Descartes Customs Compliance Solutions
New Computerised Transit System (NCTS)
Descartes customs solutions help you manage transit declarations, new data requirements and changing processes accurately and efficiently.
Manage NCTS movements with confidence
NCTS introduces data requirements, processes and information exchanges for businesses moving goods under transit. The Descartes Global Logistics Network TM (Descartes GLN TM) helps you manage these changes within your existing customs operations, reducing manual work, errors and the risk of disruption.
Why businesses choose Descartes for transit movements
- Trusted by businesses managing complex customs and transit operations
- Backed by industry-recognised customs and transit expertise
- Connects transit processes with wider customs operations
Simplify NCTS compliance and keep goods moving
Manage changing data requirements
The new data requirements in transit declarations, includes the need for commodity codes to be entered to at least six digits. Descartes helps ensure the right information is captured and managed as part of our transit process.
Support pre-lodged transit declarations
Allows transit declarations to be lodged before goods are presented, with the ability to amend them before presentation. Descartes helps simplify these processes and manage the additional information exchanges required.
Compliance & Audit Readiness
The updated version of NCTS introduced additional requirements around the amount of guarantee to be reserved and, in some countries, checking guarantee balances. Descartes helps bring these requirements into a controlled, structured workflow.
Keep track of incidents and movement events
NCTS records incidents en-route and additional roles within the transit process.
Supports digital transit documentation
Movement Reference Number (MRN’s) and barcodes can replace the need to provide a full paper transit document in supported scenarios.
A smarter way to manage NCTS
Descartes gives you the technology, expertise and support to manage NCTS as part of your wider customs operation:.
- Reduce manual data entry and the risk of errors
- Improve visibility across transit movements
- Support faster, more consistent customs processes
- Adapt as transit requirements continue to evolve
- Manage changing NCTS data and messaging requirements
Customer Success: Scaling a customs bureau with Descartes customs software
“Managing customs declarations is increasingly complex and manually handling thousands of entries monthly is time-consuming and prone to error. Descartes customs software has allowed us to scale our operations and improve our customer experience.”
Karl Heron,
Head of Bureau Services at Cardinal Global Logistics.
What are the costs of customs software?
Discover the costs of integrating into a customs management software solution. We break down pricing and explain how our solution is structured, helping businesses make informed decisions.
New Computerised Transit System FAQ
NCTS stands for New Computerised Transit System. It is the European digital customs system for submitting, managing and tracking transit declarations.
NCTS is used when goods are transported under customs supervision while payment of import duties, VAT and excise duties is temporarily suspended. This includes external Union transit (T1), internal Union transit (T2) and common transit between the EU and countries that are party to the Common Transit Convention.
Through NCTS, businesses and customs offices exchange electronic information about the declaration and the status of the movement of goods.
An NCTS declaration is submitted electronically before the goods depart. The declaration includes information about the goods, consignor and consignee, mode of transport, customs offices and the required guarantee. Following validation and acceptance, customs assigns a unique Movement Reference Number (MRN), after which the goods can be released for transport. The customs offices involved then exchange status messages automatically.
Upon arrival, the goods and any discrepancies are reported to the office of destination. Once the procedure has been correctly closed, the transit procedure is discharged and the guarantee can be released. NCTS software helps validate, submit and track these messages.
The difference between a T1 and T2 declaration is determined by the customs status of the goods.
A T1 declaration is mainly used for non-Union goods transported under customs supervision. Payment of import duties, VAT and any excise duties is temporarily suspended during transport.
A T2 declaration is used for Union goods that must retain their Union status during transport, for example when the route runs partly outside the customs territory of the European Union.
Both declarations are submitted and tracked electronically through NCTS. The declaration required depends on the origin, destination, route and customs status of the goods.
An NCTS declaration requires information about the consignor, consignee and holder of the transit procedure, among other details. You must also provide information about the goods, such as the goods description, commodity code, packaging, quantity and weight. The mode of transport, office of departure, any offices of transit, office of destination, planned route and details of the required guarantee must also be provided.
Depending on the shipment, previous customs documents, seal numbers and safety and security data may also be required. The exact requirements vary by declaration type, route and country involved. NCTS software can validate data in advance and flag missing or incorrect information.
Once an NCTS declaration has been accepted, it receives a unique Master Reference Number (MRN). This number can be used to track the transit movement throughout the process. NCTS exchanges electronic messages at key moments, such as acceptance, release for transport, arrival at the office of destination, control results and discharge of the declaration. Rejections and other discrepancies are also reported through status messages.
With Descartes e-Customs software, you can view these messages centrally and identify more quickly whether action is required. This helps you maintain visibility of ongoing declarations and transit movements that have not yet been completed.
NCTS software is suitable for businesses that regularly transport goods under a transit procedure or submit declarations for such movements. These include importers, exporters, freight forwarders, customs brokers, carriers, logistics service providers and businesses with their own distribution or storage operations.
The software is particularly relevant for organisations that want greater control over their transit declarations, process large volumes of declarations or want to reuse data from an ERP or transport management system. Businesses with limited volumes can also outsource declarations. The right choice therefore depends on the number of declarations, the level of control required, the available customs expertise and the integrations needed.
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