Customs procedures, a crucial part of international trade, consist of various stages, each causing the customs declaration to acquire a different status. These statuses provide transparency and ease of tracking for all involved parties by indicating where the declaration is in the customs process. Let's examine in detail the common customs declaration statuses encountered in import and export processes in Turkey and what these statuses mean.

What is a Customs Declaration?

A customs declaration is an official document submitted to the customs administration to declare goods during import or export transactions. This document contains significant information such as the type, quantity, value, and origin of the goods, forming the legal basis for customs procedures. Preparing and submitting the declaration to customs is one of the fundamental steps in import and export processes.

Common Customs Declaration Statuses and Their Meanings in Turkey:

1. Tescil Edildi (Registered):
• Meaning: This is the initial stage where the prepared customs declaration is recorded in the system of the relevant customs administration and receives a unique tracking number (MRN - Movement Reference Number). This status indicates that the declaration has become official and the provisions of customs legislation begin to apply.
• For Import/Export: It signifies that the procedures have officially begun and the first step of the customs process has been completed.
2. Muayeneye Sevk Edildi (Referred for Examination):
• Meaning: This indicates that the goods and/or related documents covered by the registered declaration will be subject to control by customs officials. This control may involve physical inspection of the goods (quantity, quality, conformity to declaration, etc.) or a detailed examination of the submitted documents.
• For Import/Export: It means that the process has moved to the next stage where the customs administration will examine the goods and documents. The completion of the examination is required for the procedures to be finalized.
3. Muayene Ediliyor (Under Examination):
• Meaning: This signifies that the customs officials are currently in the process of inspecting the goods and/or documents covered by the declaration. This stage may vary depending on the complexity of the examination and the details of the goods/documents.
• For Import/Export: The customs administration's examination has not yet been completed. The completion of the examination must be awaited for the procedures to progress.
4. Muayene Tamamlandı (Examination Completed):
• Meaning: This indicates that the physical and/or documentary examination conducted by customs officials has been concluded. This status usually implies that no significant deficiencies, irregularities, or issues have been detected. However, it may not necessarily mean that the goods have been released yet; the taxation stage may still be pending.
• For Import/Export: The customs administration's examination is complete. The next stage is usually taxation or direct release.
5. Vergilendirme (Taxation/Tax Assessment):
• Meaning: After the examination is completed (or directly after registration in some cases), this is the stage where the customs duty, value-added tax (VAT), special consumption tax (SCT), and other financial obligations payable for the goods covered by the declaration are calculated. At this stage, the total amount of tax to be paid is determined.
• For Import: This is a critical stage where the financial obligations that need to be fulfilled for the import to be completed are determined.
6. Vergi Ödendi/Teminata Bağlandı (Tax Paid/Secured by Guarantee):
• Meaning: This indicates that the calculated customs duties and other financial obligations have been paid to the relevant customs administration account or secured by a guarantee in accordance with the applicable legislation. This transaction is usually a mandatory step for the release of the goods.
• For Import: It means that the financial obligations have been fulfilled and there is no longer an obstacle to the release of the goods.
7. Serbest Bırakıldı (Released/Customs Exit/Import Permit):
• Meaning: This signifies that all customs procedures (control, taxation, etc.) for the goods covered by the declaration have been successfully completed, and the goods can be delivered to the buyer (import) or shipped abroad (export) after being cleared from customs control. This is one of the final and most important stages of the customs process.
• For Import/Export: The customs process is complete, and the customs restrictions on the goods have been lifted.
8. İptal Edildi (Cancelled):
• Meaning: This indicates that a registered customs declaration has been invalidated by the customs administration or at the request of the declarant for various reasons (e.g., incorrect preparation, non-arrival of goods, abandonment of trade, etc.). Cancellation procedures are subject to specific rules and require approval.
• For Import/Export: The relevant transaction will not take place, and the legal validity of the declaration has ended.
9. Düzeltme (Correction/Amendment):
• Meaning: This signifies that errors, deficiencies, or inaccuracies subsequently identified in a registered customs declaration have been corrected by the declarant or the customs administration in accordance with the relevant legislation. Correction procedures are also subject to specific rules and time limits.
• For Import/Export: This is a process carried out to rectify the information in the declaration. The process may resume after the correction.
10. Kapanmış (Closed):
• Meaning: Especially used for export declarations, this status may indicate that the procedures related to the actual exit of the goods covered by the declaration from the Turkish customs territory have been completed. There may be different reasons for closure for import declarations (e.g., change of regime).
• For Export: It means that the customs leg of the export transaction has been completed and the goods have been shipped abroad.

Importance of Tracking Customs Declaration Statuses:

Regularly tracking the status of customs declarations is important for businesses in many ways:

• Process Monitoring: Understanding at which stage the import and export processes are and preventing potential delays.
• Planning: Better planning of logistics and delivery processes.
• Problem Detection: Being able to intervene early in case of any disruptions or issues in the transactions.
• Compliance: Ensuring compliance with regulations by ensuring that customs processes are completed correctly and on time.

How to Find Out the Status of Customs Declarations:

• Customs Brokers: If you are carrying out customs procedures through a broker, they can provide you with information about the current status of your declarations.
• E-Customs Applications: You can query the status of your declaration using your declaration number through various online platforms offered by the Turkish Ministry of Trade (e.g., Customs Transaction Tracking via e-Government).
• BİLGE System (For Authorized Users): Customs brokers and authorized companies can access detailed status information by logging into the BİLGE system used by the Customs Administration.

Understanding and tracking the statuses of customs declarations is vital for the smooth execution of international trade operations. This information helps businesses better manage their customs processes and be prepared for potential issues.