A customs warehouse is a secure facility authorised by customs authorities where imported goods can be stored without payment of duties or taxes until they are either re-exported or formally released onto the domestic market. It is a strategic tool used in international trade to manage inventory, defer costs, and streamline cross-border operations.
Obtaining authorisation to operate a private customs warehouse is just one of several facilitations or simplifications offered to UK established companies by HMRC to help reduce the burden of import duty and VAT.
Many companies looking to overcome the inflated costs of trading with the EU post Brexit can benefit from operating their own customs warehouse as it removes double-duty and unnecessary duty incurred as a result of importing third country goods into the UK and subsequently re-exporting then to the EU unaltered.
GTD supports companies to get their own facilities authorised to operate as a private customs warehouse. We gather all required data and advise on systems, processes and facilities requirements an HMRC inspector will expect to be in place in order for a warehouse to run securely and compliantly. We then complete the application, provide all supporting data, remain on hand to attend the warehouse inspection if of value to the company.
The application can be complex and arduous. GTD reduces the burden on companies by ensuring the correct information is presented to support their application and ensuring that their systems, processes, and premises are optimally prepared to withstand the scrutiny of HMRC’s compliance and inspection team.
Our Global Trade Manager programme bolsters your company’s efforts by managing your entire international trade function; once your revenues justify bringing on full-time staff.
GTD supports companies to resolve some of these issues and more.
Most customs issues arise from inaccurate and incomplete documentation, logistics problems, and regulatory non-compliance.
GTD conducts on-site, customs audits, exploring processes, systems and documentation, detecting areas of non-compliance and helping ensure you are maintaining the correct data and documentation, and importantly, for the requisite time.
Global Trade Department has a 100% success rate of obtaining Full Authorisation for IP on behalf of clients. We work with clients to ensure that authorisation prerequisites are in place, and to understand their 3-year or 5-year forecasts (depended on commodity) for processing and/or repair.
Global Trade Department frequently advises companies on the exact compliance requirements surrounding Outward Processing, especially in the case of ‘replacement goods’ using either the Standard Exchange System (SES) or the Prior-Export Equivalents (PEE) process. We also have an excellent awareness of the evidence a company needs to supply and have a 100% success rate in applying for Full Authorisation on behalf of clients.
Obtaining authorisation to operate a private customs warehouse is just one of several facilitations or simplifications offered to UK established companies by HMRC to help reduce the burden of import duty and VAT.
Global Trade Department has worked with several clients to help them achieve this standard, considered to be a form of trust or self-auditing by HMRC. We are familiar with the evidence companies must show to demonstrate excellent standards of tax and customs compliance, record keeping, financial solvency, competence and professional qualifications, and safety and security.
GTD has successfully obtained VAT registrations and EU EORI numbers in all of the major EU Member States, enabling B2C and B2B companies to appeal to a wider range of customers due to their perception of a much improved purchase and delivery experience. If you are looking to improve the EU customer experience through better management of VAT and offering Incoterms® DDP, get in touch.
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Great Britain: Global Trade Department Ltd, Kingston House, Great Western Way, Swindon, Wilshire, SN5 8UB, Great Britain.
Global Trade Department Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales, Company no: 07000152. VAT no: GB994 7629 49
EU/Northern Ireland: Global Trade Department (NI) Ltd, Office 834, 92 Castle Street, Belfast, BT1 1HE, Northern Ireland.
Global Trade Department (NI) Ltd is a company registered in Northern Ireland, Company no: NI724330
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