The 31st October is fast approaching, and companies throughout the UK (and the EU) are wondering what will change within their business from the 1st November. In this article, we wanted to share a checklist to help get you prepared and ready for Brexit. If you trade with EU countries - such as buying or selling products to customers - even if it is once a year, your company will be affected. There are a few steps you should take:
- Make sure you have your UK EORI number - without this, you will not be able to move goods into or out of the UK.
- Customs Forms will be required for items moved into or out of the UK, and you do need to ensure you have the correct software to handle this. There are customs experts that can assist with setting this up - and we do not recommend leaving it to the last minute!
For Companies who buy items from EU Countries to bring into the UK:
- Apply for simplified import procedures (Transitional Simplified Procedures) if you require extra time to send in your customs documentation.
- Check the duty that will need to be paid on the items you are importing. This may change to the current payments you are making.
- Make sure you are registered with “online registrations” to make sure you have the easiest tax payment solutions available.
For companies that sell products to the EU:
- Confirm the details required with your couriers - they may require further documentation, payment, or need more time to handle the deliveries.
- Import declaration
- Check the country’s customs processes to which you are selling the products
- Check with the courier any extra time they require for deliveries
These are a few of the steps you will need to take prior to the 31st October, and we recommend getting ready and prepared well in advance, so you aren’t worried about any handover issues at the last minute.Brexit will be a difficult landscape for many companies in the UK and EU to fully get to understand, so starting now will help your team and business to be prepared for the changes.
