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Import/Export

Export To The EU: Low-Value Parcel Rules Change On 1 July

Starting 1 July 2026, a fixed customs duty of €3 will be applied to small parcels valued at less than €150 exported to the EU. The rate will be applied to all goods exported to the EU by non-EU businesses that are registered in the EU’s Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) for VAT purposes. Whether the […]

Read more June 3rd, 2026

Exporters Must Move To Customs Declaration Service From June.

Submitting export declarations through the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) becomes mandatory for all businesses on 4 June. CDS will replace the Customs Handling Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) on that date. Businesses that use a customs agent to submit their export declarations should check that their agent is ready for the change. If you make […]

Read more May 20th, 2024

The Electronic Trade Documents Act

The Electronic Trade Documents Act received Royal Assent last week granting electronic trade documents the same legal status as physical trade documents, hopefully making trade more efficient, cleaner, and cheaper for businesses. Existing laws dating back to the 1800s previously meant that exporters and importers have to use paper documents to transfer ownership of the […]

Read more August 14th, 2023

The Windsor Framework

More than a regional agreement Last week we saw the Windsor Framework, agreed by the Prime Minister and European Commission President, replacing the old Northern Ireland Protocol, providing a new legal and UK constitutional framework. The UK government states that “It delivers free-flowing trade in goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland by removing […]

Read more March 7th, 2023

Full EU Customs Controls Have Begun

HMRC have written to traders with a reminder of the changes to customs controls that came into force from 1 January 2022 and how they might affect the way goods are imported and exported between Great Britain and the EU. You can read this letter, along with more information about these changes by going to GOV.UK […]

Read more January 18th, 2022

New Freeport Opportunities

In his Spring 2021 Budget, the Chancellor announced that there would be 8 “Freeports” in England with generous tax breaks to encourage businesses to set up and invest in those areas. The devolved governments will also be announcing locations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in due course. The proposed locations of the freeports can […]

Read more January 7th, 2022

Accounting For Import VAT On Your VAT Return

HMRC have recently updated their guidance on accounting for VAT on goods imported from outside the UK which, since Brexit, includes the European Union. Businesses registered for VAT in the UK can account for import VAT on their VAT Return for goods imported into: Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from anywhere outside the UK […]

Read more September 10th, 2021

VAT Post-Brexit Changes To Imports And Exports

Exports If you are a VAT registered person or business and you export goods, from 1 January 2021 all sales of goods to a destination outside of the UK will be classed as Exports and therefore can be zero-rated as long as they meet the normal conditions in VAT Notice 703 Section 3. These include […]

Read more January 13th, 2021

Get Ready For Leaving The EU On 1 January 2021

The United Kingdom leaves the European Union at 11pm on 31 December 2020 when the transitional period ends. It is still unclear whether a trade deal will have been agreed with the EU by that date, and such an agreement is looking increasingly unlikely. HMRC have started writing to businesses alerting them to important changes […]

Read more October 15th, 2020

COVID-19 Advice For The Freight Transport Industry

Freight industry guidance on international travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, following government advice for British nationals. International and domestic freight transport (including by air, ship, road, and rail, including roll-on/roll-off transports) is classified by UK government as an essential activity in the context of its travel advice. The advice against non-essential travel is not […]

Read more May 19th, 2020

The Department For International Trade Offers Support To Exporters And Investors

The Department for International Trade (DIT) has outlined support available to 160,000 exporters and UK businesses are now eligible to secure export insurance cover to major international markets. See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-dit-offers-support-to-exporters-and-investors Guidance on how to help secure export finance to keep trading during the coronavirus outbreak has been set out by the government in direct communication […]

Read more April 15th, 2020

Delaying Import Duty And VAT Payments Due To Covid-19

Many businesses that import goods into the UK from outside the EU operate deferment accounts, which allow payment of import duty and VAT to be delayed for 15 days after the month in which the goods are brought into the country. See Gov.uk – How to set up a deferment account: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/setting-up-an-account-to-defer-duty-payments-when-you-import-goods What are HMRC […]

Read more April 15th, 2020

COVID-19 Business Support Update 31 March

Key Government Resources Links You can find an updating list of official resource links here. 1. Department for International Trade (DIT) has issued guidance for UK businesses trading internationally. This advice is for UK businesses that export or deliver goods and services abroad and have been impacted by the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). It includes: […]

Read more March 31st, 2020

Are You Brexit Ready?

On 31 January 2020, the UK finally left the EU after months of debate. Little impact will have been felt so far as we now enter the 11 month period of transition. This is to give the UK time to negotiate trade agreements with countries around the world, with the priority being those remaining in […]

Read more February 24th, 2020

Government Funding To Help Prepare For Customs Changes

£16m in new government funding is now available to help businesses train staff in making customs declarations, and to help businesses who support others who trade goods to invest in IT. This will ensure that trade with the EU continues as smoothly as possible after Brexit. Grants can be used to support: training costs for […]

Read more November 11th, 2019