ATLAS (German customs system) - Trade glossary

ATLAS (Automatisiertes Tarif- und Lokales Zollabwicklungssystem) is the central IT system of German customs for electronic processing of all customs procedures. As the EU's largest economy and leading importer/exporter, ATLAS is one of the world's most heavily used customs systems.

ATLAS covers all customs operations:

Import: free circulation declarations, special procedures
Export: export declarations (connected to AES)
Transit: transit declarations (connected to NCTS)
Warehousing: customs warehouses and free zones management
Excise: excise duty management (EMCS)

System access:

Direct communication: automated connection via certified customs software
Internet: web interface (IAA - Internet-Ausfuhr-Anmeldung) for occasional exporters

ATLAS is progressively updated to integrate new UCC requirements and trans-European systems. Operators must have an EORI number and be registered with the BZSt (federal tax administration).