Trader Support Service – Traders urged to act now
06 November 2020
HMRC is urging traders to act now and prepare for the new requirement to submit declarations from 1 January 2021 for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
The Trader Support Service (TSS) is free-to-use and is available now, aiming to support businesses with the upcoming changes to Northern Ireland trade, which will come into effect following the end of the transition period, from 1 January 2021. Businesses will be required to submit declarations from that point on.
Digital import declarations will be required, in addition to security declarations, for goods that are passing from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. This will guarantee that:
- Tariffs are not paid on trade within the UK
- Northern Ireland can benefit from UK Free Trade Agreements
- Goods that are destined for Ireland (i.e. the EU) pay tariffs when they should
The TSS can be utilised to make these declarations, and is available to all traders, irrespective of size.
Traders moving goods into or out of Northern Ireland will require an EORI number from 1 January 2021. This number will begin with XI, and to obtain this number, businesses must already have an EORI number that begins with GB. Traders that do not have this number are advised to apply for an EORI number beginning with GB as soon as they can.
Traders that sign up to the TSS prior to 23 November 2020 will automatically be allocated with an EORI number starting with XI. Those who do not sign up by this date may be required to make a separate application for an EORI number beginning with XI.
The TSS is available to traders, intermediaries and carriers moving goods to and from Northern Ireland. Upon registering for the TSS, traders will be granted access to free information and training from the Northern Ireland Customs & Trade Academy.
HMRC points out that preparations for the end of the transition period should be carried out as soon as possible.
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