E-commerce is growing, so e-commerce goods sent via express delivery service are surging, mainly low-value goods. Huu Nghi border gate Customs Branch is facing problems on managing express goods. So, solutions to manage these goods are a must.

Huu Nghi Customs officers inspect imported goods. Photo: H. Nu

Problems related to express goods

Following the instruction of the General Department of Customs on strengthening management of express goods, Lang Son Customs Department has asked its units and officers to abide by the regulations and requested Xuan Cuong JSC – a logistic company at Huu Nghi border gate) to comply with regulations.

Lang Son Customs said express goods have low value, small quantity without documents proving their value and must be released quickly, so customs procedures for these goods have to be different from those for normal imports and exports

Lang Son Customs has faced problems in implementing the General Department of Customs’ instructions. Under point 1 of Dispatch 3923 dated August 6, 2021 of the General Department of Customs, if a shipment listed in a master bill or in a dossier that has many packages and parcels under the house bills of the same owner (same name, same ID card number or other legal document) is valued at more than VND 1 million, that shipment must be taxed.

According to Lang Son Customs, those engaging in express delivery service at Huu Nghi border gate Customs branch are registering for low-value import declaration (MIC) meanwhile the e-Customs system does not have the function of stopping goods via the customs supervision area and channelling. Besides, information indicators on the MIC declaration lack HS code and tax rate, so additional taxation for these goods cannot be done.

In addition, to do import procedures for these goods, Huu Nghi Customs Branch has assigned officers to regularly check MIC declaration to realise consignees who regularly receive goods at a same address, same phone number and have the same ID card number or consignees who provide unclear addresses.

However, the existing customs information system does not have a function for exported data of MIC declarations. Meanwhile, the number of MIC declarations at Huu Nghi Customs Branch is large and customs officers must use Excel files provided by enterprises to check goods. This check is inactive and inaccurate as it relies on the authentication of documents provided by firms, Lang Son Customs officers said.

Lang Son Customs said the unit has reviewed Dispatch 4090 dated August 19, 2020 of the General Department of Customs answering Rapid Technology JSC on declaring the ID card number on the MIC declaration for goods sent via the express delivery service. Those who buy goods on e-commerce floors under age of 14 shall not declare ID card number or other legal documents on the customs declaration.

If the buyer does not provide an ID card or other legal documents to certify their age, local customs units will not have a basis to identify whether express delivery companies comply with regulations set by management agencies or not.

It is necessary to introduce solutions to prevent fraud

Lang Son Customs said to manage express goods, if customs detects an enterprise importing goods sent via express delivery service has divided the shipment into small parcels but the total parcels are sent to a same consignee, customs will require the business to make a declaration under H11 form for taxation.

The number of MIC declarations at Huu Nghi Customs is increasing and cannot be exported on the customs information system, so the General Department of Customs is required to upgrade the software so that customs officer can export data to serve the inspection and review of MIC declarations to prevent fraud of importers using express delivery service.

In addition, Circular 56/2019 of the Ministry of Finance will be revised to raise the responsibility of express companies, customs declaration and reduce the workload for customs officers by requiring customs declarants to declare their ID card number or othr documents in the MIC declaration. If the information about ID card numbers or other documents is not filled, the system shall automatically reject the declaration.