Information and Guidance
Information and Guidance
Welcome to our Information and Guidance section! Here, you'll find a collection of useful links to help you navigate the world of international trade...
Tarrif Codes, also known as a commodity code, Customs Cooperation Council Number, Harmonised SystemNumber, trade code number or BTN (Brussels Tariff Number) is a system of coding and classification used in international trade which identifies goods for duty, statistical and customs clearance purposes.
These codes can be found via the HMRC website
If you make sales or purchases from countries who are members of the EC, then certain VAT regulations will apply, in particular you may need to complete a quarterly EC Sales List. You are able to make supplies to EC customers without VAT so long as your EC customer meets all the necessary criteria. One of these criteria is that your customer must be registered for VAT in their EC country.
Useful Information:
Getting international transport right can be complicated and depends on the agreement you have with your customer or supplier. Your obligations should be clearly set out in a written contract using Incoterms – standard trade terms which state who is responsible for transporting goods, insuring the goods during transportation, paying duties and securing customs clearance. The best mode of transport for your goods will depend on the type of goods and how quickly they need to be delivered. You may need more than one mode, for example, sending goods by lorry to a port in the UK and then by ship overseas. In all instances, the goods will need suitable packaging and labelling for transportation.
You should clarify in advance who will be responsible for UK customs procedures, for freight and insurance, and for customs clearance in the customer’s country – and use the correct Incoterms to describe this in the quotation and written contract. Most companies use a specialist freight forwarder to handle transport. Confirm exactly what they will do and whether they can handle all documentation and other procedures. Look for a forwarder who exports regularly to that destination. They can ‘consolidate’ your goods with other consignments in a single container to reduce costs.
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