HMRC are advising businesses about changes to the way you’ll make customs declarations from 1 January 2022 and how they’ll affect you buying or selling goods between Great Britain and the EU from the New Year.
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 during 2021. Most customers will have to make declarations and pay relevant tariffs at the point of import.
Before 1 January 2022, you should consider how you are going to submit your customs declarations. You can appoint an intermediary, such as a customs agent, to deal with your declarations on your behalf or you can submit them yourself. For more information, go to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/appoint-someone-to-deal-with-customs-on-your-behalf
Some businesses already have a 'Simplified Declarations' authorisation from HMRC that allows their goods to be released directly to a specified customs procedure without having to provide a full customs declaration at the point of release.
- If you want to use Simplified Declarations, you’ll need authorisation to do so. It can take up to 60 calendar days to complete the checks needed for this and therefore a new application made now may not be authorised before 1 January 2022. To find out more, go to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-simplified-declarations-for-imports
- You must use the correct country code for the country of origin and the country of dispatch when you complete your customs declaration. For EU countries, the individual country code of the relevant member state should be used. The EU country code must not be used and will be removed from systems shortly.
Where you can get help with importing and exporting
HMRC have a range of webinars and YouTube videos on importing and exporting with the EU that you can watch by going to help and support for UK transition page.
If you export to the EU, the recently launched government Export Support Service is a free service giving you access to online and phone support. You can access it on GOV.UK or by calling 0300 303 8955 where you will be put in touch with a member of the dedicated export support team.