Key content
Customs duties
- Hub page
Practical guidance, commentary and support on UK customs duties, including information on the new freeports.
Market Access Map
- Website
- International Trade Centre
Tool that allows you to identify customs tariffs, tariff rate quotas, trade remedies, regulatory requirements and preferential regimes applicable to your product. Includes a library of 400+ trade agreements. Funded by the EU and GRIPS.
How to create an export plan
- Website
Advice on what to include in a well structured business plan for exporting that will show banks, investors or partners that you are serious and have realistic and achievable goals. Published as part of the Exporting is Great website.
UK Export Finance
- Website
The UK’s export credit agency and a government department, working alongside the Department for Business and Trade as an integral part of its strategy and operations.
UK Export Academy
- Website
Learn how to sell your products or services to the world. The UK Export Academy can support your business to grow by giving you the confidence and know-how to land your first, or next overseas deal.
Terms of use
ICAEW accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided ‘as is’ with no warranty, express or implied, for the information provided within them. Please see the full copyright and disclaimer notice.
Starting exporting
Exclusive
GLOBAL TRADE COMMUNITY
DIT – help available to support businesses export
- Article
- ICAEW
ICAEW is working with the Department of Industry and Trade to help spread the word of the support on offer to small business. This article highlights the help that is available for businesses looking to export to new markets or those already exporting.
Sell services overseas
- Website
- UK Government
Advice for UK companies on how to deliver, market and prepare to sell services overseas, from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Selling with e-commerce
- Website
- Department for Business & Trade
The Department for Business & Trade can help you export your products worldwide through online marketplaces.
How to create an export plan
- Website
- Department for Business & Trade
Department for Business & Trade advice on how to write a business plan for exporting.
UK Export Academy
- Website
- Department for Business & Trade
A free training programme designed to give you the confidence and know-how to sell overseas, in your own time. From the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Ask the export support team a question
- Website
- GOV.UK
Contact the export support team if you’re a UK business selling goods or services to any country in the world except Ukraine, Russia or Belarus. You can ask any question for your business, including on: exporting to new markets; paperwork needed to sell goods abroad; rules for a country you want to sell to.
Terms of use
ICAEW accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided ‘as is’ with no warranty, express or implied, for the information provided within them. Please see the full copyright and disclaimer notice.
Financing
UK Export Finance
Guidance and news from the government department whose mission 'is to ensure no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance from the private sector.'
GLOBAL TRADE COMMUNITY
Direct Lending Facility
- HM Government
Find out about the UK Export Finance (UKEF) Direct Lending Facility: its benefits, eligibility criteria and how to apply.
GLOBAL TRADE COMMUNITY
Export Insurance Policy
- UK Export Finance
Find out about the UK Export Finance (UKEF) Export Insurance Policy: its benefits, eligibility criteria and how to apply.
GLOBAL TRADE COMMUNITY
Export Working Capital Scheme
- UK Export Finance
Find out about the UK Export Finance (UKEF) Export Working Capital Scheme: its benefits, eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Customs processes
Budget: New levies include charge on electric vehicles
- Article
- 26 Nov 2025
- ICAEW Insights
The Chancellor announced a number of changes to levies and duties at the Autumn Budget 2025, including the introduction of a new levy on drivers of electric cars from April 2028.
Four customs headaches for temporary exports
- Article
- 20 Nov 2025
- ICAEW Insights
The frustrations of customs compliance have forced one UK-based business to find an EU-based distributor to do the heavy lifting for its European customers, but shipping demo products to trade shows continues to present customs challenges.
New process for indirect exports from 15 December 2025
- Article
- 14 Nov 2025
- ICAEW Insights
From next month, businesses may need to change how they move goods through indirect exports from Northern Ireland. Guidance shared by HMRC explains why this is the case and sets out the options for traders.
International Trade Week: Imports and exports – who pays the VAT?
- Article
- 06 Nov 2025
- ICAEW Insights
The rules governing import and export VAT are fraught with complexity. Mistakes can be a significant cost to businesses if they get this wrong. We answer some of the most frequently asked questions on VAT and trade.
International Trade Week: How to nail customs compliance as an SME
- Article
- 04 Nov 2025
- ICAEW Insights
Ian Worth, of Crowe UK, explains why it is vital for SMEs in the UK to have the knowledge for accurately completing customs declarations for goods they import and points out that they must observe Rules of Origin for those they export. This article is part of a series of articles for International Trade Week.
