1. TRADE CHECKLIST
August 2019

2. 1. GET A UK EORI NUMBER FOR YOUR BUSINESS
2. DECIDE WHO WILL MAKE CUSTOMS DECLARATIONS
4. FIND OUT WHAT YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY TO IMPORT GOODS
3. APPLY TO MAKE IMPORTING EASIER
5. CHECK WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR THE TYPE OF GOODS YOU IMPORT

3. 1. GET A UK EORI NUMBER FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Your business will already have a UK Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number if you’ve traded with countries outside the EU. Remaining businesses will be contacted by HMRC and allocated an EORI number at the start of September More on the BPIF website: 'Do you have your EORI number?' More on the Government website: Get a UK EORI number

4. 2. DECIDE WHO WILL MAKE CUSTOMS DECLARATIONS
Contact the organisation that brings your goods into the country to find out if they can make customs declarations for your goods. If they cannot, you can either hire an agent to make the declarations, or make the declarations yourself. More on the BPIF website: ‘Customs/Import Declarations’ More on the Government website: Find out how to make declarations yourself Find out how to hire a customs agent to make declarations for you

5. 3. APPLY TO MAKE IMPORTING EASIER
Make sure you have registered for Transitional Simplified Procedures, which apply to Customs Declarations in the event of no deal. If you’re registered for these you’ll be able to transport goods into the UK for one year without having to make a full customs declaration at the border (it can be made after the goods have been received). Any applicable duties can also be paid the following month.
You may find that your company would benefit from Authorised Economic Operator Status. This is a voluntary quality mark that shows your role in the supply chain is secure and that your customs controls and procedures are efficient and meet EU standards.
More on the BPIF website: ‘Customs/Import Declarations’ BPIF Quick Guide to Authorised Economic Operator status More on the Government website: Register for Transitional Simplified Procedures

6. 4. FIND OUT WHAT YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY TO IMPORT GOODS
Check how much you'll have to pay in duties and when you’ll need to account for and pay VAT.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, a Temporary Tariff Regime will ensure that 87% of imports will be eligible for tariff free access for at least a year. Were WTO tariffs to be applied at any point, the tariff on most supplies into the industry - including paper - is 0%. The exceptions are photographic plates and films at 5.3% and stamping foils, some inks and polypropylene at 6.5%.
More on the BPIF website:
'Tariff Checker', 'Commodity Codes Checker' and 'Tariff News - Temporary Tariff Regime’
'Temporary Tariff Plans'
Printing and Printed Packaging Tariffs
More on the Government website:
Customs duty
Check when you'll need to account for and pay VAT

7. 5. CHECK WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR THE TYPE OF GOODS YOU IMPORT
Depending on what you're importing, there might be other things you'll need to do to get your business ready. For example, you might need to change the labelling on the packaging for your goods, or apply for licences. More on the BPIF website: 'Changes to food labelling if there's no deal' 'Using chemicals if there's no deal' More on the Government website: Step by step preparation