Time is running out to apply for HMRC’s Customs Intermediaries Grant Scheme – training grants for customs intermediaries and traders.
Designed to help your business build capacity and improve efficiency in completing customs declarations, the opportunity to apply for a grant will end on 5 April, or earlier once all the funding is allocated.
- £2 million is available for training grants for any business completing customs declarations (or intending to complete customs declarations in the future)
- £3 million is available for IT improvement grants for customs intermediaries who complete customs declarations on behalf of importers and exporters, and who are small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) – less than 250 employees and annual turnover less than EUR 50 million.
Customs intermediaries are any company or sole trader that helps other businesses move goods from A to B and comply with international trade and customs formalities. Customs agents typically provide services that involve handling all necessary customs paperwork and making declarations. Some companies offer the full package of services, where they will handle the paperwork and other customs formalities, as well as transporting the goods.
Customs intermediaries are any company or sole trader that helps other businesses move goods from A to B and comply with international trade and customs formalities. Customs agents typically provide services that involve handling all necessary customs paperwork and making declarations. Some companies offer the full package of services, where they will handle the paperwork and other customs formalities, as well as transporting the goods.
Examples of customs intermediaries include:
- Customs brokers who submit declarations on behalf of traders;
- Hauliers and shipping companies who transport cargo over land and sea;
- Freight forwarders who manage the import/export process on behalf of other traders, often contracting out individual hauliers and brokers;
- Fast parcel operators who offer an end to end service themselves and mainly deal with small, time-sensitive consignments.
To find out more about how to apply follow this link: How to apply for the Customs Training and IT Grants Scheme.
At Beavis Morgan, our specialists to SMEs are available to provide general business advice and to structure your business for tax. We can also assist with business plans and strategy execution, long and short-term forecasts, budgets, sensitivity analyses, and calculating and checking compliance with covenants.
Contact Steve Govey or your usual Beavis Morgan Partner for further information about how we can assist you and your business.
Further reading:
Business owners urged to prepare for no deal
5 Key factors to successful strategic planning and execution ahead of Brexit
No deal Brexit – How it can affect customs changes
No deal Brexit – What about VAT?
HMRC publishes partnership pack: preparing for ‘no deal’ Brexit