finance

Brexit is, well maybe, probably, almost definitely happening;

Here’s what your business needs to do to prepare website to review the full detail in the documents covering: • Rest of world and EU traders in the UK about next steps to get ready for Brexit • Prepare your business for leaving the EU without a deal Simplified import procedures Whether or not you are a VAT registered company that sources goods from the EU (including from outside the EU that will travel through and have to clear EU custom formalities), if you are a Sole Trader in the UK or are a limited company or partnership with a UK registered office and/or permanent premises where you carry out business activities, you can register to use transitional simplified procedures. There are major changes for your This will reduce the amount of business ahead of a no-deal Brexit, information you need to give in an and we hope the above is helpful. import declaration when the goods Please be assured you can call are crossing the border from the EU our Corporate Tax team in by letting you delay submitting a full Warrington on 01925 830 830, declaration and paying any duty. You or in our Manchester office on must have an EORI number starting 0161 905 1801, for any guidance. with GB. Changes to customs duty tariffs on imported goods You can also register for email alerts from HMRC and book a free place on one of their upcoming webinars. In the event of a No deal Brexit, there are probably going to be changes to import tariffs which will be effective for up to 12 months. Temporary rates have been published by HMRC which will be updated/ confirmed on 31 October. The rates will vary depending on the products and where you import the goods from, and it would be worth Les Leavitt finding out if a preferential tariff rate, Leavitt Walmsley Associates most favoured nation tariff rate or Chartered Certified Accountants tariff rate quota would be applicable. www.lwaltd.com

After over two years of uncertainty concerning the UK’s departure from the European Union, Brexit is finally due to happen on 31 October. Visit the HMRC website and search We are still no clearer on Brexit for further information. whether the UK government Deferring payments of import VAT will be able to negotiate a and customs and excise duties deal, or we leave with a no-deal Brexit. Either way one thing is for sure - if you’re a UK business trading within the EU and/or the rest of the world, you have to be ready. Whilst HMRC are currently issuing thousands of letters to business owners across the UK, at LWA, we have summarised HMRC’s support o Deferring tax payments for customs and excise duties, and import VAT No-deal Brexit advice for businesses trading within the EU There will be implications for VAT on goods and services being traded between the UK and EU if a no-deal If you are a UK resident and/or have a company or partnership registered in the UK with an EORI number starting with GB, you can apply to defer payments due on VAT for imported goods, customs duty and excise duties. All you need to do is complete forms C1200B and C1202 which can be found on HMRC’s website. information below to help you. Brexit is the outcome of the UK Please see our June blog with specific Brexit pointers leaving the EU. details on import and export VAT changes for further information on If you trade with companies in the EU Furthermore, bearing in mind the stored goods, VAT refunds and VAT by importing from them or exporting changes to border agreements and IT systems (MOSS). to them, regardless of the number arrangements between Northern of annual transactions, you will be Ireland and Ireland, we advise affected by changes that will come you review the correct HMRC link into place on 31 October. below explaining how to prepare • Apply for your UK Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number for changes to customs, excise and VAT if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. starting with GB - it just takes Available on the HMRC website: 10 minutes and unless you have • EU-only traders in the UK about one you will not be able to buy in next steps to get ready for Brexit or sell goods out of the UK. • EU-only traders in the UK (except • Get advice from a customs expert Northern Ireland) about EORI - this will help you to determine auto-enrolment whether you can manage the completion and of customs forms • EU-only traders in Northern Ireland with inhouse skills and software, about EORI auto-enrolment or whether you will need to • EU-only traders about Transitional outsource. Simplified Procedures • The rest of this article points No deal Brexit advice for you to resources available from businesses trading with the EU

HMRC‘s website on how to and/or the rest of the world prepare your business for leaving the EU (assuming a No deal Brexit) As above, a No deal Brexit will affect including information on: changes to customs excise and VAT if you’re a business that trades o Simplified import procedures with the rest of the world as well o Customs duty tariffs on imports as in the EU. Please visit HMRC’s