Import processing: your imports from third countries, fully handled
Import processing is the customs-related transfer of your goods from a third country into free circulation within the EU, from document verification and import declaration to release by customs. At Mönig, we handle this part entirely: we check your documents, assist with the customs tariff number, register your shipment electronically, determine customs duties and import VAT, and pay the import charges via our own deferment account. In 2025, we processed around 800 import declarations, predominantly for goods from China, India, South Africa, Egypt, Switzerland, and the UK. You don’t need your own customs department for this. You just need a power of attorney, complete goods information, and a contact person who knows your shipments.
In 2025, Germany imported goods worth 1,362.5 billion euros, 4.3 percent more than the previous year, with 171.2 billion euros from China alone (Federal Statistical Office). Every one of these shipments requires a correct declaration, and that determines whether your goods continue on schedule.
What import processing at Mönig includes
Documents we need from you
- Power of attorney, provided by us, completed and signed
- Commercial invoice or the complete invoice documentation
- Packing list with number of packages, weights, and packaging type
- Description of goods including composition and intended use
- Customs tariff number, if already known to you
- Transport and arrival information
- Additional evidence depending on the goods, such as proof of origin and preference, permits, or certificates
Steps we take care of
We check your documents for completeness and plausibility, assist in determining the correct customs tariff number, and clarify the customs requirements for your goods. We then create and submit the import declaration, determine the applicable import duties, and handle communication with the customs authorities, including queries and supplementary claims. We accompany your shipment until it is released for free circulation and provide support, if necessary, with appeals against customs decisions or the recovery of overpaid duties.
Your invoices show purchase prices and suppliers—information that is nobody else’s business. We treat all documents you provide as confidential and do not pass them on to uninvolved third parties. We only transmit the information to the customs authorities that is required for the declaration of your shipment.
How your import declaration works
01
Inquiry and power of attorney
02
Preliminary check
03
Import declaration
The declaration is processed electronically via the ATLAS IT procedure of the customs administration, using Dakosy customs software at our office.
04
Duties and queries
05
Release
Import duties: customs, import VAT, and our deferment account
Your liquidity remains predictable because import duties do not have to flow from you to the customs office for every individual shipment. We pay them via our own deferment account and invoice them to you along with the service costs. With the payment deferment, the import duties recorded in a calendar month must be paid to the Federal Treasury in Trier by the 16th day of the following month at the latest.
The amount of the duties depends on two factors: the duty rate of your commodity code and the customs value, which is also the assessment basis for import VAT . We check the value information for plausibility as part of the customs processing so that the calculation is based on reliable figures.
We state two limits openly: we do not offer fiscal representation, and we do not act as tax or legal advisors for questions outside the customs area.
Customs tariff number and proof of preference: this is where the duty amount is decided
Finding the right commodity code
The most common uncertainty among our import customers concerns classification: Is the customs tariff number chosen correctly? A wrong number leads to supplementary claims, queries, and lost time. For imports, classification goes up to the 11-digit code number; the composition, technical description, and intended use of the goods are decisive. The official basis is EZT-online, the electronic customs tariff with TARIC data and national supplements. We check your information against these criteria and assist with classification; the binding decision is made by the customs authority.
Utilizing customs benefits
For goods from countries with trade agreements, a reduced duty rate may apply. The prerequisite is that a properly issued and valid proof of preference is available at the time of declaration for release for free circulation, such as a EUR.1 movement certificate or a declaration of origin on the invoice.
The value of an early check is demonstrated by a customer in the wine industry for whom we regularly import wine shipments from third countries. We check the documents before the goods arrive, paying particular attention to the proof of preference and other accompanying import documents. If something is missing, the customer finds out early enough to clarify it with their supplier. This prevents delays and preserves the customs benefit. However, we cannot issue certificates of origin or supplier declarations; that remains the responsibility of your supplier.
