Laem Chabang Customs Encourages Compliance Check and Self-Disclosure

(7/2009)

Recognising that the implementation of the e-Customs has led to higher chances of unintentional false declarations, the Laem Chabang (LCB) Customs Office has recently issued letters to the importers/exporters encouraging them to perform an internal customs compliance check and make self-disclosure of false declarations so as to waive the penalties.

According to the Customs Case Settlement Criteria, the penalties could be waived if the offender makes self-disclosure of his violation before discovery by Customs and it could be established that the false declaration was unintentional.

As Customs is in the process of reviewing the current penalty regime, which may become more aggressive, and stepping up efforts to meet higher revenue target, this self-disclosure scheme by the LCB could be an opportunity for the importers/exporters to control and mitigate their potential customs exposures.