Clearing & Freight Module
The Clearing & Freight module manages the full lifecycle of a customs clearing engagement — from lodging a declaration to final delivery of released containers.
This module must be enabled by your administrator. If you do not see Clearing in the navigation, contact your system admin to enable the Clearing module and feature flag for your account.
Overview
When goods arrive at a Tanzanian port, a clearing agent must lodge a declaration with Tanzania Customs (TRA), track all required documents, pay duties and taxes, and coordinate container release. This module tracks every step of that process.
Declaration lifecycle
A clearing declaration moves through seven stages:
Draft → Lodged → Assessment → Paid → Released → Delivered → Closed
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Draft | Declaration being prepared, documents being collected |
| Lodged | Submitted to Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) |
| Assessment | Under customs review, duties being assessed |
| Paid | Duties and taxes paid |
| Released | Containers released by customs/port |
| Delivered | Cargo delivered to the client |
| Closed | Engagement complete, file archived |
Creating a declaration
- Go to Clearing → New Declaration
- Fill in:
- Customer — the importer
- Bill of Lading and Manifest Number
- Vessel Name and Arrival Date
- Port — Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Zanzibar, Mtwara, Namanga, or Tunduma
- Invoice Value, Currency, and Exchange Rate
- Container numbers — add each container number and press Enter
- Save as Draft
Document tracking
Each declaration has a built-in document checklist. Mark documents as received as they arrive:
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Bill of Lading | Proof of shipment ownership |
| Commercial Invoice | Establishes goods value for duties |
| Packing List | Details of goods in each container |
| Certificate of Origin | Determines applicable duty rates (e.g. COMESA) |
| Import Permit | Required for controlled goods |
| TANSAD | The customs entry document lodged with TRA |
| Release Order | Issued by customs when duties are paid |
The system timestamps each document when it is marked received.
Ports and terminals
ERP Tanzania supports declarations at all major Tanzania entry points:
| Port | Type |
|---|---|
| Dar es Salaam | Seaport — main container terminal |
| Zanzibar | Seaport |
| Tanga | Seaport |
| Mtwara | Seaport |
| Namanga | Land border (Kenya) |
| Tunduma | Land border (Zambia) |
Key terms
TANSAD — Tanzania Single Administrative Document. The official customs entry form lodged with TRA for all commercial imports.
TRA — Tanzania Revenue Authority. The government body that assesses and collects customs duties.
COMESA — Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa. Goods originating from COMESA member states may attract reduced duty rates with a valid Certificate of Origin.
Manifest — The shipping company's list of all cargo on a vessel. Each consignment has a manifest number.
Demurrage — Charges incurred if containers are not collected from the port within the free period (typically 7–14 days). Tracking the Released status promptly avoids demurrage costs.
Permissions
| Permission | What it allows |
|---|---|
clearing.view | See all declarations and their details |
clearing.manage | Create, edit, advance status, and manage documents |