The Government and HMRC are contacting businesses in Great Britain who move goods between Great Britain and the EU, to explain what they need to do to be able to trade with the EU from 1 January 2021.
Businesses in Brentwood and Ongar who import and export between Great Britain and the EU need to prepare now for new processes for moving goods to and from the EU from January, including:
- making sure they have a UK Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number
- deciding how they will make customs declarations and contacting a customs intermediary to help move their goods
- checking if their imported goods are eligible for staged import controls
These actions are vital for businesses to be able to keep trading with the EU – they will not change regardless of the outcome of the government's negotiations with the EU.
The letter we’ve sent to over 200,000 VAT registered businesses is published on GOV.UK.
We have also launched a short video explaining how a customs intermediary can help businesses manage customs processes. Businesses that move goods in and out of the UK and are new to the customs processes may find this video helpful.
All HMRC's recent videos about importing and exporting can be viewed here.
HMRC - Important Updates
With just two weeks to go until the Brexit transition period ends, HMRC is urging traders to complete crucial preparations needed to trade with Europe from 1 January.
This month, HMRC has sent 250,000 letters and emails to VAT-registered traders urging them to get ready for the new trading rules.
The changes to customs and tax rules on 1 January will affect everyone who trades with Europe, no matter the type or value of the goods they buy or sell, how frequently they trade or how their goods are transported. Ongoing trade negotiations between the UK and the EU will not impact on this deadline.
There will be no further extensions and these talks will not remove the changes ahead for trading with Europe. As of 1 January, businesses will no longer be able to trade with EU countries in the same way they do at present.
In HMRC’s letter we urge traders to complete the new trader checklist, which can be found on GOV.UK. It helps them work through the key steps they will need to take to prepare for 1 January 2021.
For businesses that plan on moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the free Trader Support Service can guide them through new processes under the Northern Ireland Protocol that starts from 1 January 2021.
You can find more information in the news story published on GOV.UK, and by searching ‘Brexit transition’ on GOV.UK for importing and exporting guidance, checklists and webinars on how to prepare for 1 January.
Customs Grant Scheme - important changes
Following a recent announcement, more support is being offered through the Customs Grant Scheme to allow more people to access the funding and help ensure they are ready to trade with the EU after the transition period ends.
Customs intermediaries – including customs brokers, freight forwarders and express parcel operators – as well as traders who complete their own declarations, are among those who may benefit from the new co-funded training project under General Block Exemption Regulations (GBER).
Through the co-funded training project grant, organisations can receive up to 2 million euros where they co-invest as well.
We are also now allowing traders who are new to customs to apply for grants of up to £1,000 per organisation to support the cost of basic customs training. This will help traders understand what is involved in making customs declarations and can help them prepare for when they speak to an intermediary.
Another change HMRC has introduced to the customs grant scheme is that businesses with Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status who have had a base in the UK for less than 12 months can also now access the grant scheme. This will encourage new entrants to the intermediary market.
The current phase of the customs grant scheme opened for applications on 29 July with a record £50 million investment as part of the measures to accelerate growth of the customs intermediary sector and help meet the increased demand it will see from traders from 1 January 2021.
Grants will be issued on a first come, first served basis and applications will close on 30 June 2021, or earlier if all funding is allocated.
Applications for the co-funded training project, trader training and for AEO businesses opened on 16 November 2020.
For more information on the scheme and how to apply, please read the guidance on GOV.UK.
Updated 20th Nov 2020
