ABSTRACT
Customs clearance into and out of a free zone operates in exactly the same way as with a customs warehouse. The cargoes are unloaded from the vessel/aircraft, and are pre-cleared through customs using simplified clearance procedures. If prior notification of removal is required, the operator should then notify customs of the intention to release the goods and create the tax point and base date by entering the details of the goods in their EIDR records. In all cases, the entry in the free zone stock records, entry in the EIDR records and any subsequent import supplementary declarations must be able to be cross-referenced to both the ‘request to remove goods’ and the faxed notification provided to the free zone manager. Where a business initially declares goods to customs warehousing or into some other customs special procedure including a freeport, they can use postponed VAT accounting when they submit the declaration that releases those goods into free circulation.
