From 1-11, deploy digital signature in electronic customs procedures

From November 1, 2013, customs declarants use digital signatures (CKS) registered with the Customs authority to carry out electronic customs procedures (ECPs). This regulation was issued by the Ministry of Finance in Decision No. 2341/QD-BTC dated September 18, 2013.

Professional activities at Quang Ninh Customs - one of the units effectively implementing e-customs procedures. Photo: TB

Accordingly, the use of CKS in electronic customs procedures is implemented according to the provisions of Decree 87/2012/ND-CP and Circular 196/2012/TT-BTC.

The Ministry of Finance assigns the General Department of Customs to be responsible for organizing and guiding customs declarants in implementation.

According to Clause C, Article 4, Decree 87: When performing electronic customs procedures, customs declarants must use the CKS registered with the Customs authority. During the period when the CKS is not available, they can use the account to access the Customs Electronic Data Processing System to perform electronic customs procedures. Customs declarants are responsible for keeping the account confidential for use when transacting with the Customs authority through the Customs Electronic Data Processing System and are responsible for electronic transactions according to the provisions of law. The Ministry of Finance stipulates the roadmap for applying CKS when performing electronic customs procedures.

Circular 196 stipulates: The CKS used in the electronic customs declaration of the customs declarant is the public CKS that has been confirmed by the Customs authority to be compatible with the Customs Electronic Data Processing System. The list of organizations providing public CKS certification services that provide CKS compatible with the Customs Electronic Data Processing System is posted on the Customs Electronic Information Portal (address:http://www.customs.gov.vn).

The use of digital certificates and the legal value of digital certificates shall comply with the provisions of Article 8 and Article 12 of Decree No. 26/2007/ND-CP dated February 15, 2007 of the Government detailing the implementation of the Law on Electronic Transactions on digital certificates and digital certificate certification services.

Before using the digital certificate to perform electronic customs procedures, the customs declarant must register the digital certificate with the Customs authority via the Customs Electronic Information Portal. The registration contents include: Name, tax code of the import-export agency, organization or customs clearance agent (if any); full name, identity card or passport number, title (if any) of the person granted the digital certificate; digital certificate identification number (Serial Number); validity period of the digital certificate.

Customs declarants must re-register with the Customs authority the above information in the following cases: Registered information changes, digital certificate renewal, key pair change, digital certificate suspension.

No later than 2 minutes from the time of completion of registration, through the Customs Electronic Portal, the Customs authority will respond to accept or reject (with clear reasons) the customs declarant's CKS.

The registered CKS of the customs declarant is used to perform electronic customs declaration nationwide.

Previously, from January 1, 2013, when the electronic customs declaration was officially implemented according to Decree 87, the pilot use of CKS in the electronic customs declaration was temporarily suspended. The leader of the Department of Information Technology and Customs Statistics (General Department of Customs) said that the reason for the temporary suspension of the use of CKS was because the General Department of Customs was upgrading and perfecting to serve the official implementation nationwide according to the roadmap set by the Government and the Ministry of Finance.

According to this leader, enterprises that have been granted CKS will continue to use it when the Customs sector re-applies it. In particular, enterprises that are using CKS that are valid nationwide can also use this CKS to declare customs and other documents with all customs units nationwide.

According to the Department of Information Technology and Customs Statistics, the Customs' IT system currently allows receiving digital signatures from all service providers (licensed to operate in Vietnam by the Ministry of Information and Communications).

However, the representative of the Customs Information Technology and Statistics Department warned that individuals assigned to manage the CKS of enterprises need to uphold a sense of responsibility in preserving and using, avoiding cases of loss or letting others use it, which can easily cause many consequences. In case of loss or other changes, it is necessary to immediately notify the Customs authority to take timely preventive measures. CKS users also need to be trained to use them proficiently and effectively...

Thus, with the decision just issued by the Ministry of Finance, the use of CKS in electronic customs declaration will be implemented again from January 1, 2013.

According to a representative of the Department of Information Technology and Customs Statistics, the unit will promptly provide instructions for businesses and local customs agencies to implement this decision of the Ministry of Finance.

According to HQ Online- LT