The Automated Import System (AIS) is Ireland’s official electronic platform for lodging and processing import customs declarations. It is operated by the Irish Revenue Commissioners and is fully aligned with the EU’s Union Customs Code (UCC).
The Automated Export System (AES) is the Irish customs platform for handling export declarations. It ensures all goods leaving Ireland for non-EU destinations are properly declared in line with UCC regulations.
You need to lodge an AIS import declaration whenever you bring goods into Ireland from outside the EU customs territory, including GB and all non-EU countries.
An AES export declaration is required whenever goods leave Ireland for a destination outside the EU customs territory. In certain cases, declarations may also be required for intra-EU shipments.
Yes. The Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number is your unique identifier for all EU customs transactions. Without it, you cannot submit an AIS or AES declaration.
iAIS and iAES store your EORI and other company details securely, so you never have to retype them for each shipment.
You will need:
Importer & exporter details (including EORI numbers)
HS code (commodity code) for each product
Customs Procedure Code (CPC)
Goods description, quantity, and value
Incoterms
Country of origin and dispatch
Transport details
Supporting documents (invoices, licences, health certificates if applicable)
Manually gathering this data can be time-consuming. iAIS uses OCR (optical character recognition) and AI to pull details from invoices and shipping documents automatically.
You will need:
Exporter details (EORI, address)
Consignee details (destination country)
HS code & CPC
Goods description and value
Incoterms
Export control codes (if applicable)
Transport method and departure point
Supporting documents (licences, certificates of origin)
With iAES, recurring export shipments can be duplicated with one click, reducing repetitive data entry.
During audits, Revenue may request proof of lodged declarations, invoices, and licences. iCustoms stores full audit trails for every submission, including timestamps, MRNs, and copies of attached documents.
iCustoms uses AI to validate data (e.g. HS codes, values, origin), auto-fill repetitive fields, and check for inconsistencies before submission.
For example, if an invoice says “$10,000” but the shipping cost field is blank, the system flags that. This prevents common errors like mis-typing commodity codes, leaving required fields blank, or using outdated rules. The sooner you catch those, the fewer penalties or delays you’ll have.
With iCustoms, many users report submitting declarations in about 3 minutes when all data is prepared.
By contrast, manual entry can take significantly longer, sometimes 30-60 minutes or more per declaration if documents, classification, and origin evidence are scattered. The time saved is especially significant for businesses making many declarations.
Yes, iCustoms offers API integrations with ERP and inventory systems. That means data like invoice amounts, item names, and weights can flow automatically from your ERP into the AIS/AES declaration form, reducing duplicate work.
This is helpful when you already have purchase data stored digitally and want to avoid retyping or copying.
The platform is built to auto-update regulatory rules: tariff rates, prohibited/restricted goods, origin documentation requirements, etc.
If Revenue introduces a change, say, new inspection rules for certain goods, iCustoms reflects these, so your form won’t allow outdated inputs. This helps avoid rejections or late penalties for non-compliance.
Yes, the system uses classification tools (iClassification) to suggest accurate HS codes based on product descriptions and past entries. It often includes validation against TARIC/EU databases.
If you select a code that doesn’t match weight/unit or description, you’ll get a warning before submission. That helps avoid mismatches that might lead to audits or miscalculation of duty.
iCustoms’ IDP allows you to upload trade documents, commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, and certificates of origin. It uses AI to extract key fields automatically (sender, recipient, value, goods description).
This reduces manual keying, speeds up data gathering, and reduces transcription errors. It also helps when multiple declarations share common documents: the system can reuse them.
The system needs accurate data: invoice value, shipping & insurance costs (if applicable), origin of the goods, HS code, and incidental charges (packing, commissions, etc.).
Once all required data is entered, iCustoms uses up-to-date tariff rates and VAT rates to compute duty and VAT, so you see the expected landed cost before finalising your declaration.
Using iCustoms iAES (Automated Export System) for export declarations helps ensure your exports are compliant, speeds up clearance, and provides real-time updates on the status of declaration.
It also helps reduce delay at the border or exit point, because customs authorities can see that your export declaration is complete and valid before the goods leave.
Yes, the system has tools for restricted goods screening and denied party screening, and may flag items needing special permits or health/safety certifications.
If your goods fall under dangerous goods, chemicals, foodstuffs etc., the system will prompt you to attach relevant certificates or indicate extra requirements. This prevents surprises at inspection or risk of seizure.
Not much. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, with guided workflows. You don’t need to know in detail how AIS or AES works if you follow the prompts.
However, you do need basic knowledge of your goods (what they are, their origin), accurate invoices, and some understanding of HS codes or at least correct product descriptions. The system helps fill in many blanks but can’t guess everything.
They go through a number of automated checks: completeness of key fields (exporter, consignee, goods description, HS codes, licenses), consistency of numbers (weight vs. piece count vs. volume), and whether the goods require export licenses.
The system can flag missing or inconsistent data, giving you a chance to correct before submission. That helps avoid rejection or delays by Revenue.
Support is through live chat, phone, and email. Also, there’s onboarding help: guides, possibly a dedicated onboarding manager.
If you get stuck with a particular field in AIS or AES, you can reach out to their customer support, who are familiar with Revenue’s systems. This helps especially new users or small businesses without in-house customs experts.