Customs Declaration Number

The Customs Declaration Number is a unique identification number generated by customs after accepting the declaration of import or export goods. It is used to track, query, and manage the customs clearance status of the shipment. It typically consists of 18 digits (formats vary slightly by country/region) and appears on official documents such as customs declarations, release notices, and tax refund copies. Use cases include: checking whether goods have been released, processing export tax refunds, verifying manifest information, and handling customs inspections or amendments. Note: The customs declaration number is different from the bill of lading number and order number and must not be confused; one shipment may correspond to multiple customs declaration numbers (e.g., partial declarations), and one customs declaration number may correspond to multiple bills of lading (e.g., LCL shipments); enterprises must keep this number for at least 5 years for tax or customs audits. The difference from terms such as 'transit customs declaration number' and 'record number' is that the customs declaration number is the unique voucher generated during the actual declaration process, while the record number is an identifier for an earlier manual or account book.