KPMG Trade Data Check

The digitisation of customs data poses challenges for importing and exporting companies of all sizes, but it also provides them with important information that can contribute to their success. All customs declarations must now be submitted to the customs administration via the ATLAS (Automated Tariff and Local Customs Clearance System) IT procedure. Companies can do this either directly using their own software solution or alternatively via an interface provided by their customs service provider.

The authorities themselves check this import and export data as part of an increasingly effective digital risk management system in the form of mass data evaluations or order inspections or re-checks. In the event of identified inconsistencies or even incorrect customs declarations, these deficiencies are consistently followed up and penalised. Proactive plausibility checks within the company are therefore recommended in order to avoid compliance violations, such as incorrect declarations, and to prepare for upcoming audit orders from the customs authorities.

The consolidated data from these reports can provide companies with valuable information on potential compliance risks, but also open up opportunities such as potential savings or possible reimbursement claims that can be asserted. Often, the necessary evaluation fails due to data access issues: many service providers do not release consolidated data that can be evaluated in order to gain important insights through predefined mass data checks. Even extracting data from internal ATLAS data in the case of a customs software solution specifically integrated into the ERP system is usually not easily possible in the first step. The right data sources must be identified and evaluated in a readable format that can be analysed.

All these factors often lead to companies not pursuing an analysis of their own customs data, even if this is already recommended by the authorities as part of an internal control system for monitoring purposes. At the very least, the customs authorities have this data available for evaluation for possible audit purposes, so it is advisable to establish a monitoring and control process within the company.

With KPMG Trade Data Check, you can collect and evaluate your import and export data in a uniform manner and analyse it for risks, data inconsistencies and potential savings. The solution is based on a Microsoft Power BI development that uses predefined audit and evaluation logic and our many years of experience in dealing with official customs audits.

The data analysis is based on the consolidated data from all customs declarations. Alternatively, other data sources such as your ERP data can also be used. If neither you nor your service provider have access to the data, KPMG imports it directly from the tax authorities as part of so-called applications under the Freedom of Information Act. This ensures that all data submitted to the customs authorities is included in the database.

The automated analysis and plausibility check supports you in risk prevention and the identification of anomalies. Incorrect declarations, different customs rates for the same transactions, and similar issues can thus be avoided. Potential savings and possible refunds for excessive customs duties become apparent.

You can export the results of the analysis as a clear summary at the touch of a button. This allows you to present the opportunities and risks to management without any additional effort. You can also import additional data from your company's merchandise management system and include it in the evaluation.