Customs Lawyers
in Germany

At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, we are a full-service law firm with offices and conference room facilities across Germany. Our German customs lawyers support global clients with their dealings with German customs law and provide all legal services in English and German. Our model ensures that your firm can receive all its legal counsel from one location, from employment law advice and company registration assistance to guidance in compliance. Regardless of whether your business requires expert legal defence services for a specific case, or a productive partnership built on ongoing support, our lawyers are ready.

Our German customs lawyers will support you in appeals of decisions made by German customs officials. Companies can appeal such decisions without legal support; however, having assistance from experienced professionals dramatically increases the likelihood of success. By contacting our team of experts directly, we can start the process. Our services in this area include:

• Examining the likelihood of a successful claim against customs,
• Filing formal objections against the customs authorities, with due consideration to the deadlines and formalities involved,
• Careful preparation for the examination of the appeal, including preparing for the opponent’s arguments,
• Full-service legal support with appeals to the tax courts, if necessary.

It is vital to consider the deadlines involved with such appeals as objections to a customs decision must be lodged within one month. Missing this deadline can result in the decision becoming final and no longer having the right to appeal. If the deadline is missed, contacting legal counsel can still provide valuable legal advice as to other actions you may be able to take.

Appealing against customs decisions following consulting with a German customs lawyer is often advisable, as customs officials can make mistakes with classifying goods and setting customs duties. However, appeals need to be justified, as customs examine the situation when the appeal is launched. As they assess their own work, having the correct arguments is vital to save time and money.

Should the application of the request be correct, customs will conduct a comprehensive review of their decision. A successful decision at this level can prevent costly legal disputes in the German courts; therefore, working with experienced professionals is strongly advisable.

At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, our German customs lawyers provide consultancy services to companies of all sizes in Germany.

As experienced attorneys, we will carefully examine your business and provide clear advice regarding its customs needs. Our team can provide their consultancy services for one-off projects, on an ongoing basis or with specific short- or long-term goals in mind. We can also provide your firm with in-house customs law consultancy services, enabling your company to develop and implement suitable strategies.

Our customs consultancy services will allow your company to save time and money, prevent costly legal disputes, ensure that it complies with its legal requirements and receive advice tailored to its needs. Your company can confidently move forward with reliable advice concerning exports and imports. Please do not hesitate to contact our law firm if your business requires customs consultancy from experienced experts.

Should your company be accused of breaching customs criminal law, expert legal advice should be a priority. Accusations of such actions can have drastic consequences for a manager or those in higher positions at a company. Convictions in customs criminal law can lead to fines for the company and even imprisonment for the people involved. The penalties involved in this legal field are ruled upon on a case-by-case basis.

Misdemeanours and offences in German customs law are provided for in the German Fiscal Code (AO). Here are some of the crimes listed in the area of customs law:

• Tax Evasion (§ 370 AO)
• Reckless understatement of tax (§ 378 AO)
• Minor tax fraud (§ 379 AO)

Such an offence of reckless understatement of law (under § 378 AO ) carries a potential fine of up to €50,000, while tax evasion can carry a prison sentence of up to five years. Minor tax fraud includes when a person or company recklessly or intentionally fails to record transactions.

• Endangerment of excise duties (§ 381 AO)
• Endangerment of import and export duties (§ 382 AO)
• Illegal import, export, or transit of goods (§ 372 AO)
• Professional, violent or organised smuggling (§ 373 AO)

At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, we are available to defend those accused of customs criminal law offences. Our customs lawyers will provide expert analysis of your case to provide the specialised counsel needed. Together we will create a strategy tailored to the case. Should you become aware of alleged actions for customs criminal law, then time is of the essence.