What does Hauptzollamt mean?
Hauptzollamt (main customs office) is an office of the customs service. It collects Kfz-Steuer and recovers debts owed to federal offices.
das Hauptzollamt · die Hauptzollämter (plural)
Debts to the Familienkasse, the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter are often recovered by the Hauptzollamt. It acts on behalf of these offices.
Before it seizes anything, it usually sends a Zahlungsaufforderung or a notice. Then you still have time to pay or to find a solution.
The Hauptzollamt does not check whether the claim is correct. Send objections to the claim to the office that asks for the money.
Example sentence
Das Hauptzollamt vollstreckt die Forderung der Familienkasse gegen Sie.
The Hauptzollamt is enforcing the Familienkasse's claim against you.
What you can do
Reply quickly to letters from the Hauptzollamt. If you cannot pay everything at once, ask for a Ratenzahlung.
Related words
- Vollstreckung Vollstreckung (enforcement) means a claim is enforced with the help of the state, for example by seizure (Pfändung).
- Pfändung Pfändung (seizure) means a Gläubiger takes money or things from you with the state's help to collect a debt.
- Familienkasse The Familienkasse (family benefits office) pays Kindergeld and Kinderzuschlag. It is usually part of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit.
- Kfz-Steuer Kfz-Steuer (vehicle tax) is a tax on cars, motorbikes and other vehicles. You pay it as long as the vehicle is registered.
- Ratenzahlung Ratenzahlung (payment in instalments) means you pay a debt in smaller amounts, for example part of it every month.
- Zahlungsaufforderung Zahlungsaufforderung (request for payment) is a letter in which someone asks you for money. It gives the amount, the account and a date.