Norwegian Customs provides a service in Altinn that gives businesses an overview of their own customs declarations. This declaration overview is useful for checking imports and exports, following up accounting documentation, and understanding what has been declared for the business.
This guide explains what the declaration overview is, when it arrives, who can access it, and what to do if something is missing or incorrect.
[Image placeholder: An Altinn inbox view showing a declaration overview file for a business entity.]
What the declaration overview is#
The declaration overview is a summary of the business’s own declarations for ordinary imports and exports.
- it is available to enterprises registered in the Register of Legal Entities
- it only shows declarations belonging to that enterprise
- it is not an invoice
Instead, it provides an overview of statistical value and taxes connected to the declarations.
When the declaration overview arrives#
If the business has had imports or exports, the declaration overview is available in Altinn on the first day of each month and covers the previous month.
Also, from 1 May 2026, the enterprise that had the import or export receives the declaration overview regardless of whether it is a parent entity or sub-entity.
Where to find it#
The declaration overview is sent through Altinn.
The file name begins with the organization number of the corresponding entity, which makes it easier to distinguish between overviews for different units.
If you have access to more than one entity, you should make sure you are looking in the correct inbox for the relevant business unit.
Who can access the declaration overview#
To access the service, the user must have either:
- the role
Norwegian representative for a foreign entityin the Register of Legal Entities
or one of these Altinn access roles:
- auditor in charge
- accountant with signing rights
- auditor assistant
- customs
The Customs role is described as a role that gives access to Norwegian Customs services in Altinn.
If you do not have the correct access, the company must change your permissions in Altinn.
How notifications work#
To receive notifications from Altinn when the declaration overview arrives, the enterprise must have an email address or phone number entered under notifications in Altinn.
That means missing notifications do not always mean the overview is missing. In some cases, the contact settings in Altinn simply have not been configured.
What the declaration overview is used for#
How the overview is used depends on whether the business is VAT registered.
If the business is VAT registered#
If the business is registered for VAT, the declaration overview is a useful control document when completing the VAT return submitted to the Norwegian Tax Administration.
- the VAT basis is determined on the tax return
- the enterprise reports to the Tax Administration itself
- the Tax Administration handles the collection
Because of this, VAT is not shown under the tax column in the same way for VAT-registered businesses.
If the business is not VAT registered#
If the business is not VAT registered, the declaration overview still helps the business check that customs clearances are correct.
The overview is still not an invoice. Any taxes are normally collected by the customs representative.
What to do if a copy is missing#
If you are missing a copy of a declaration or related sub-vouchers, you should contact the customs representative.
The declaration overview itself can show which company acted as customs representative for the shipment. That representative should have routines for sending copies of declarations and supporting documents.
What to do if something looks wrong#
If there is an error in the declaration overview, you should contact the customs representative listed for the shipment.
Who to contact in common situations#
- missing declaration copy: contact the customs representative
- missing sub-vouchers: contact the customs representative
- wrong Altinn access: the company must change your access in Altinn
- cannot find the overview in Altinn: check Altinn and the correct entity inbox
- questions about the VAT return: contact the Norwegian Tax Administration
Practical checklist#
If your business imports or exports goods, it helps to check the following each month:
- confirm that the correct people have Altinn access
- make sure the right entity inbox is being checked
- verify that notification settings are updated
- review the declaration overview against your internal records
- contact the customs representative quickly if declarations or sub-vouchers are missing
- investigate immediately if the overview shows activity that does not belong to the business
Summary#
The declaration overview in Altinn is a monthly summary of a business’s own customs declarations, not an invoice. It helps businesses review imports and exports, support VAT reporting, and detect customs-clearance errors. The key practical points are to make sure the right people have Altinn access, the right entity inbox is checked, and the customs representative is contacted quickly if anything is missing or incorrect.
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