“Paperless Customs Clearance” Not Before Next Year – Deadline for Implementation of NCTS Moved to January 1, 2022, by Decision of Council of Ministers of BiH

Although the plan was for the implementation of the Law on Customs Policy, and with it the “paperless customs clearance”, that is the NCTS, to start on August 1, that deadline was moved to January 1, 2022, by decision of the Council of Ministers of BiH.

The implementation of the NCTS was first planned for July 1, the deadline was then moved by a month, and now to January 1, 2022, although it is not certain whether even this will happen considering the blocking in the BiH institutions caused by the decision of Valentin Inzko, the high representative for BiH, to impose changes to the law banning the denial of genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

When it comes to the NCTS, this system entails full data exchange in an electronic form, that is, “paperless customs clearance”. Its implementation will help reduce delays at checkpoints and customs outposts, and the entire system was designed in the EU and functions in its states in a way that facilitates the transport of goods across borders and their moving from one customs area to the other.

Instead of papers, at borders and customs outposts, transporters will submit a “transit accompanying document” with a bar-code and a unique number, without much delay at the borders.

– The biggest advantage of the NCTS is the possibility of using electronic message and data exchange instead of the current procedure of registering the vehicles and the goods at each border. It will enable the once submitted declaration to follow the entire transport route, whereby it will be known where the goods are every step of the way. In addition to saving time for everyone, the NCTS also saves money, as it entails a reduction of the transport costs – explains the Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

After customs fee payers and forwarders are entered into the NCTS, the Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina says that the offer of the electronic services will be expanded, entailing the authorization, by a digital signature, of documents such as import and export customs documents, VAT and excise tax returns, various requests etc.

Law on Customs Policy of BiH

NCTS

paperless customs clearance