Import, export, and transit: customs from a single source
Most importers also need the opposite direction sooner or later. If your goods go to a third country, we create the export declaration and provide you with the exit summary declaration as proof of proper export. If a shipment runs through several countries before reaching its destination, we open the transit procedure, under which the goods remain uncleared until the customs office of destination. Both are handled by the same department, with the same contact person and the same systems; we also handle inward and outward processing.
Import by sea freight is our main business, supplemented by shipments via air and rail freight as well as road transport. Because pre-carriage, customs clearance, and onward transport are all in our hands, there are no interfaces where information might otherwise be lost. If the goods are not to be moved immediately after release, our Warehouse logistics handles the storage. Your shipment can remain in our temporary storage facility until the import declaration; the storage period is up to 90 days. For spirits, wine, and beer, our excise warehouse with EMCS connection is also available.
We will tell you in advance where our service ends: we do not evaluate technical approvals or safety requirements such as CE marking, and we do not procure missing documents or permits from your manufacturer. We do not offer a customs warehousing procedure for the long-term storage of uncleared goods.
Why choose Mönig for your import processing?
- One contact person instead of many interfaces: customs, transport, and storage all come from the same house, which saves coordination and reduces the risk of errors.
- In-house customs department: three customs declarants in Meschede, professionally led by Olga Berch, certified customs specialist (Hamburg Customs Academy) with over eight years of customs experience. The Bielefeld main customs office is responsible.
- Experience with your routes: workshop machinery, tools, furniture, alcohol, as well as e-buses and their parts from China, India, South Africa, Egypt, Switzerland, and the UK are part of our daily business.
- Proven qualification: AEO-C authorization, ATLAS participation via Dakosy, and annual Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) training certificates for the customs team.
- Confidentiality as a principle: your documents stay in-house. We do not pass anything on to third parties not involved in the process.
- Established company: Mönig has existed since 1957, today with over 170 employees.
Your imports in experienced hands
Import processing at Mönig means: You provide the power of attorney and goods information, and we handle the inspection, import declaration, duties, and all communication with customs until your goods are in free circulation. This is backed by our own customs department, around 800 import declarations per year, and an operation that has integrated transport, warehousing, and customs since 1957. You hand over a complex task and still maintain an overview.
Describe your shipment to us with country of origin, type of goods, and deadline, and we will get back to you with a concrete proposal.
Frequently asked questions about import processing
Which documents do you need for import clearance?
As a rule, we need a power of attorney, the commercial invoice, a packing list, and precise details about the goods: description of goods, composition, weights, number of packages, and, if known, the customs tariff number. Depending on the goods and country of origin, further documents may be necessary, such as permits, certificates, or proof of preference.
Can you check if the correct customs tariff number is being used?
Yes. We check the classification of your goods based on the available goods information, technical description, and intended use, and support you in selecting the appropriate commodity code. This helps you avoid queries and supplementary claims. The binding decision on classification is made by the customs authority.
Do you handle the entire import clearance for us?
Yes. We handle the complete customs-side processing: checking documents, creating and submitting the import declaration, determining import duties, communicating with customs, and accompanying the process until release. The prerequisite is complete, correct goods information and the necessary documents from your side.
Do I need an EORI number, and do you apply for it for me?
An EORI number is mandatory for economic operators; without it, ATLAS generally cannot be used. Your company must apply for it yourself via the customs portal; the issuance is free of charge. We are happy to provide you with the application form and answer your questions about the process.
What happens if documents for the import are missing?
We check your documents as early as possible, ideally before the shipment arrives. If a proof is missing, we will contact you early so that there is enough time to clarify it with the supplier. This way, you avoid downtime at customs and don’t lose any customs benefits for which proof must be provided.
How confidentially do you treat our documents?
Mönig treats all documents you provide for customs clearance confidentially and does not pass them on to uninvolved third parties. Only the information that the customs authorities require for the declaration of your shipment is transmitted. Invoice values, supplier data, and goods information remain with the employees processing your case.
Contact us for more information
Contact person:
Olga Berch
