customs-checklist

name	customs-checklist
description	Pre-clearance checklist for import and export into the EU (RO-default). Lists required documents, surfaces likely TARIC duty rate from commodity description or HS code, estimates customs value and VAT base, flags regulated goods that need extra paperwork (CE, REACH, RoHS, phytosanitary, veterinary, dual-use, CITES). Does not file — outputs a checklist for the licensed declarant. TRIGGER: customs checklist, declarație vamală, customs declaration, TARIC, HS code lookup, cod vamal, duty rate, taxa vamală, TVA import, import VAT, customs documents, regim vamal, vămuire, AEO, EORI, ATR, EUR.1, ICS2, e-Transport, T1, T2, NCTS, transit declaration. Also: "ce documente trebuie pt vamă", "what's the duty on", "cât e taxa pe", "verifică ce trebuie pentru import", "checklist vamă", "TARIC pentru HS", "fă-mi lista de documente pentru clearance".
metadata	{"author":"DCS Premium Freight SRL","version":"1.0.0","pattern":"A"}

Customs checklist

Pre-clearance checklist for EU import and export. Romanian operations are the default (RO ANAF, DGT-RO TARIC implementation, e-Transport requirements); other EU member states adapt easily — flag the country in the practice profile or in the operator's request.

This skill does not file declarations. It produces a structured checklist the licensed customs declarant uses as input. The final classification, the final value, and the actual filing are the declarant's responsibility under EU Customs Code (UCC) Article 18 / RO Law 86/2006.

Read the profile first

From CLAUDE.md:

• Country of operation (default RO if profile is RO-based)
• AEO status (Authorized Economic Operator) — changes some thresholds
• Whether the operator holds a customs warehouse, simplified procedures, etc.
• Preferred customs broker for handover
• e-Transport user code if Romania

Direction

First classify: import (entering EU customs territory) or export (leaving), or transit (T1 / T2 through EU).

If ambiguous, ask. The required documents differ substantially.

Import workflow

Required documents (baseline)

For any import into the EU:

• Commercial Invoice — valoare în vamă / customs value supporting
• Packing List — pieces, weights, dimensions
• Transport document — AWB / MBL / HBL / CMR / CIM as applicable
• Customs Value Declaration (DV1) if value > EUR 20,000
• EORI number of the importer
• Power of Attorney to the customs broker if filing on importer's behalf

Conditional documents (by commodity / origin)

Surface these when the commodity description or HS code suggests they apply.

Trigger	Document
Preferential origin claimed	EUR.1 / EUR-MED / GSP Form A / Origin Declaration on invoice
Origin China + value > €6,000 + electrical/electronic	CE Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
Cosmetics, toys, electronics for retail	CE marking + technical file + EU representative
Chemicals	REACH registration / SVHC declaration / Safety Data Sheet
Electrical/electronic	RoHS DoC + WEEE registration in destination
Food / feed	Health certificate + CHED-D (BIP entry)
Plants / wood / wood packaging	Phytosanitary certificate + ISPM 15 mark on wood
Animal products	Veterinary certificate + CHED-A/P entry
Endangered species / certain leathers	CITES permit
Pharmaceuticals	GDP-compliant transport + import permit + Qualified Person release
Dual-use items	Export licence (origin side) + end-use statement
Radioactive	ADR class 7 + specific permits
Excise goods (alcohol, tobacco, fuel)	e-AD + excise number

Romania-specific additions

• e-Transport declaration before truck crosses RO border (mandatory since 2022, expanded 2025–2026 — check current scope)
• SAFER / RO e-Factura triggers if invoicing inside RO post-clearance
• EORI-RO validation for shipper if first import

Customs value formula

Customs Value = CIF value at EU border
              = Cost of goods (commercial invoice)
              + International freight (to EU border)
              + Insurance (to EU border)
              + Any other adjustments per UCC Art. 71 (commissions,
                royalties, assists)
              − Deductions per UCC Art. 72 (post-importation costs
                if separately invoiced and identifiable)

If the operator gives EXW invoice value + transport invoice, compute the adjustment. If incoterm is already CIF or CIP at EU border, the invoice value approximates the customs value (still verify any commissions/royalties).

Duty and VAT estimation

For a given HS code (8-digit TARIC for RO):

1. Look up the duty rate from TARIC if known, or surface as "TARIC rate to be confirmed by declarant" if not certain.
2. Compute:

Customs Duty = Customs Value × TARIC duty rate
Excise Duty  = (commodity-dependent — surface only if commodity is excisable)
VAT Base     = Customs Value + Customs Duty + Excise
VAT          = VAT Base × VAT rate

VAT rates as of 2026 (verify against current RO law — Law 296/2023 has moved several rates):

• Standard RO VAT: 21% (changed in 2025 from 19%)
• Reduced rates: 11% (food, books, water) — confirm commodity eligibility
• Other EU member states: different rates — pull from profile country setting

Surface the rate used in the output. Operators sometimes catch a wrong rate before the declarant does.

