HMRC has published its 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 29th March 2019.
The update 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. You can access this via www.gov.uk/hmrc/get-eori
- 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 your haulage firm to find out if you will need to supply additional information to complete safety and security declarations. It could be that you may need to submit these declarations yourselves.
For more information go to www.gov.uk/hmrc/declare-goods
You can also read the guidance on how to prepare if the UK leaves the EU with no deal.
HMRC will write to businesses again to let them know what further actions they will need to take and when in due course
HMRC has also opened the grant scheme to help support training and IT improvements for customs intermediaries and traders that complete customs declarations. Further information on these grants, including details of how these businesses can apply, is available on GOV.UK.