Customs is our core business.
The Customs Streamliner® is one integrated solution that supports all customs declarations and procedures for the Benelux with a uniform user interface.
In addition to the declaration software, Stream Software developed the Customs Dossier, which can support all customs procedures on the basis of scenarios, rights and parameters.
Customs Dossier enables the user to automate customs flows wherever possible. The solution includes IDMS, AES, DMS import and DMS export, NCTS, EMCS, fiscal representation, warehouse management and other commercial customs and inventory systems in a user-friendly and fast communication environment.
The Customs Streamliner® can be integrated with the ERP-software of shippers such as SAP, J.D. Edwards, Navision, a.o. and of course with the ERP-system of Stream Software itself, specifically designed for customs agents.
By placing goods in a Bonded Warehouse, the payment of import duties and VAT is postponed until the moment the goods leave the warehouse again.
When the goods leave the warehouse with a destination outside the EU (re-export to a third country), no import duties and VAT are charged.
When the goods leave the customs warehouse with destination Belgium or another EU country, the import duties and VAT are levied at the moment they leave the warehouse. Transshipment between customs warehouses and scrapping under customs supervision are also free of duties and VAT provided the declarant has the necessary authorisation.
The administration of a Bonded Warehouse can be very time-consuming. With Customs Dossier Stream Software offers the ultimate tool to automate this administration and reporting.
Each entry or inbound automatically creates a stock sheet, from which the results are written off. Therefore, there is always an audit trail concerning every movement of goods in and out of the customs warehouse, which enables the user to submit an accurate report to customs at all times.
In addition, with the use of the Smart Modules, the customs stock can be optimised and automated from a fiscal point of view.
Tax representation for the import of goods involves a great deal of financial responsibility.
Within the Customs Streamliner®, Stream Software offers a powerful tool to fully control the fiscal representation (both global and individual VAT numbers).
In order to minimise human intervention, Stream Software has set up a solution where the data is taken over automatically. The data transfer starts with the declaration and ends with the VAT, intrastat and ICL declaration. In this way, the user can save an enormous amount of time.
Stream Software goes even further than that. With the self-control framework, checks or controls are set up with the aim of controlling all tax flows. The aim is always to achieve the highest possible level of automation.
The legislation is monitored by Stream Software's specialists and changes are incorporated into the application in a timely manner. Our customers are automatically notified when new functionalities are applicable.
The invoicing of customs documents can involve large sums of money. It is extremely important for the forwarder or declarant to settle the documents on time, but above all correctly.
Here Stream Software offers a comprehensive solution: linked to ILS, customs documents can be invoiced automatically.
The user can define tariffs per client and per type of document, and after the release of a declaration, these costs and any payable VAT, import duties or anti-dumping duties are automatically invoiced.
You can also opt for a periodic consolidation invoice for all declarations, but with an immediate invoice for the VAT, import duties or anti-dumping duties mentioned earlier. In this way, you are always assured of a correct and complete settlement.
Entering customs declarations can be complex. Certain goods' codes require additional codes and the incorrect or incomplete submission of a declaration can be very time-consuming when numerous corrections are required. Moreover, the customs systems are unnecessarily burdened.
The name says it all: Declarant Assist is your assistant as declarant and screens your entire declaration for errors before you send it to customs. As a user, you will receive notifications in advance of which items in the declaration are missing or incorrect. This way, you can supplement or amend these data, thus reducing the number of error messages returned by customs to a minimum.
The main advantage of the Declarant Assist is that it fully screens the declaration before it is sent to customs. Any errors or missing data are then detected, drastically reducing the number of error messages received. The Declarant Assist is fully updated (at least) monthly to the latest version of the EU TARIC database.
Declarant Assist reads out the EU TARIC database and allows you to consult tariff codes. The module also contains the following functionalities:
The exemption from VAT for shipments of €22 and below is cancelled as of July 1, 2021. As of this date, VAT must be paid on the import of all such shipments.
