Administrative & Regulatory Law · European Union
Get Customs Law Right With a Specialist Lawyer By Your Side
A wrong tariff classification can mean overpaid duties or back-duties years later. We match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who handles classification, valuation and customs procedures across Europe every day.
- 155+ legal services, 14 practice areas
- Lawyers across the EU & EEA
- No fee to get matched
No commitment. No hidden fees.
Get matched with a lawyer
Tell us about your situation and receive a free, confidential case review.
Who this is for
If goods cross your borders, customs law decides what you pay
Customs law governs how goods cross borders — the classification, valuation and origin rules that determine what duties are payable, the procedures for importing and exporting, and the authorisations that let businesses operate smoothly across the EU’s customs territory. Since the EU is a customs union, a common set of rules applies at its external borders, but those rules are administered by each member state’s national authority and applied differently in practice. Getting customs right matters for cash flow and cost: a wrong tariff classification can mean overpaid duties that are later hard to recover, or underpaid duties that surface years later with interest and penalties. Businesses importing, exporting, or holding goods under special procedures such as customs warehousing or inward processing face a dense web of requirements. Specialist advice can ensure you pay the right amount, use the right procedures, and stay on the right side of the authorities.
Why duty problems surface late
Customs errors are rarely noticed at the border.
They are found in the audit.
A mistake made today can mean overpaid duty for years, or a reassessment with interest and penalties discovered long after the goods have moved.
Wrong tariff classification
Classifying goods under the correct code determines the duty rate, and getting it wrong can mean overpaying for years or underpaying and facing back-duties, interest and penalties when an audit catches it.
Customs value and origin disputes
The value and origin of your goods are not always obvious — transfer pricing, royalties and multi-country production all complicate the picture, and authorities routinely challenge the basis on which duties were calculated.
Special procedures and authorisations
Customs warehousing, inward processing and other regimes can defer or reduce duties, but they depend on authorisations and strict record-keeping. A missed condition can mean the relief is revoked and duties become payable.
What you get
A customs lawyer who keeps you paying the right amount
We only match you with lawyers who handle classification, valuation, origin and customs procedures regularly in your trade lanes.
Classification & duty review
Your lawyer reviews how your goods are classified, valued and their origin determined, so you pay the correct duty — not more, and never less in a way that creates exposure.
Authorisations & special procedures
Get support applying for and maintaining the authorisations that let you use warehousing, processing and other duty-relief regimes lawfully — and keep the records those regimes demand.
Audits & investigations
If a customs authority audits your declarations or opens an investigation, your lawyer manages the response and represents you through the procedure until the matter is resolved.
Recovery & appeals
Challenge incorrect duty assessments, recover overpaid duties and pursue appeals against customs decisions through the national and EU routes that are formally available to you.
Coverage
Customs lawyers across Europe
The EU applies a common customs framework, but it is administered by national authorities that can differ in practice, so the right lawyer is one who works with your specific trade lanes and authorities. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Customs law — common questions
What is the EU Customs Union?
The EU Customs Union is an area in which member states apply a common set of customs rules and a common external tariff, with no customs duties on goods moving within it. It means goods imported into the EU are, in principle, cleared under the same rules wherever they enter.
Why does tariff classification matter so much?
The tariff code assigned to your goods determines the duty rate, and often whether quotas, restrictions or preferential treatment apply. A wrong classification can mean overpaying duty for years, or underpaying and later facing back-duties, interest and penalties.
What is the difference between customs value and origin?
Customs value is the basis on which ad valorem duty is calculated, and it must be determined according to specific rules. Origin determines whether goods qualify for preferential (lower or zero) duty rates under trade agreements. Both are frequently challenged by authorities.
What are customs special procedures?
Special procedures such as customs warehousing, inward processing and temporary admission allow goods to be stored, processed or used with duties suspended or reduced, subject to authorisation and strict conditions. They can deliver significant cash-flow benefits when used correctly.
What should I do if customs challenges my declarations?
Respond promptly and seek specialist advice. Customs authorities can reassess duties and impose penalties, but assessments can often be challenged through national and EU appeal routes. A lawyer can review the basis of the assessment and represent you.
Can I recover customs duties I overpaid?
Often, yes — but subject to strict time limits and procedures. If you believe duties were overpaid, a customs lawyer can assess whether a refund claim is available and prepare it, as the rules and deadlines for recovery vary.
Free case review
Pay the right duty — not more, and never less
Tell us about your goods, declarations or dispute and we’ll connect you with a customs lawyer who handles your trade lanes — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.