Import Clearance Services

Import customs clearance is a necessary procedure before goods can enter the UK from another country. If you are entering the goods into free circulation and not into a special procedure, then it is also the stage of the import when you must pay the duty and VAT, if applicable.

If you are using a special procedure, such as customs warehousing or inward processing, then you can suspend the payment of taxes until the poit of sale or until the procedure is complete. However, an additional clearance is required to change the customs status of the goods to free circulation.

Note that free circulation is not the only end-process of a special procedure. You can also reexport the goods without them ever entering free circulation.

Customs Support provides import customs clearance and duty management services throughout the UK. If you’d like to know more about how to make your supply chain more efficient, contact us today.

You can make and submit an import declaration yourself or through your logistics partner. However, this can be more costly, more complicated, and carry a higher risk of noncompliance.

Every linked port requires a connection (licence) to be bought so that your customs software (another cost) can submit declarations to that port. You also need to pay for your on staff specialist to submit these declarations, and trust that they are doing them correctly. If you need to cover the cost of multiple ports or don’t have the volume, these costs will soon be more than just outsourcing your declarations.

Even if you are trading one product through one port, there can be problems that extend beyond the commodity code legislation or software connections. Therefore, you still run the risk that something will be overlooked or you wont have the inhouse expertise.

Your logistics provider will usually be able to provide customs clearance, but this is also a step in their operation – not a focus. Their role is to get the goods to you, not necessarily to dive into the details of customs to see where there are opportunities or risks.

Customs Support is an independent and neutral provider of customs. This means we work with you to both safeguard your supply chain compliance and explore opportunities to save money, all within the customs function – all throughout Europe.

Contact us or more information. 

An import customs broker will oversee the clearance of your cargo on arrival to the border. This means that they will check your documentation, submit a declaration to customs, and liaise with any border agents who place additional holds on the cargo – such as Port Health or the Forestry Commission.

The arrival at the border is also the point of transit where the majority of duty and VAT payments are made, so import customs brokers also facilitate this function using deferment accounts or direct payments to HMRC. 

The exception is when there are no taxes to be paid, or when your goods are entering a specialist procedure which requires a further declaration upon leaving an inland facility. This second declaration is also submitted by an import customs broker.

Customs Support provides import clearance services throughout the UK and EU. Whether your UK imports are arriving by road, sea, or air, you can rely on us to keep you safe and compliant. Contact us for more information.

The price of an import declaration depends on several things, some of which are negotiable and others which aren’t.

If your goods are arriving at an inventory port (where the goods have an allocated Unique Consignment Number), then you can expect the following fees:

• Port security
• Infrastructure charge
• UCN/inventory fee
• Customs clearance

These charges are levied by the port against each UCN, and are usually passed on at cost. Note that these charges can vary by port, so this list is not exhaustive.

The more commercial charges relate to the import customs broker and your business, so they will depend on:

• The volume of your declarations.
• The complexity of your declarations. i.e. do they require additional entries to border agents, or a second declaration for a special procedure. 
• How many items (commodity codes) you have per declaration.

Customs Support provides cost-effective import customs clearance, working with you to safeguard your supply chain and get the most out of your customs function. Contact us today for more information. 

To process an import customs clearance, your broker needs to have all of the documentation and information relating to that shipment. 

This includes, but is not limited to:

• A commercial invoice
• A packing list (sometimes combined with the invoice)
• Transport details
• Your commodity code(s)
• Tax payment details. i.e. deferment account number (DAN)
• Any supporting documentation such as health, origin, or preferential certificates.

Additionally, you must ensure that your import customs broker is authorised to submit declarations to customs on your behalf. This means signing representation forms and filling in requests for general information.

Customs Support keeps your business safe and compliant when trading throughout the UK and EU. If you need a customs partner who is there where and when you need them, contact us for more information today.