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
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.
UK exporters must switch to CDS by June
- Article
- 04 Mar 2024
- ICAEW
The deadline to transition from using CHIEF to CDS for export declarations has been extended to 4 June 2024. Businesses are advised to switch early to avoid potential disruption.
Government responds to three consultations on customs measures
- Article
- 08 Dec 2023
- ICAEW
The responses set out next steps on measures to simplify customs import and export processes for traders.
Prepare for customs controls on imports from Ireland
- Article
- 28 Nov 2023
- ICAEW
Some goods will face customs controls from 31 January 2024 when moving directly from Ireland to Great Britain.
HMRC provides update on forthcoming Single Trade Window
- Article
- 21 Nov 2023
- ICAEW
The first phase of the service to make border processes simpler will be available for public use in 2024.
ICAEW comments on the future of customs declarations
- Article
- 12 Sep 2023
- ICAEW
ICAEW welcomes the exercise to simplify customs declarations, but cautions against changes with unintended consequences.
HMRC announces phased approach to CDS export migration
- Article
- 30 Aug 2023
- ICAEW
Most businesses will now have until 30 March 2024 to migrate from the customs handling of import and export freight (CHIEF) system.
HMRC to remove XI EORI numbers from some businesses
- Article
- 27 Jul 2023
- ICAEW
Businesses should act now if they need to keep or restore their XI EORI number to move goods into Northern Ireland.
Tax
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.
Why the UK must reform VAT
- 04 Dec 2024
- ICAEW Insights
This vital revenue stream is burdened by complexity, undermined by exemptions, and dogged by a lack of digitalisation. Post-Brexit, there is both an opportunity and an imperative for core reform.
Industrial Strategy shines spotlight on professional services
- 16 Oct 2024
- ICAEW Insights
The government’s Industrial Strategy identifies the sector as having high growth potential, as Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds pledges to give business the confidence to plan for the long term.
UK Export Academy has sustainability in its sights
- 15 May 2024
- ICAEW Insights
A programme of free sustainability-related training during May offers help on dealing with the growing complexity of international trade, particularly for smaller UK-based businesses.
UK exporters must switch to CDS by June
- 04 Mar 2024
- ICAEW
The deadline to transition from using CHIEF to CDS for export declarations has been extended to 4 June 2024. Businesses are advised to switch early to avoid potential disruption.
HMRC announces phased approach to CDS export migration
- 30 Aug 2023
- ICAEW
Most businesses will now have until 30 March 2024 to migrate from the customs handling of import and export freight (CHIEF) system.
ICAEW joins newly formed E-Commerce Trade Commission
- 19 Jun 2023
- ICAEW
The E-Commerce Trade Commission will support small businesses to start or grow their export business.
The Windsor Framework: VAT and duty implications
- 28 Feb 2023
- ICAEW
The Windsor Framework, amending the Northern Ireland Protocol, includes changes to rules for movements of goods from Great Britain into Northern Ireland. ICAEW’s Tax Faculty sets out the VAT and duty implications.
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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