Importer of Record for Import Procedures
Who can be the UK Importer of Record?
If your company intends to import goods into the United Kingdom (UK), as the importer, you will need an EORI (Economic Operator Registration and Identification) number. Your company and the clearance agent will need the EORI number to complete UK import procedures and to supply the required information to the customs authorities. To apply for a UK EORI number, your import business usually needs to have premises based in the UK, and this is known as ‘being established’. Your company will need to be established in the UK to meet several UK customs rules.
The Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 state that a person eligible to make a customs declaration in respect of chargeable goods may not do so unless the person is established in the United Kingdom.
Importer of Record (IOR) Services
If your import business is unable to obtain an EORI number or is not established within the UK, it will need to appoint someone to act as the UK Importer of Record (IOR) for the goods moving across the UK border and completing import procedures.
We provide IOR services to enable overseas companies to supply customers within the UK. Our IOR services cover every stage of the import process, from customs clearance to the payment of duties and taxes.
IOR Services and Import VAT
HM Revenue and Customs state that if your import business is not registered for UK VAT, you can arrange for an agent (importer of record) in the UK to complete import procedures and supply goods on your behalf. The agent’s supply of services to you will be at the standard rate of VAT, which you will not be able to reclaim. The agent will be able to recover the import VAT as input tax if they are an agent acting as principal under Section 47 of the VAT Act.