Customs Law Firm

Customs Law: Legal Advice on Import Duties & Customs Compliance

Customs law is a critical component of international trade. As a customs law firm, we advise companies on all customs-related matters from tariff classification and customs valuation to anti-dumping duties, origin of goods, and preference rules. We represent our clients before main customs offices and fiscal courts across Germany. Our advisory also covers import VAT law and the interface between customs law and export control.

Our Customs Law Advisory Services

We support companies in dealings with customs authorities, including:

Assessment of import duties such as customs duties, anti-dumping duties, or countervailing duties

Determination of the customs tariff number (HS Codes), customs value, or the recognition of preferences

Legal remedies against import duty assessments

Court proceedings before German fiscal courts

Applications for the repayment or remission of import duties

Applications for AEO status (Authorized Economic Operator) and other customs authorisations and simplifications

Support during customs audits and post-clearance examination procedures

Defense in administrative fine and criminal investigation proceedings

Book an Appointment

089 38 88 87 - 11

Decades of
Experience

Over 100 years of combined experience providing sound and reliable legal advice.

Interdisciplinary
Approach

Legal expertise, technical know-how and experienced project management in customs and foreign trade law.

Multiple
Awards

Recognized excellence with repeatedly awarded consulting quality at national and international level.

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Customs Law and What Areas Does it Cover for Companies?

Customs law governs all regulations relating to the import and export of goods across a border. For companies, three core areas are decisive: determining the correct customs tariff number, establishing the correct origin of goods, and selecting the appropriate customs procedure. The focus is primarily on the correct calculation of duties (customs duties, import VAT) and on compliance with trade policy measures such as anti-dumping duties. A legally sound approach to customs law is the foundation for an economical and efficient cross-border supply chain.

2. What is the Difference Between Customs Law and Export Control, and Why Might I Need Both?

Both areas of law concern international trade in goods, but pursue entirely different objectives:

1. Customs law is fiscally and economically oriented. It governs whether duties apply to a given good, what those duties are, and how the good must be declared
.
2. Export control is motivated by security policy considerations. It examines whether a sensitive good may be exported at all — irrespective of customs duties.

In practice, the two are closely interlinked: before making a customs declaration, you must have already assessed under export control law whether your export is permitted. Comprehensive advice on both areas is therefore indispensable — both to avoid financial disadvantages and to exclude serious legal risks.

3. Customs Law: When Do I Need Legal Advice?

Specialized legal advice is generally advisable in the following situations:

1. Prior to an operational audit by the customs authorities (customs investigation).

2. In disputes with the customs authority, e.g. regarding the amount of additional assessments, the classification of your goods, or the origin of goods.

3. When applying for a Binding Tariff Information (BTI) or Binding Origin Information (BOI), which provides you with legal certainty and planning security for the future.

4. When optimising your supply chain, e.g. through the use of simplified customs procedures or the application of preference rules.

5. In urgent situations, such as the seizure of your goods or upon receipt of a penalty notice.

Customs Law: Legal Advice on Import Duties & Customs Compliance