BDO and Fexco today announced the launch of a new specialist customs clearance service, Declaron, to assist Irish businesses manage the substantial increase in customs clearance documentation which will take effect from January 1st, 2021, post-Brexit. You can register your interest in Declaron by logging on to https://www.declaron.ie/.
Declaron, a new online customs clearance service, takes the pressure off Irish businesses to find a solution to the customs issues caused by Brexit. The state-of-the-art service has been designed to ensure customers will be compliant with new customs rules, avoiding potential delays and costs at borders. The online portal will provide 24/7 status updates on declarations and will help customers save time on document preparation. Records for all traded goods declared to customers are safeguarded and accessible online to help deal with any Revenue queries or audits.
Welcoming today’s announcement, An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin said:
“In just over 3 months’ time, new checks and controls will be required on all trade with, and through, Great Britain. This will happen regardless of the outcome of the current negotiations between the EU and UK. On the 1 January, the UK will be outside of the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union. Businesses need to get ready now, and ensure they are ready for new customs arrangements and other regulatory requirements. Today’s announcement of the Declaron service by BDO and FEXCO is a welcome contribution to this, adding to the customs intermediary capacity that Irish businesses will need”.
How it works
Declaron will act as a company’s customs clearance agent, lodging import and export declarations and interfacing with customs on their behalf, enabling customers to track each step of the clearance process and the live status of their consignment. Customers can access all their information using an easy to use online portal. The new system is fully compliant with the requirements from customs authorities in both Ireland and the UK and provides clarity for customers on the customs process from end to end.
Speaking on the need for customs clearance capacity solutions in Ireland and why preparation now is essential to avoid massive issues later, Carol Lynch, Partner, BDO Customs and International Trade Services, said:
“Since mid-last year it has been clear to Irish businesses and Government that there was going to be a serious problem facing importers and exporters due to a lack of clearance agents. The increase in declarations that will be required post-Brexit goes from 1.6m to 20m declarations. This is going to cause a serious operating problem for any Irish business trying to move goods into and out of the country.
Using BDO’s expertise in Customs law and Tax, together with Fexco technology and customer service expertise, Declaron has developed a solution to simplify clearing goods across borders. Declaron can manage hundreds of thousands of declarations through a combination of deep customs knowledge, proprietary software and expert customs clearance agents”.
From January 1st, 2021, all exports from Ireland to the UK and imports from the UK to Ireland will legally require customs clearance documentation. Time management, costs, border delays, lack of customs expertise and audit compliance will all be new challenges facing Irish businesses who move goods into and out of the country. Declaron has been designed by BDO and Fexco, combining the best in financial and business solutions expertise and customs law and tax advice, to give Irish businesses an opportunity to seek customs agent expertise ahead of January 1st deadline.
Speaking on the peace of mind Declaron can offer to Irish organisations ahead of the January 1st 2021 deadline, Denis McCarthy, CEO, Fexco said:
“Declaron is a great example of Fexco collaborating with sectoral experts to bring technology-based solutions to Irish businesses. BDO’s customs clearance expertise and Fexco’s technology combined with our dedication to create seamless business transactions will bring simplicity and control to Irish businesses in a time of uncertainty. Brexit is of major concern for Irish businesses that trade internationally. Fexco and BDO are, together, determined to help create clarity for those businesses with Declaron”.
Declaron offers customers a choice and flexibility regarding payment options, with two possibilities for customers to choose from. A ”pay-as-you-go” option where customers can simply pay for each import or export declaration as they are submitted and a “monthly subscription” option, where customers pay a fixed amount each month to make it easier to plan ahead and control costs. There is a once off set-up fee of €249, but Declaron is offering this at €125 until October 13th, 2020. Prices start at €45 per declaration thereafter.
Speaking about the launch of Declaron and the need for businesses to prepare, Michael Costello, Managing Partner, BDO Ireland said:
“Our motive in establishing Declaron was to create a world-class customs clearance service that works side by side with businesses as they manage the significantly higher burden of customs declarations following Brexit. BDO customs expertise combined with Fexco’s cutting edge technology has created a ground-breaking customs clearance service for the Irish market that I’m confident will prove invaluable to many Irish businesses”.
Declaron will also provide the following support as part of its service:
- It will provide access to support material, webinars and Q&A sessions to enable customers to understand the information it will need to lodge for import and export declarations from 01 January onwards.
- It will provide customers with access to an online customs portal that lets them store and manage the customs information they are preparing and all relevant and associated authorisations and documents. After January 1st the portal will enable customers to track each step of the clearance process and check the live status of their consignments.
- Customers will also be supported by a full team of clearance agents operating around the clock.
For more information, visit the Declaron website below.
DECLARON