Thousands of traders enrolled in import scheme

HMRC has automatically registered 95 000 businesses for its simplified import procedures scheme allowing most traders up to six months to pay import duties and submit customs declarations if the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 31 October 2019.

The transitional simplified procedures (TSP) scheme is intended to make importing after Brexit on 31 October much simpler in particular for businesses that would be completing customs processes for the first time. 

The government has chosen to automatically enrol VAT-registered businesses that import from the EU into the TSP scheme on the basis that it is the best option for businesses new to customs processes that do not have a customs agent. Until now businesses had to apply for the scheme and more than 30 000 had registered. 

Businesses that are not registered for VAT should apply for the scheme if it would benefit them.

Businesses that HMRC has registered...