Are you prepared for full customs controls?

HMRC are reminding traders to prepare for customs changes that come into effect on 1 January 2022.

What are the changes?

From 1 January 2022 you will no longer be able to delay making import customs declarations under the Staged Customs Controls rules that have applied throughout 2021. This means that most businesses will have to make declarations and pay relevant tariffs when the goods enter the country.

You should therefore consider before 1 January 2022 how you are going to submit your customs declarations and pay any duties that are due. You can either submit the declarations yourself or appoint an intermediary (for example, a customs agent) to deal with them on your behalf.

Simplified Declarations

You can apply to have a ‘Simplified Declarations’ authorisation from HMRC. This declaration allows your goods to be released directly to a specified customs procedure without having to provide a full customs declaration at the point of release.

You will need authorisation in order to use Simplified Declarations. The checks for this can take up to 60 calendar days to complete and you will also need to have a Duty Deferment Account in place. Therefore any application made now may not be authorised before 1 January 2022.

If you have any queries about any of the above please get in touch with a member of our tax team on 01903 234094.