Maria McConnell

Letters from HMRC are currently being issued telling firms about the changes which will affect all businesses which are VAT registered and which currently import and/or export goods within the EU.

However, these changes do not immediately affect firms which import or export to Northern Ireland and Ireland where the government has stated it “will do everything in our power to avoid a hard border whatever the circumstances”.

Maria McConnell, VAT director with French Duncan, said: “Businesses will be responsible for making customs declarations for their UK-EU trade in a no deal scenario. HMRC has stated that the simplest way to do this is to appoint a customs agent to manage the process for them. Businesses need to register immediately for an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number.

“For those businesses who do not wish to appoint an agent they must ensure they have someone trained in the business to make customs declarations; buy specialist software to link to HMRC’s customs software and, if exporting register for the National Export System. This could result in a lot of additional work, or costs, for many businesses.”

“In addition, HMRC is introducing new Transitional Simplified Procedures (TSP) for customs to make importing easier for the initial period after the UK leaves the EU, should there be no deal. These procedures, which will be implemented at ‘roll on roll off’ ports such as the Channel Tunnel, mean that, once registered, businesses will be able to transport goods into the UK without having to make a full customs declaration at the border and will be able to postpone paying import duties.

“There will, however, be additional information required for controlled goods, where business owners will still be required to provide some information before import.”

Ms McConnell added: “The way businesses will be required to account for VAT on imports is also changing. Business owners will be able to account for import VAT on their VAT return rather than when the goods arrive at the UK border. HMRC has stated that businesses will be able to declare and recover import VAT on the same VAT return, though full details of how this will work in practice are yet to be provided.

“Business owners who import and export must act immediately to ensure they are ready for a potential no deal Brexit. There are serious VAT and customs implications in the event of a no deal and it is essential that Scottish business owners are aware of the forthcoming changes and are prepared for them.”