How To Steer Clear of Double Duty Charges

With all the changes that have impacted traders since the United Kingdom (UK) left the European Union (EU), one of the greatest challenges faced by importers is customs duty liability. Customs duty is now potentially due on all goods imported into Great Britain, and traders should think about how they can mitigate this risk. The loss of preferential treatment between the UK and EU can create a double duty impact within the supply chain and create additional tax liabilities when trading internationally.

Goods imported into Great Britain for distribution to customers in the EU may be liable to customs duty on two occasions. This would be on entry to Great Britain and then onward supply and entry into the EU.

This is known as “Double Duty.”  The same situation would occur if goods were imported to the EU for onward distribution to UK customers.

The Trade & Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the UK and EU confirms the criteria to determine what is “originating goods”. If goods qualify under the rules or origin in either customs territory, they gain preferential status and relief from customs duty would be allowed. However, when they are imported into free circulation, they lose their preferential status, and any onward supply is subject to customs duty.

Customs duty contributes to the “landed cost” of the goods. The landed cost is the price of the goods paid to the supplier including all other additional costs covered under the agreed terms of trade. This landed cost price would then be subject to customs duty based on the percentage applied by the commodity code.

For example, a UK company imports glassware which it buys for £100 from its Chinese supplier. When the glassware is imported into Great Britain the customs duty would be charged at 10% adding £10.00 to the cost of the goods. This £10 is the first duty charge.

The UK Company anticipates that shipping and insurance will add a further £5.00 on bringing the glass into the UK. The landed cost is therefore £115.00.  The glassware is then sold to a French customer for £150 generating an expected profit margin of £35.00.

However, as the glassware does not have preferential status under the TCA, additional duty at a rate of 11% is charged on entry into France.  This second, or double duty, charge adds a further 11% (or £12.65) to the landed cost.  As the landed cost of the Chinese glassware in France is now £127.65, the company’s profit margin has been reduced from £35.00 to £22.35 (a 36% reduction).

A similar double duty charge applies to goods imported into the UK from one EU country for re-export to another EU country.  In this case, the first duty charge is nil as the goods have preferential status under the TCA.  However, when the goods are subsequently re-exported to the EU, the goods do not qualify for preferential treatment and the second duty charge is at the third country rate in the EU.

AAB Customs supports businesses in exploring what options are available to mitigate this double duty impact on their operations. The business’s duty mitigation plan may consider potential changes to the supply chain, as well as focussing on areas such as tariff classification, rules of origin, use of free trade agreements and customs special procedures.

Customs special procedures are a key duty mitigation tool.  We consider a couple of the available procedures below.

“Inward Processing” can be used for manufacturing goods. This allows importers to suspend duty on components that will be processed or repaired and are destined to be re-exported outside of Great Britain.

“Customs Warehousing” can be used for any finished goods. This allows importers to suspend duty on finished goods that are destined to be re-exported outside of Great Britain.

Using these procedures allows the goods to retain their originating status as they are held in a duty suspended state and the tax point is delayed until the goods leave this procedure.  With proper planning and strategic alignment, a business can reduce their duty exposure and improve their profit margins.

At AAB Customs, our team of customs experts drawn from industry, accounting and HMRC specialises in finding solutions to international trade problems such as the imposition of double duties.  We have been instrumental in saving our clients millions in customs duty on a range of products from textiles to high technology products. We are experts in the creation, delivery, and management of duty mitigation programs suitable for businesses of any size.

If you would like to find out more about our approach to duty mitigation, please get in touch with a member of our customs team or your usual AAB contact.