Istanbul Customs Lawyer
Short answer: An Istanbul customs lawyer handles customs declarations, tariff classification, anti-dumping and origin disputes, customs penalty notices and appeals before the customs administration and the tax courts. Procedure and outcome depend on the declaration, valuation evidence and case-specific facts.
Customs Law Services
Customs law regulates international trade and cross-border movements of goods. From import/export procedures to customs tariffs, from penalties to objections, we provide comprehensive support for your foreign trade needs. Koçak Law has handled 15+ customs files, supporting importers and exporters across tariff classification, valuation, origin and smuggling-defence matters.
Turkey's customs system operates under Customs Law No. 4458 and the Anti-Smuggling Law No. 5607, harmonized with EU customs regulations. The complexity of HS code classifications, valuation methods, preferential origin rules, and surveillance measures demands specialized legal expertise to navigate effectively.
Our customs law services include import/export advisory, tariff classification disputes, customs penalty appeals, additional assessment objections, smuggling case defense, warehouse and transit regime compliance, origin certificate disputes, inward processing regime, and intellectual property protection at customs borders. We work closely with customs brokers and trade experts to deliver optimal results.
Our Services
Import/Export
International trade operations
Customs Tariff
Tariff classification
Customs Objections
Objection and lawsuit processes
Warehouse Operations
Warehouse and transit regime
Foreign Trade Contracts
International contracts
Customs Penalties
Penalty cancellation and reduction
Surveillance Valuation Appeals
Appeal overpaid customs duties
Customs Tariff Disputes
HS code classification disputes
Customs Origin Disputes
Origin certificate disputes
Smuggling Cases
Defense under Anti-Smuggling Law
Intellectual Property & Customs
IP rights protection at customs
Customs Tax and Penalty Disputes
Additional assessment and penalty objections
Maritime Law and Maritime Trade
Bill of lading, freight and cargo damage disputes
International Trade Contracts
CISG, Incoterms and payment security structures
Import-Export Law
Regulatory compliance and preventive risk control
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about customs law
How to appeal customs penalty?
What is GTiP classification error?
What is warehouse regime?
What is the penalty for smuggling?
How to object to additional assessment?
How much does a customs lawyer cost?
What to do in origin certificate disputes?
What is inward processing regime?
Grow Your International Trade
Contact us for expert support in customs and foreign trade.
+90 541 348 2551Customs Case Process
File Review & Risk Analysis
Customs declarations, invoices, and penalty decisions are reviewed. Legal risk assessment is performed.
Administrative Objection Preparation
Written objection petition is prepared to customs directorate within 15 days.
Tax Court Litigation
If objection is rejected, cancellation lawsuit is filed in tax court within 30 days.
Expert Report & Hearing
Expert report is obtained on GTiP classification, value, or origin matters.
Decision & Refund
Court decision is obtained. If favorable, overpaid taxes are refunded with interest.
Required Documents
Example Cases
HS Code Classification Dispute
Our client's imported electronics were incorrectly classified to wrong HS code, charged 30% instead of 18%. We proved correct classification with technical report and EU precedent decisions.
Smuggling Case Acquittal
Our exporter client was accused of smuggling due to discrepancy in customs declaration. We proved the discrepancy was from measurement error through expert report and obtained acquittal.
Surveillance Valuation Appeal
High deposit was taken from our client's imported textile products under surveillance measure. We documented actual value and secured return of excess deposit.
Our Expert Approach
Av. Burak Koçak is registered with the Istanbul Bar Association under registration number 86404 and has been handling customs and foreign-trade matters in Istanbul for 7+ years. Across 15+ files the practice has built experience in tariff classification, customs penalties, smuggling defence, valuation disputes and origin-certificate cases, working closely with customs brokers and technical experts on each matter.
Other Legal Services
Explore our comprehensive legal service areas