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Reliable customs clearance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Eurosprint Freight Services have been providing Import, Export and Customs services for over 20 years, our staff are well trained and our processes have been checked thoroughly by HMRC.

In 2020 Eurosprint were proudly approved as an “Authorised Economic Operators” by HMRC. AEO status is an internationally recognised quality mark that shows our role in the international supply chain is secure and the customs controls and procedures are efficient and meet UK and EU standards.”

Eurosprint Customs Services include:

  • Export Declarations
  • Import Declarations
  • Import Pre Lodgement
  • GVMS
  • Transit Documents
  • Customs Archive
  • HMRC Enquiry support

Customs Clearance 247 - FAQs

  • Customs Clearance 247 is a division of Eurosprint Freight Services, an AEO-certified business, we provide fast and efficient customs clearance services for shipments arriving and departing from all major UK ports and airports, including Dover, East Midlands, Birmingham Felixstowe, Southampton, and London Gateway.
  • Customs Clearance is not a 9-5pm business, so neither are we, shipments are crossing the UK border 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, hence the need for Customs Clearance 247.
  • Whether you’re seeking a long-term partner to look after all of your customs clearances, or you require help with a one-off shipment, we are here to support you.
  • Get in touch today, discover how we can assist your business and make trading overseas simple and complex free – customs@eurosprint.co.uk
  • Customs clearance is the process of declaring goods as they move through a border, whether importing or exporting, it is a compulsory process for all goods, this is so that HMRC can gather statistical data on the country’s imports and exports, ensure that goods are travelling with the required licenses and certification, and collect any taxes and duties that are applicable.
  • For a basic customs clearance we will need the shipper’s invoice and packing list, if moving by Sea or Air a copy of the Airwaybill or Bill of Lading also.
  • More complicated shipments, food products for example, may require further documentation such as a Certificate or Origin or a Health Certificate, Importers should check before purchasing if any special documentation is needed to clear UK customs.
  • Customs clearance is a compulsory requirement for any goods passing through a country border, or when leaving a custom’s authorised facility such as a bonded warehouse or inland border.
  • All goods that are entering or leaving the UK through Seaports, Airports or through the Channel Tunnel will require a customs clearance.
  • A customs clearance can be completed in a matter of minutes or hours depending on the software, the experience of the broker and the number of products shown on the invoice, but it can also extend to days or weeks if there is missing documentation or the goods need to be inspected, this can be a pre booked inspection due to the commodity, food items for example, or a random “spot check” carried out by HMRC.
  • A customs broker is not essential for your customs clearance, but it will often be the easiest and cheapest way to customs clear your cargo.
  • The training to complete a UK customs clearance can be very complicated and time consuming, whilst a broker will already have this training and experience.
  • The costs for customs software and the individual costs to access ports of entry, each port has its own cost often referred to as a badge, can be expensive, whilst a broker will already have the software and access points in place.
  • Using a customs broker is likely to save you time and money when compared to processing UK customs clearances yourself.
  • Eurosprint Freight Services are an AEO-certified business with links to all UK ports, we can help with any import and export customs clearance requirements, customs@eurosprint.co.uk
  • Duty is a tax levied by a country on all imported goods. It is charged as a percentage of a product’s value, as determined by its commodity code, every commodity code has its own duty rate, they vary greatly and are a key element of the total product cost.
  • UK commodity codes can be found on the government’s Trade Tariff Website.
  • VAT is generally charged on the amount paid for the goods plus the shipping costs. Combined, this is known as the ‘taxable import’ cost.
  • VAT is currently set at 20% in the UK, however there are reduced VAT conditions on some products/commodity codes.
  • Whilst Import duty can’t be claimed back, VAT-registered businesses are able to claim VAT back on all of their imports
  • UK customs clearance requires the border value of the goods to be declared, this means the cost of the goods, freight, and insurance at the time of crossing the border.
  • It is illegal to falsely declare the value of a product, or intentionally use an incorrect commodity code, in order to lower duty amounts.
  • A commodity code tells HMRC what your goods are. Every product has a commodity code in the HMRC tariff.
  • Commodity codes in the main are harmonised with other countries so that the same code is recognisable around the world.
  • The commodity code that you use to transport your goods will determine the amount of Duty and VAT paid and whether additional licenses or border checks are required.
  • Using the correct commodity code is essential, any intentional misdeclarations to avoid paying the correct duty or avoid border checks is illegal.
  • Most importers and exporters will have a freight forwarder or customs broker that will arrange customs clearance and pay any customs charges on their behalf using a duty deferment account, the importer will be sent an invoice by the freight forwarder or customs broker detailing the charges once the goods arrive in the country. Without credit terms these charges will need to be paid before the goods are released for onward transport.
  • In certain circumstances, the importer won’t be liable for the payment of import charges, this will depend on the Incoterm which has been agreed in the terms of sale between the buyer and seller.
  • UK importers can apply for there own duty deferment account via HMRC.

Eurosprint Freight Services are an AEO-certified business, complete the form below for a quick quote or call 0121 785 0666 to speak with an expert.