Importing to the UK

New Regulations and Procedures

Since January 1st 2021, new regulations and procedures apply for the customs duties and taxes involved in importing goods to the UK.

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Brexit and the UK

Brexit was “done” on January 31st 2020 which saw the United Kingdom officially leave the European Union. While a trade agreement is in place in principle, it is yet to be announced what that entails specifically. Until agreement is had, imports to the UK from the EU will be treated like international imports. A range of customs and import tax regulations are now in force for many international locations when importing to the UK, so it is essential to know what these are before you decide to ship your goods.

Our team at Barrington Freight has curated a list of considerations to help you get started on importing your goods. To completely negate the inevitable stress of shipping in the current climate however, we recommend using a freight forwarding company such as us. We have the knowledge and expertise to get your shipment through the arduous process. We can help you avoid the many pitfalls that result in goods being delayed at the border and that ultimately increase business costs unnecessarily.

Read our FAQ's

Before Importing to the UK

Get an EORI Number

You need an EORI (Economic Operator Registration and Identification Number). If you do not have one organised, you might face delays and increased costs when importing goods. For more information on the process of getting an EORI, visit the government advisory page.

Make an Import Declaration

You can either hire an agent for your import declarations or do it yourself.

Your agent must be established in the goods’ country of origin. If you are seeking an agent for your customs documents, we can help. The declaration process varies if the simplified declaration procedure or an EIDR (Entry in Declarant’s Record) authorisation. Parties usually approved by UK’s HMRC to represent importers and produce the Simplified Declaration:

Check Tax and Duty Rates

For every import, you will have to pay customs duties and VAT. Based on where the goods come from, the tariff rates can be classified as either preferential or non-preferential. A preferential rate is applicable on goods from a country with a UK trade agreement, and non-preferential tariffs apply for countries without. Please take a look at our handy tool here to help determine duties payable.

Get the Correct Licence for Your Goods

You may be required to have a special license or certificate depending on the goods you import, and some may incur an inspection fee. Check if you need a special licence for your goods here.

Importing to the UK post-Brexit may seem daunting and with good reason. Knowing the correct procedures and making use of a reputable agent ensures a straightforward, stress-free shipment for your import business.

For more information about our services or if you have an unusual load request, reach out to our sales team on 01268 978660 or email sales@barringtonfreight.co.uk.

We are friendly, easy to work with, honest and we do not charge the earth.

If you are interested in our freight delivery services you can complete our free and efficient quick quote form. Alternatively, you may wish to further peruse our webpages or you can get in touch today for more information.

Sophie Benge
Sophie Benge
2024-02-06
Joshua at Barrington Freight is friendly and patient. Their service hassle-free and affordable compared to other freight forwarders.
Alex Burton
Alex Burton
2024-02-04
Fantastic service from Barrington Freight. It was our first time exporting goods from the UK and it was very reassuring to have them manage the shipment. The process was made easy and hassle free and Simon was always quick to respond to any queries. I would highly recommend.
Mat Wilkinson
Mat Wilkinson
2024-01-22
these guys are excellent. Incredibly helpful, flexible and friendly- i cant recommend them highly enough- genuinely a brilliant team.
Top Tips
Top Tips
2023-11-14
The guys at Barrington are brilliant! I've used them for my shipments for around 12 years now and they never let you down. Always happy to help with anything!
David Darrock
David Darrock
2023-11-10
Barrington Freight are extremely helpful and professional, promptly answering any questions or queries. Communication from them has been great and they have taken the difficulty out of importing freight.
Scott Glazebrook
Scott Glazebrook
2023-11-01
Our business is the supply of high end luxury furniture and as such we rely on Barrington Freight to provide a 5* delivery service which they have done time and time again. Reliable, friendly and efficient sums up this great approachable freight forwarding business.
Krishan Dhillon
Krishan Dhillon
2023-11-01
10/10, dealt with everything start to finish. Customer service was friendly and helpful
Sharmane Barrett
Sharmane Barrett
2023-10-20
We had a last minute request and Lee was fantastic in helping us to arrange transportation and facilitate delivery from Europe, very quickly with no hiccups. I would highly recommend.
Simon Edgecombe
Simon Edgecombe
2023-10-16
HAVING USED MANY SHIPPERS TO IMPORT OUR GOODS FROM THE USA (NONE OUTSTANDING) I DECIDED THIS TIME TO HAVE A SEARCH AROUND TO SEE IF I COULD FIND A BETTER OPTION. I FOUND BARRINGTON FREIGHT AFTER EMAILING MANY OTHERS, SOME OF THEM (UPS,DHL,FEDEX) SIMPLY TOOK SO LONG TO CONTACT ME, THAT IT BECAME STUPID, SIMON AT BARRINGTON CAME BACK TO ME VIRTUALLY STRAIGHT AWAY WITH A VERY GOOD PRICE, ALSO GOOD SHIPPING TIMES. NOW A SERVICE IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE RESULTS, AND THEY WERE AS GOOD AS THEIR WORD. HAPPY TO HAVE FOUND THEM AND SIMON AT BARRINGTON FREIGHT WILL BE THE FIRST PERSON WE GO TO NEXT TIME, WELL DONE!!