At the Turn of the Century

From the beginning of 1865, customs administration function was assigned to the newly established Customs Fee Collection Department.

In 1868, for ehanced sea border guarding activities in the Baltic Sea, Maritime Patrol was established, while in 1872, it was reorganized as Customs Flotilla.

In October 1893, the Border Guard was separated from the competence of  Customs Fee Collection Department, and was renamed Border Guard Independent Corps with direct subordination to Finance Minister.

In May 1912, the next customs reorganization was approved, which happened to be the last in the autocratic Russia.

World War I, the Russian Revolution and the starting years of the Russian Civil War finally nullified both the country's foreign trade and functions of the Russia's Customs. Under economic depression and natural commodity exchange conditions, there was need to address customs policy issues.

It was the Russian Provisional Government which initiated foreign trade reforms. Subsequent changes took place after the October Revolution of 1917. National property theory normally provided for nationalization of economy, including foreign trade. The All-Russia Central Executive Committee (VTSIK) and Council of People's Commissars (SNK) Resolution on "Workers' Supervision" dated 14 November 1917, introduced state trade monopoly on all essential commodities.

On April 22, 1918, SNK passed the Decree on Nationalization of Foreign Trade. A month later, Border Guard was established. In July 1918, a Decree on "Transfer of Authprity over Customs Duty Department from General Office of Border Guard and Prevention of Unlawful Trade to People's Commissariat for Trade and Industry" was passed. Customs Duty Department was renamed to General Office for Customs Control with direct reporting to the People's Commissar for Trade and Industry.