How to send parcels after Brexit

You have surely noticed that several years of disputes are over, and the divorce of the UK and the European Union was completed on January 1, 2021. New rules therefore apply for sending packages between the EU and the United Kingdom; we have created a list of them for you.

1. All consignments must go through customs clearance (even in the case of zero customs duty).

2. The contents of the consignment and its value must be declared on an invoice.

3. The customs duty and VAT are assessed.

What do these three points mean for you?

You can't avoid customs clearance

As of January 1, 2021, the same rules apply to the UK as to any other non-EU country. This means that all consignments (except paper documents) traveling between the UK and the EU must be cleared. The delivery time can therefore be extended by a day or two, which is essential information for you, our customers.

It will also affect administration, but it's nothing we can't handle. Our experienced team goes through each shipment individually, and in the case of ambiguity or incomplete information, we will contact you and add the missing data. We do this in order to avoid unnecessary complications in the event that these shortcomings are only discovered at customs.

Distinguish between private and commercial consignments

Now you will also encounter a "pro forma invoice" when sending parcels to the UK. This lets the customs officer know what goods you are sending to the country, and whether the state is entitled to a fee in the form of customs duties or VAT. This is not a regular invoice serving as a tax document (or bill), which we know from common practice.

If you are sending gifts or personal items, or you are moving, for example, this is a private consignment. The invoice must therefore contain all items that are in the consignment so that we and the customs officers know what you are sending.

Are you sending a commercial consignment? Then its value is declared by a commercial invoice, which should contain a description of the goods, the unit, amount, unit price, net weight, gross weight and HS code (tariff code).

Pay attention to the value of the consignment

The value of what is in the package determines the obligation to pay customs duties or VAT. Individual amounts are currently divided as follows:

Up to 39 GBP – we prefer these consignments, because they are duty free and VAT exempt. When placing an order on our website, our system will prepare the invoice for you up to this value, and if you do not inform us via email that you want to change it, customs duties and VAT will not be assessed. A fee is only paid for the customs procedure, which is included in the price of transport.

b) Up to 135 GBP – VAT on these consignments may be paid in the amount of 20 % in the event of import into the UK; in other destination countries, the percentage according to the table below applies. The content of the consignment is decisive. If you are charged VAT or customs duties, you may also be charged a customs fee in the destination country.

c) Commercial consignments and consignments over 135 GBP – the customs duty and VAT will be assessed according to the invoice and HS code of individual items. If you sell goods between the EU and the UK, both the sender and the recipient must have an EORI number in that country. If you are not a company, the customs office will issue a one-off EORI number upon request.