ATLAS (customs software)

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ATLAS ( A utomatisiertes T arif- and L okales customs A bwicklungs- S ystem, in older publications and in the logo also ATL @ S written) is a computerized method and a so-called. Customs software of the German Customs Administration to automate customs clearance and internal transaction processing . With ATLAS, written documents relating to customs clearance (e.g. customs declarations , import tax notices) are replaced by electronic messages in EDIFACT format . For example, the customs administration provides the prerequisites for the largely automated clearance and monitoring of cross-border goods traffic, as stipulated in Article 4a (1) of the Customs Code Implementing Ordinance ( ZK-DVO ).

The credentials are stored centrally and can by the competent departments of the Customs Administration (. Eg customs offices , main customs offices , customs investigation offices ) can be read or edited. ATLAS transmits the data necessary for customs clearance to other EU member states , so that communication with other customs administrations within the EU is largely carried out electronically.

There are several interfaces to the IT processes of other national authorities. Among other things, the data for the external trade statistics of the Federal Statistical Office transmitted and the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control and the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food supplied with information.

Scope of application

ATLAS maps almost all customs procedures with economic importance . The process of outward processing and the usage processes are not yet integrated in ATLAS. The customs treatment of goods is by the first detecting ( Entry summary declaration unwound) (ENS) until the final decision by customs in ATLAS. The necessary registration data is recorded by the declarant himself or by customs. Customs decisions, including tax assessments, are preferably sent to the applicant as an electronic message.

Communication between customs and those involved

Companies can fall back on various connection concepts.

The possibility with which the needs of an individual company can best be taken into account is the connection via additional software. This option is suitable for companies that have a high volume of imports and exports. More extensive solutions already enable a connection to upstream processes and to the company's accounting. For this variant, companies need an EORI number (previously customs number ), software that has been tested for communication with the customs administration and a participant identification number (BIN) as an electronic replacement for the signature. The BIN is awarded by the Information and Knowledge Management Customs ( IWM Zoll ) in Dresden.

As a further option, communication between the company and customs can be implemented using an ASP -based solution from intermediary service providers. The connection to ATLAS is made by purchasing a license for an internet-based application. There is no software to purchase and integrate. This solution is interesting for companies with limited financial resources and a manageable import / export volume. Companies also need an EORI number for this option.

The lowest degree of connection for companies and private individuals is offered by the Internet customs declaration ( customs declaration via the Internet) for the Summarian entry declaration , import, dispatch and export. Customs declarations are recorded and transmitted electronically with an ASP solution from customs. Further requirements such as EORI numbers or electronic certificates (e.g. ELSTER ) may be required for the user .

Responsibilities

The procedure is commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Finance , which has delegated tasks such as creating requirements , acceptance tests or participant administration to its subordinate federal finance departments. ATLAS is developed and operated by the IT service provider of the Federal Finance Administration , the Federal Information Technology Center (ITZBund).

Historical development

ATLAS was implemented in several steps. One of the first steps in the late 1990s was the electronic implementation of the customs tariff . After that, the procedure for release into free circulation was implemented first, followed by the transit procedure and export. Today ATLAS also includes the customs procedures bonded warehouse and inward processing . With the introduction of new parts of ATLAS, the previous paper-based processes were largely replaced.

There is an EU-wide uniform solution for the ATLAS export and dispatch ( NCTS ) procedure , which enables intensive cooperation between the respective customs administrations and allows economic operators to process under the same conditions in every member state of the EU.

Legal sources

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ ZK-DVO (PDF) in the version of November 23, 2010, EUR-Lex , accessed on September 12, 2011
  2. ↑ Obligation to register electronically in certain cases, website of the German customs administration, accessed on September 12, 2011
  3. ↑ Requirements for the ATLAS website of the German customs administration, accessed on September 12, 2011
  4. ↑ Description of the transit procedure website of the European Commission , accessed on September 14, 2011
  5. ↑ Common transit information portal of the European Commission , accessed on September 14, 2011

Web links