Guidance

Check if you can delay customs payments and declarations

Find out what options you have to delay sending HMRC information about goods and paying Customs Duty when you move them into or out of Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales).

From:
HM Revenue & Customs
Published
16 September 2019
Last updated
30 April 2021 鈥� See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Use this tool to check if you can delay paying Customs Duty or sending HMRC information about goods you move into or out of Great Britain. This includes:

  • delaying payments of Customs Duty when importing goods
  • delaying sending HMRC information about goods you import or export
  • moving goods from your premises into or out of Great Britain

This tool does not include information about goods you鈥檒l move into or out of Northern Ireland.

Find out more information on paying a reduced rate of Customs Duty.

Updates to this page

Published 16 September 2019
Last updated 30 April 2021

  1. The tool to check if you can delay paying Customs Duty or sending HMRC information about goods you move into or out of Great Britain has been updated.

  2. First published.

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Part of Import goods into the UK: step by step

  1. Step 1

    Follow these steps if you're moving goods permanently to:

    • England, Wales or Scotland (Great Britain) from a country outside the UK
    • Northern Ireland from a country outside the UK and the EU

    What you need to do is different if you are:

  2. Step 2

    You need an Economic Operators Registration and Identification number (EORI number) that starts with GB to import goods into England, Wales or Scotland. You'll need a new one if you have an EORI number that does not start with GB.

    If you move goods to or from Northern Ireland, you may need one that starts with XI.

    1. Get an EORI number

    If you store goods in the UK for sellers outside the UK, you may need to apply to the Fulfilment House Due Diligence Scheme.

    1. Find out if you need to apply to the Fulfilment House Due Diligence Scheme

    There are processes that can make clearing customs quicker and easier to manage if you have to make import declarations regularly.

    1. Find out about using simplified declaration procedures
    2. Check if Authorised Economic Operator status is right for you

  3. and

    The business sending you the goods may need:

    • to make an export declaration in their country
    • licences or certificates to send goods to the UK

    Check whoever is sending the goods is able to export them from their country.

  4. Step 3

    You can hire someone to deal with customs and transport the goods for you, or you can do it yourself.

    Most businesses that import goods use a transporter or customs agent.

    1. Find out how to hire someone to deal with customs for you

  5. Step 4

    You鈥檒l need to include the commodity code on your import declaration. This will determine the rate of duty you need to pay and if you need an import licence.

    Your customs agent or transporter might be able to help you with this.

    1. Find the right commodity code for your goods

  6. and

    When you make your import declaration, you鈥檒l need to include the value of your goods - this helps work out how much duty and VAT you鈥檒l need to pay.

    1. Work out the value of your goods for customs

  7. Step 5

    You may be able to pay less or no Customs Duty if the UK has a trade agreement with the country you're importing from.

    1. Find out if you can pay a lower rate of Customs Duty because of a trade agreement

    You may also be able to reduce the amount of duty you pay based on what the goods are and what you plan to do with them.

    1. Check other ways you can pay a lower rate of Customs Duty

  8. and

    You may be able to delay sending information about goods or paying Customs Duty.

    1. You are currently viewing: Check if you can delay your Customs Duty

  9. Step 6

    There are special rules and you may need to get licences or certificates if you are importing any of the following:

  10. Step 7

    1. Check the marking, labelling and marketing standards for food, plant seeds and manufactured goods

  11. Step 8

    If you've appointed someone to deal with UK customs for you, they'll make the declaration and get your goods through the UK border.

    1. Make an import declaration yourself and get your goods cleared by UK customs

  12. Step 9

    If you're VAT registered, you can claim back any VAT you paid on the goods you've imported. You鈥檒l need your Import VAT Certificate (C79).

    1. Find out how to claim a VAT refund

  13. Step 10

    If you paid too much Customs Duty or import VAT or rejected the goods, you can claim a refund or ask for a payment to be waived.

    1. Find out how to claim a refund or make a claim for rejected imports

    If you paid too little Customs Duty or import VAT, report it to HMRC.

    1. Find out how to tell HMRC you鈥檝e underpaid and pay the difference

  14. Step 11

    You must keep records of commercial invoices and any customs paperwork, including your Import VAT Certificate (C79).

    If you imported controlled goods, for example firearms, keep any paperwork that shows who owns them.