IMPORTANT

If you're looking for help with rules of origin, tariffs or customs you need to find a customs advisor. This is proper tax advice.

If you get advice from a company that doesn't do customs, you're paying someone to read the guidance you can read yourself.

/1

A number of companies that do not work in tax/trade are offering rules of origin advice, it's probably the same on the VAT side (both in demand).

This is really risky - it's like getting tax or investment advice from someone with no qualifications.

Please be careful!

/2

I'm seeing companies being told absolute BS and often paying for that advice.

If you don't know where to go please speak to your local Chamber of Commerce or HMRC directly. There are places where you can get basic help without having to hire a consultant.

/3

Or even just speak to your logistics provider and ask them for some pointers. They often have a working understanding of customs and trade. It's not tax advice but at least it's probably more reliable.

/4

But if you are going to hire someone to help make sure they know what they are doing. You are liable for each entry for at least 3 years back.

/5

I keep hearing nightmare stories. And seeing that companies don't realise that they are liable. Not sure that "any help is better than no help" is true here. Especially if you have to pay for it.

/6

Just please be careful with your service providers - your hauliers, your brokers, your advisors - vet them the same way you'd vet any other service or product.

You are legally liable for everything they submit on your behalf or what you do based on their advice.

/end