IE590: notification of exit of goods
The carrier must use IE590 to notify that the goods have left the EU, or you get no certificate.
IE590 is used to confirm that goods have left the EU customs territory. It is the third and final step in submitting information. Read about all three steps.
What message IE590 is
IE590 tells Swedish Customs that goods have left the EU customs territory. The carrier or the carrier’s representative sends the message to the office of exit. This step is necessary to confirm that the export has been carried out in accordance with customs requirements.
- Reference to the MRN
- The number from the export declaration that links the notification to the correct case.
- Transport and departure
- Details of the transport and departure.
- Confirmation of exit
- Confirmation that the goods have actually left the EU.
Key parts of IE590
What happens after IE590
This is where many people overlook a step. The certificate does not come directly from the office of exit.
- IE590
- The carrier notifies the office of exit that the goods have left.
- IE518
- The office of exit creates exit results and sends them to the office of export. These are two different offices, which explains why certification may take time.
- IE599
- The office of export creates certification of exit and sends it to the declarant. The status becomes Exported IE599, and no further messages should then be submitted.
From exit to certification
Two customs offices are involved at the end. The office of exit receives the notification, but the office of export issues the certificate.
Why IE599 matters to you
Certification of exit is more than a formality. It is your evidence to the Swedish Tax Agency that the transaction is VAT exempt, and it confirms that the export procedure is complete.
If the certificate does not arrive, you need to find out where the process stopped. Most commonly, IE590 was never submitted.
How we handle IE590
We offer support throughout the export process, including assistance with IE590 and IE599 on request. Although the carrier is usually responsible for this step, we can monitor that every step from IE515 to IE599 is completed correctly and help resolve any problems.
Frequently asked questions about IE590 and IE599
Who is responsible for submitting IE590?
The carrier or the carrier’s representative. Responsibility is explicit here, unlike step 2, where the legislation does not designate anyone. As the exporter, you still need to ensure the earlier steps are correct.
What is IE599 and why does it matter?
IE599 is certification of exit of the goods. The office of export creates it and sends it to the declarant. It confirms that the export procedure is complete.
The certificate is also your evidence to the Swedish Tax Agency that the transaction is exempt from VAT. Without IE599, you have no certification of exit.
Why is my IE599 taking so long?
Between IE590 and IE599 comes IE518, the exit results message, sent from the office of exit to the office of export. Two offices are therefore involved. If a long time has passed, the next question is whether IE590 was actually submitted.
What happens if IE590 is not submitted?
The export is then treated as incomplete and you will not receive IE599.
If Swedish Customs has received no information about exit within 90 days after release for export, an enquiry procedure begins and you receive an enquiry in message IE582. If the goods have not left within 150 days of release, Swedish Customs may invalidate the export declaration.
If the goods have actually left the EU, you can demonstrate this using alternative evidence, such as a bill of lading, air waybill or CMR signed by the carrier, or a released import declaration from the destination country.
The earlier steps are IE515: the export declaration and IE507: presentation at the office of exit. With a through transport contract, STC may mean that IE590 is not used at all.
