Questions about the customs number

There is no requirement to have a customs number for customs declarations submitted by postal, express or messenger services on behalf of their clients or for written customs declarations in the travel business unless the party is entitled to deduct input tax.

Each legally autonomous enterprise is given a customs number. Branches or operating facilities located in different towns or cities than the head office can be additionally issued with a customs number; it is mandatory for the head office customs number to be stated in the corresponding application (more on this below). It makes sense for a branch to have its own customs number if the internal company organization makes this necessary or the branch is to be entered in the customs declaration as a party (declarant, consignee, etc.).

Information on whether you already have a customs number can be obtained either from the information office of "Informations- und Wissensmanagement Zoll" (Customs Information and Knowledge Management) or the customs office responsible for your place of business.

For data protection reasons, neither the information office of Informations- und Wissensmanagement Zoll nor your local customs office can give you the number over the telephone. You will, however, be informed of the number either in response to a written inquiry or if you appear at the office in person and present appropriate legitimization (e.g. signature of the company in the case of written inquiries). If a representative inquires about for the customs number on behalf of a party, he/she must prevent corresponding power of attorney or proof of authorization.

The completed and signed application (Vordruck 0870) must be sent to the address

Informations- und Wissensmanagement Zoll
Postfach 10 07 61
01077 Dresden

or by fax to: 0351/44834-444

The application must be completely filled out. Incomplete applications may be processed in certain cases, but the missing information will have to be submitted as soon as possible afterwards. In the case of any queries about your application, a member of the service staff will contact you.

In this case, the business registration form has to be submitted instead of an extract from the commercial register. This does not apply to private persons.

All changes must be notified to Informations- und Wissensmanagement Zoll using the signed Vordruck 0870 form. It is necessary to use this form as the data is recorded electronically.

All changes must be notified using the signed Vordruck 0870 form. In the case of minor alterations (e.g. change of address due to relocation to new premises) a new number will not be issued. In the case of more significant changes (e.g. change in the legal form of the business enterprise), a decision will be made in consultation with your local customs office whether the old customs number can continue to be used.