Customs declarations are enormously important and a necessity for all businesses that import and export goods.
To give some idea of the scale, around 180,000 UK businesses only trade within the EU, 68,000 only trade outside the EU and 73,000 trade in both. Being outside the customs union will mean that imports into the UK from the EU will be treated the same as those from the rest of the world. They will shift from being goods in free circulation within the EU, to imports subject to duty and VAT.
From December 31, 2020 the number of customs declarations made by traders is forecast to increase from 55 million to around 300 million every year. Businesses that import or export goods will need to complete a lot more administration when clearing goods through UK ports.
ChamberCustoms is the customs brokerage service from Chambers of Commerce in the UK. It’s different from other brokerage services by harnessing the reach, expertise and knowledge of the Chamber network to offer an unbeatably fast, reliable and compliant service.
The only customs broker in the country to offer a ‘one stop shop’ with direct links to all sea, air and road ports and terminals in the UK, the Chamber will help you keep control while we do the hard stuff, acting in your best interests every time.
The team in Aberdeen are ready to respond to increased demand for compliant-led services with an HMRC compliant service that you can trust.
Q: What are customs declarations and why is it so important that businesses get them right?
A: Customs declarations are forms which are used to accompany goods that are entering or leaving a market. They’re used internationally to communicate the origin of the product and its relevant tariff, to allow customs and regulatory authorities to calculate what duty is payable and understand applicable restrictions. They are crucial because they enable authorities to know where goods are coming from or going to, in order to control the flow of goods, ensure the safety and security of the country and collect the correct duty.
Q: What is ChamberCustoms?
A: It’s a customs brokerage service, run by your local Chamber of Commerce. In the aftermath of the Brexit referendum, the amount of paperwork required to import and export goods from overseas will increase in both volume and complexity. The dedicated team of experts at your local Chamber of Commerce can be trusted to have the expertise and knowledge to help traders to keep on trading.
Q: Why is ChamberCustoms unique?
A: Put simply, we’re unique because we have direct relationships with every port in the UK. This means we don’t need to rely on any third parties to clear goods for import and export. Most other customs brokers have to rely on third parties to offer a fully national service, exposing you to a loss of control and potentially effecting the accuracy, speed and cost of their service. It can also expose traders to penalties from the tax authorities.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: Unlike other customs brokers our pricing structure is completely transparent. We charge a small fee to process your declaration directly through HMRC, plus a fixed 10% handling charge for the port fees which we will pay on your behalf.
Q: Do I have to be a member of my local Chamber of Commerce to use the service?
A: No. The service is open to all businesses who import or export goods.
Q: I’m interested in learning more – what do I do next?
A: Go to www.chambercustoms.co.uk
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