HMRC have published their latest letter on GOV.UK to help businesses that trade with the EU get ready to deal with customs in the unlikely event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 29 March 2019. This includes a version for businesses based in England, Scotland and Wales, and a separate version for businesses based in Northern Ireland.
Businesses that only trade in the EU and are registered with HMRC for VAT purposes will receive a copy of the letter through the post in the coming days.
The letter asks these businesses to take three actions now:
- register for a UK Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number
- decide whether they will use a customs agent to make import and/or export declarations or will make the declarations themselves using specialist software
- contact the organisation that moves their goods (for example, a haulage firm) to find out if they will need to supply additional information to complete safety and security declarations, or whether they will need to submit these declarations themselves.
The letter also directs businesses to GOV.UK where they can find further information to help them get ready.
HMRC will write to these businesses again to let them know what further actions they will need to take and when.
The grant scheme to help support training and IT improvements for customs intermediaries and traders that complete customs declarations is now open. Further information on these grants, including details of how these businesses can apply, is available on GOV.UK.
The Institute of Export & International Trade provides training to businesses looking to learn about Customs Procedures and Declarations, which this grant funding will be applicable against. Find out more here.