Britain are no longer in the EU and if you export to Europe you will now be expected to make customs declarations much like you would do for the rest of the world and so the way you conduct business may significantly change.
GOV.UK have compiled a checklist to help you find out what steps you need to take in the run up to 1st January 2021 to prepare for these changes
1. Find out how to declare goods from 1 January 2021: you can declare yourself or get someone else to deal with customs for you
2. Check the new rules for your type of goods, find out
• what licences or certificates you might need
• what marking, labelling and marketing standards will be required on food, plants, seeds and manufactured goods
• what rules you’ll need to follow for exporting alcohol, tobacco and certain oils
3. Make sure you have an EORI number starting with GB – get one here if you haven’t
4. Find out if you can charge VAT at 0%. Most goods will be able to be zero rated but you can check here to make sure
5. Check if the EU business you’re exporting to is ready and that they can make the necessary import customs declarations before you send your goods. They’ll also need a licence or certificate to import some types of goods.
If you’re intending to send goods through Northern Ireland, keep an eye on the GOV.UK website where they will be adding guidance over the coming weeks.
Supporting our clients so they have all the information they need to run their business smoothly is of utmost importance to us. Call us on 07796 954685 if you have any questions or need help navigating these changes.
