are a correct preferential origin claim under a free trade agreement, a customs warehouse that defers duty until the goods are actually sold, and inward processing for goods that are re-exported after work is done on them. Whether any of these fits depends on your flow, and we will say plainly when none of them does.
Related services
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Tell us what you need to move.
Send the supplier city or port of loading, the volume and weight, and the date the goods are ready. We will come back with a landed cost and a realistic transit time, usually within one working day.