Instructions for requesting comparison data on imports without VAT entries in an accounting software system
Some of the saved information derived from previous customs clearance decisions (including decision no, the clearance date and customs value) is accessed via the Ilmoitin.fi website, even if you have no interface that connects to an accounting software program.
However, the requested information is delivered to you as raw data, without further processing. This means that there is no automatic comparison with the entries in your own accounting books. To make that comparison is your responsibility. You have to do it manually.
When you request comparison data on VAT-taxable imports this way, you must first create a .txt file manually. It can be a Notepad text file or it can be based on an Excel template that you can find in Ilmoitin.fi (Value-added taxation on imported goods (VSTULLER) request file). The Tax Administration recommends that you use the template in Excel to create your request.
You need to input the following data:
- Business ID or personal identity code of the party submitting the request
- Time range for your request for data
- Business ID of the company concerned
- An attribute identifying the sender’ software
- Timestamp
For more information, see Specification of data records (VSTULLER).
After you have created the .txt file, you must first log in to Ilmoitin.fi, and then upload and send it. You log in to Ilmoitin.fi with your personal e-bank security codes. If the text file contains errors, the check feature on Ilmoitin.fi will prompt you to make the necessary corrections before you can send the file.
The answer file will come back to Ilmoitin.fi in due time. You will receive an e-mail message to inform you of it (provided that you included an e-mail address in the request file). The information in the answer file covers the time range you requested, and the relevant customs clearance decisions one-by-one.
The following a list of the contents in a typical answer file:
- Customs clearance decision no.
- Customs values
- Duties and other charges collected by Customs, totals
- Procedure EU2 > Previous procedure, Procedure EU1 > Requested procedure, Procedure FI > Additional procedure
- Current contact information of a representative
- Version
Because of system updates, the answer file will contain the version (185) of the customs clearance decision. Both 00 and TUL mean original versions of customs clearance. Any changed decisions that are made later will generate version numbers 01, 02, etc. and the appropriate date (186), or one of the values listed below plus the date when the value changed. These will show on the answer file.
- TUL - Customs clearance decision
- OIK - Adjustment decision
- JAL - Decision on subsequent recovery
- PAL - Amendment decision on reducing the customs debt
- MIT - Decision on invalidation
- OSI - Decision on customs debt regarding temporary admission with partial relief from import duty
Your answer file will inform you of any circumstances that have prevented the compilation of the answer. Examples of why an answer file cannot be compiled include that your request file contained a company name that cannot be found in the Tax Administration’s register, or that no specific information is found for a company.