As a research objective, the digital paradigm of economic and social development, in general, which defines the information strategy for the development of the Russian customs service and administration as necessary and priority, is analyzed. The methodological basis is based on the ideas and principles of an integrated information approach to the study of the customs service and the concept of "customs service", which treats the customs administration as service oriented. We also use additional theoretical approaches (socio-cultural and neo-institutional) as an explanatory model of the developmental characteristics of the Russian customs service. The empirical verification of conceptual attitudes in this study was conducted based on our 2020 expert sociological survey. In the survey, there were 269 employees of Rostov customs, which is structurally included in the Southern Customs Administration. The study concludes that the greater efficiency in the positive dynamics of the work of the Russian customs authorities is associated with the introduction of information technologies (especially electronic declaration). Consequently, the results of this study can be used to develop a strategy to overcome certain barriers in service.