Brexit Updates

8 December 2020

HMRC has released more guidance on moving goods in and out of Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021. Check what are “qualifying goods”, and whether your business will be impacted here.

4 December 2020

HMRC has updated its guidance on how to complete your VAT Return to account for import VAT from 1 January 2021. Details on how to estimate your import VAT on your VAT return have been added. Additional guidance on your statements and how long they will be available has been added.

2 November 2020

We have compiled a list of EU countries that require overseas businesses to appoint a tax representative if a VAT registration is required in that country after Brexit which can be read here.

26 October 2020

HMRC has published new guidance to help UK VAT-registered businesses know when they can, or whether they need to, account for VAT on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021.  Northern Ireland (NI)  by virtue of the Northern Ireland Protocol, ‘maintains alignment on some administrative processes within the EU VAT rules’. However, NI also remains part of the UK’s VAT system, and HMRC continues to be responsible for the ‘operation and collection of the revenues’ there

5 October 2020

This policy paper, which gives information on the changes to the VAT treatment of overseas goods sold to UK consumers which will take place after the end of the Brexit transition period from 1 January 2021, has been updated.

4 September 2020

HMRC has released its most recent guidance on moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021. Until negotiations with the EU conclude, there will be some areas without complete certainty, but full guidance will be provided by the end of the transition period. The guidance can be read here.

12 June 2020

The UK Government has announced that border controls for EU goods imported into Great Britain will be introduced at the end of Transition Period in stages to give businesses affected by coronavirus more time to prepare:

  • From January 2021: Traders importing standard goods, covering everything from clothes to electronics, will need to prepare for basic customs requirements, such as keeping sufficient records of imported goods, and will have up to six months to complete customs declarations. While tariffs will need to be paid on all imports, payments can be deferred until the customs declaration has been made. There will be checks on controlled goods like alcohol and tobacco. Businesses will also need to consider how they account for VAT on imported goods. There will also be physical checks at the point of destination or other approved premises on all high risk live animals and plants.
  • From April 2021: All products of animal origin (POAO) – for example meat, pet food, honey, milk or egg products – and all regulated plants and plant products will also require pre-notification and the relevant health documentation.
  • From July 2021: Traders moving all goods will have to make declarations at the point of importation and pay relevant tariffs. Full Safety and Security declarations will be required, while for SPS commodities there will be an increase in physical checks and the taking of samples: checks for animals, plants and their products will now take place at GB Border Control Posts.

27 May 2020

The UK Government has published a command paper outlining its approach  to the Northern Ireland Protocol which can be read in full here.

10 February 2020

EU businesses that need to register for VAT in the UK to continue to trade after the end of the transition period should make an advanced notification to HMRC. Businesses can make such an advanced application up to three months prior to making taxable supplies in the UK. HMRC’s Guidance can be read here.

3 February 2020

Two digital tools have been launched on gov.uk to provide information to businesses exporting goods in and out of the UK market

1 February 2020

HMRC has a new page on its website with links to news and updates during the transition period.

31 January 2020

Leaving the European Union has implications for partial exemption special methods (PESMs) that incorporate provisions relating to VAT recovery in relation to non-EU transactions, since the pre –Brexit legislation would have allowed recovery of VAT on UK transactions that became ‘non EU’ when the UK left the European Union. To mitigate this problem a new regulation 102(2A) has been inserted into the VAT Regulations 1995.

You can read more about this on our News page.

4 September 2019

HMRC has updated its guidance on leaving the EU. This document explains the implications for businesses in the event of a no-deal Brexit. A step-by-step checker has also been made available to highlight areas that may impact on you or your business.

26 March 2019

HMRC has updated its guidance on  leaving the EU  in particular to reflect the fact that there is to be an extension to arrangements already announced regarding the use of Transitional Simplified Procedures (TSP), which will make importing easier.

You can read more about this on our News page.

25 February 2019

HMRC has updated its guidance on trading with the EU in the event of a no-deal Brexit. This can be found by following this link.

You can read more about this on our News page.

6 February 2019

New legislation was laid before Parliament yesterday to deal with the post-Brexit VAT treatment of ‘Specified Supplies’.  You can read more about this on our News page

4 February 2019

HMRC has issued guidance on how VAT IT system rules and processes will change if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. You can read more on our News pages.

21 January 2019

HMRC has published new Regulations to deal with VAT accounting post-Brexit. You can read more about this on our News page

23 October 2018

HMRC has published a new ‘partnership pack‘, containing a collection of high-level guides for businesses involved in importing and exporting, to explain the customs processes and procedures likely to apply after March 2019 in a ‘no deal’ scenario. A set of individual factsheets describe what different business groups will need to do from day one outside the EU. The pack also provides a summary (reproduced here) of the customs, excise and VAT changes to expect, which complements the technical guides published on 23 August.

10 October 2018

We have published a blog on the implications of Brexit on the right to reclaim VAT on costs associated with businesses operating in the financial service and insurance sector.  The blog considers the various possible scenarios and the impact on these sectors.

8 October 2018

The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and the ICAEW have issued the first in what is hoped to a be a series of fact-sheets on the impact of the UK’s withdrawal from The European Union. The main purpose of this particular fact-sheet is to outline the purpose and effect of The Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, which received Royal Assent on 13 September 2018.

13 September 2018

The Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 received Royal Assent on 13 September. The purpose of the Act is to allow the government to create a standalone customs regime when the UK leaves the EU and provide for amendment of existing VAT and excise legislation.

23 August 2018

HMRC has stated that a scenario in which the UK leaves the EU without agreement (a ‘no deal’ scenario) remains unlikely given the mutual interests of the UK and the EU in securing a negotiated outcome. however, it has issued some guidance to enable taxpayers to prepare for a ‘no deal scenario’.

Trading with the EU if there is no Brexit deal

VAT for businesses if there is no Brexit deal