Customs Warehousing

Customs Warehousing (also known as bonded warehouse) allows goods to be imported and moved to an approved facility under customs control. Import duty & VAT is only payable once the goods are removed from the customs warehouse facility. 

If you import and re-export goods, customs warehousing can also be used to avoid paying import tax unnecessarily. 

Requirements 

In order to operate a customs warehouse, you will need the following:

• A method of record keeping - this can range from a spreadsheet to an integrated duty management software solution 
• Secure storage facilities, usually with CCTV and alarms as a minimum 

Customs Comprehensive Guarantee (CCG) is no longer a mandatory requirement to operate a customs warehouse but may be required from businesses that present a compliance or solvency risk.

Application 

Customs warehouse applications are notoriously difficult to reach acceptance by HMRC. The application consists of a number of documents:

• SP2 form (completed online) 
• Customs warehouse questionnaire
• Draft procedures 

How we can help

We can provide advice about the most appropriate management solutions available, the benefits of some of the various options available, such as CFSP and EIDR, and help you prepare and submit the application. 

Duty Management Services 

We recommend using a duty management provider who provide an integration with your existing WMS and ongoing management support. This reduces the initial investment cost and ensures ongoing compliance whilst you continue to  focus on your core business activities.