HS code guidance

When the operator gives a commodity description without an HS code:

1. Suggest a likely 6-digit HS (international) and 8-digit TARIC (EU)
2. Always caveat: "This is indicative. The licensed declarant is responsible for the final classification (UCC Art. 18). For binding tariff information, apply for a BTI."
3. If the commodity is borderline between two HS positions, present both with the duty rates side by side so the operator sees the difference.

Common freight-relevant HS pairs:

Description	Likely HS	Notes
Electric vehicles, complete	8703.80	EV-specific
Lithium-ion batteries, packed with equipment	8507.60	UN 3481 DG check
Lithium-ion batteries standalone	8507.60	UN 3480 — DG, restricted air
Auto spare parts, generic	8708.99	Subject to anti-dumping if China origin
Plastic toys	9503.00	CE marking + EN 71 + REACH SVHC
EVA footwear	6402.99	Standard duty, no extra cert usually
Lightning cables / chargers	8504.40	CE + RoHS + EU radio equipment directive
Apparel	6101–6217	Origin + GSP eligibility check

Export workflow

Required documents (baseline)

• Commercial Invoice
• Packing List
• Transport document (AWB / B/L / CMR)
• Export declaration (filed by declarant via NCTS-export or AES)
• EORI number of the exporter
• Power of Attorney if broker-filed

Conditional (by destination / commodity)

Trigger	Document
Preferential origin claim by buyer	EUR.1 / EUR-MED / Origin Declaration
Dual-use items	Export licence + end-use statement
Military / defence	Specific export authorisation
Cultural property	UNESCO / member state authorisation
Endangered species	CITES
Sanctioned destinations	Compliance screening — operator must verify

EXS / ENS

For exports to certain destinations or transit, the Exit Summary Declaration or Entry Summary Declaration may be required. Flag based on destination.

ICS2 (Import Control System 2)

For all goods entering the EU by air, sea, road, rail — release 3 covering all modes is live as of 2025. The pre-loading and pre-arrival declarations are the carrier's responsibility, but the data originates with shipper / forwarder. Surface this when drafting outbound shipments to the EU.

Transit (T1 / T2 / NCTS)

For goods moving across EU territory under customs control without being released for free circulation:

• T1 — non-Union goods
• T2 — Union goods moving via non-Union territory
• Filed via NCTS-RO (RO entry) or equivalent member-state NCTS
• Guarantee required — comprehensive guarantee waiver if AEO
• Office of departure / Office of destination on the declaration

DCS-style operations sometimes need independent T1/T2 capability when the shipper isn't AEO and the broker is slow. See legal-data-hunter connector (roadmap) for AEO partner forwarding.

Output format

CUSTOMS CHECKLIST — [IMPORT / EXPORT / TRANSIT]
Direction:        [direction]
Origin:           [country]
Destination:      [country]
Mode:             [air / sea / road / rail]
Commodity:        [description]
HS code:          [code] (indicative — declarant confirms)
Declared value:   [amount] [CCY]
Incoterms:        [term + place]
─────────────────────────────────────────

REQUIRED (baseline)
  □ Commercial Invoice
  □ Packing List
  □ Transport document ([AWB / B/L / CMR])
  □ [DV1 if value > €20,000]
  □ EORI of [importer/exporter]
  □ Power of Attorney to broker

CONDITIONAL (commodity / origin)
  □ [doc 1]
  □ [doc 2]
  ...

ROMANIA-SPECIFIC
  □ [e-Transport — if RO border]
  □ [other RO items]

DUTY + VAT (indicative)
  Customs Value:    [amount] [CCY]   (= invoice + freight + insurance to EU)
  TARIC duty rate:  [%]
  Customs Duty:     [amount]
  Excise:           [amount or N/A]
  VAT Base:         [amount]
  VAT @ [%]:        [amount]
  ─────────────────
  Total at clearance: [amount]
─────────────────────────────────────────

DISCLAIMER
This checklist is indicative only. Classification, valuation, and filing
are the responsibility of the licensed customs declarant under UCC Art. 18.
For binding classification, apply for a Binding Tariff Information (BTI).
Duty rates and VAT rates verified against [date]; recheck before filing.

Generated by Claude for Freight (freight-forwarding plugin v1.0.0)

Bilingual

If the operator types in Romanian, respond in Romanian. Key terms:

EN	RO
Customs declaration	Declarație vamală
Customs value	Valoare în vamă
Customs duty	Taxă vamală
VAT base	Bază TVA
Import VAT	TVA import
HS code / TARIC	Cod vamal / TARIC
Declarant	Declarant vamal
Customs broker	Comisionar în vamă
Power of Attorney	Împuternicire / procură
AEO	OEA (Operator Economic Autorizat)
Preferential origin	Origine preferențială
Transit	Tranzit
Free circulation	Punere în liberă circulație

What this skill does not do

• It does not file. Filing is the declarant's act.
• It does not give binding tariff classifications. BTI is the formal route.
• It does not screen for sanctions or dual-use ECCN classification — that's a compliance skill; see the pricing-procurement plugin's compliance module (roadmap).
• It does not handle DG-specific paperwork (Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods, ADR Transport Document). See dangerous-goods plugin.