The exemption for duties on shipments of €150 and below will continue. Please note that as of July 1, 2021, the limit of €150 will no longer be determined on the customs value of the order, but on the intrinsic value. In addition, not all goods may be imported through the e-Commerce platform. Goods that "touch" something in the legislation remain through the normal declaration systems. Our solution has a negative list of commodity codes that may not be declared via e-Commerce. These can then run through IDMS, AES or DMS import/export.
Stream Software has developed a cloud solution where e-Commerce shipments can be submitted. The application validates all submitted packages, and determines the flow to follow.
There are strict business rules set by the customs authorities, as a result of which not all goods may be sent in within H7 / DECO (e.g. excise goods). Our CAAS (Customs Advanced Advisory System) validates each parcel against these business rules! Stream Software has an e-Commerce solution for the Benelux. Let's face it, the business rules differ from country to country. Stream's CAAS offers a solution for every e-Commerce shipment within the Benelux, whether it arrives at Liege, Schiphol or Luxembourg!
Behind every great e-Commerce platform is a software company that streamlines the import.
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As a business, you use AES when exporting goods from Belgium: it is required for submitting export declarations to customs. Streamliner supports this both through the standard user interface and via the AES API, which allows you to submit export data, send it to customs, and request feedback or status updates. AES is used for:
An AES declaration is required for companies that:
You can always find the latest changes in our release notes at https://docs.streamsoftware.app/
CERTEX stands for EU Customs Single Window Certificates Exchange System (EU CSW-CERTEX). It is a European system that automatically links customs systems to other European licensing, certification, and control systems. This allows customs authorities to automatically verify, during an import, export, or transit declaration, whether the required licenses or certificates exist, are valid, and have sufficient quotas.
For businesses, this means that customs officials no longer simply check whether a document number has been entered, but also verify directly whether the document is actually valid in the underlying European system.
For the Belgian and Dutch markets, the following CERTEX domains are currently the most relevant:
During a CERTEX inspection, the declarant must have the required permits, certificates, or health documents and must include the correct document references, quantities, and additional information in the customs declaration. CERTEX automatically verifies this information against European source systems such as TRACES, the FGAS Portal, and the ODS Licensing System.
EMCS (Excise Movement and Control System) is the European electronic system for recording, tracking, and monitoring the movement of excise goods. The system is used for goods transported under an excise duty regime, such as:
EMCS ensures that customs and excise authorities can track the location of these goods and when they are received in real time.
EMCS is mandatory for companies that transport excise goods under an excise duty regime.
1. Goods under excise tax suspension (e-AD)
Example: Belgian brewery → French tax warehouse
No excise tax is paid while the goods are in transit. The movement is tracked using an e-AD (electronic Administrative Document).
2. Duty-Paid Transport (e-SAD)
Example: Excise taxes have already been paid in Belgium, but the goods are being sold commercially to the Netherlands.
Since EMCS 4.0, this has been done electronically via an e-SAD (electronic Simplified Administrative Document).
At a minimum, you’ll need an invoice, a packing list, EORI numbers, an AES export declaration, and a UK import declaration. To qualify for preferential treatment, you’ll also need a valid certificate of origin.
Working efficiently in the post-Brexit era is less about the actual customs declaration and more about preventing errors before the declaration is submitted. Most delays between the EU and the UK are caused by missing origin information, incorrect commodity codes, missing EORI numbers, or incomplete documentation.
Once this is set up, invoicing via ILS is automatically linked to and driven by the customs declaration.
Customs Streamliner helps customs agents manage high volumes of declarations through extensive automation of data entry, reuse of templates, ERP/WMS integrations, batch processing, and automatic tracking of customs statuses. This allows employees to focus on exceptions, while the majority of declarations are processed fully automatically.
After the declaration is filed, manual tasks can be significantly reduced through automatic processing of customs statuses, automatic document transmission, batch processing, electronic archiving, and automatic reminders. As a result, the declarant only needs to handle exceptions, while routine follow-up is fully automated.
Yes. By automatically generating claims, processing status updates, sending documents, and automating routine follow-up, a customs team can process significantly more cases without a corresponding increase in staff. This allows employees to focus on exceptions rather than repetitive administrative tasks.
Be pleasantly surprised and ask for a demo!