International Trade Week: Keep track of changing trade regulations with the EU
- Article
- 03 Nov 2025
- ICAEW Insights
In the first of a series of articles for International Trade Week, we break down the main changes in EU import and export rules.
DBT issues guidance on low-value shipments to US
- Article
- 01 Sep 2025
- ICAEW Insights
UK businesses now face tariffs on “vast majority” of exports to the US, following Trump’s suspension of de minimis duty-free treatment of low-value goods from abroad.
HMRC increases interest rates for tax paid late
- Article
- 31 Mar 2025
- ICAEW Insights
As first announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, the interest rate charged by HMRC for late payments of most taxes and duties will increase from 7% to 8.5% from 6 April 2025.
Tax
Tax news in brief 18 November 2025
- 18 Nov 2025
- ICAEW Insights
Highlights from the broader tax news for the week ending 18 November 2025, including: new guidance from HMRC on the recovery of winter fuel payments; and a new tool for generating reports based on data held in the customs declaration service.
New process for indirect exports from 15 December 2025
- 14 Nov 2025
- ICAEW Insights
From next month, businesses may need to change how they move goods through indirect exports from Northern Ireland. Guidance shared by HMRC explains why this is the case and sets out the options for traders.
International Trade Week: Imports and exports – who pays the VAT?
- 06 Nov 2025
- ICAEW Insights
The rules governing import and export VAT are fraught with complexity. Mistakes can be a significant cost to businesses if they get this wrong. We answer some of the most frequently asked questions on VAT and trade.
International Trade Week: Keep track of changing trade regulations with the EU
- 03 Nov 2025
- ICAEW Insights
In the first of a series of articles for International Trade Week, we break down the main changes in EU import and export rules.
DBT issues guidance on low-value shipments to US
- 01 Sep 2025
- ICAEW Insights
UK businesses now face tariffs on “vast majority” of exports to the US, following Trump’s suspension of de minimis duty-free treatment of low-value goods from abroad.
The EU perspective on VAT – make the most of Brexit
- 04 Dec 2024
- ICAEW Insights
Donato Raponi, former Head of the VAT Unit at the European Commission, says many VAT systems are too complicated and, having exited the EU, the UK is now in a good position to make significant changes.
Tax concerns drive drop in business confidence
- 09 Oct 2024
- ICAEW Insights
Confidence among UK businesses fell in Q3, according to ICAEW’s analysis, fuelled by record tax burden concerns and weaker export growth, as businesses grow cautious ahead of the Autumn Budget.
How will the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism affect UK businesses?
- 20 Sep 2023
- ICAEW
The EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism enters its transitional phase on 1 October 2023, meaning that UK businesses exporting to the EU must prepare for the changes.
Advice and guidance
Learn to export
A step-by-step guide to exporting, from the Department for Business and Trade. Designed specifically for new and inexperienced exporters.
Export goods from the UK: step by step
Guidance from the UK Government to help you export goods from the UK to international destinations, including the EU.
Find an export market
Advice on how to research and understand export markets; visit markets to carry out research; and use trade shows to access customers, analyse the competition and assess demand.
How to create an export plan
Advice on what to include in a well structured business plan for exporting that will show banks, investors or partners that you are serious and have realistic and achievable goals. Published as part of the Exporting is Great website.
Import, export and customs for businesses: detailed information
Quick links to information on getting started with importing or exporting, reducing and delaying duty, declaring goods. carriers and freight forwarders, paying import duty and VAT, after you've declared, specific goods and services, storing goods, freeports, notices, forms and manuals and help and support.
Market Access Map
- International Trade Centre
Tool that allows you to identify customs tariffs, tariff rate quotas, trade remedies, regulatory requirements and preferential regimes applicable to your product. Includes a library of 400+ trade agreements. Funded by the EU and GRIPS.
Travel or do business in Europe: Brexit guidance
- HM Government
New rules apply to things like travel and doing business with Europe. Use the Brexit checker to get a personalised list of actions for you, your business and your family.
Terms of use
ICAEW accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided ‘as is’ with no warranty, express or implied, for the information provided within them. Please see the full copyright and disclaimer notice.
Thought leadership
Our thought leadership is intended to change thinking and behaviour. We want to help our members do their jobs as best they can. Ultimately, this will enable people everywhere to do business with confidence..
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