Are you paying import duty too early?
Many UK importers pay import duty and VAT as soon as goods arrive. If that stock will not sell for weeks or months, the business is funding tax on goods that are not yet earning.
When paying early hurts
- Goods arrive before they are needed, for seasonal or promotional stock.
- Stock is held for future orders or staggered distribution.
- Shipments wait for licences, labelling or product checks.
How bonded warehousing helps
In a bonded warehouse, goods stay under customs control with import duty and VAT suspended. You pay only on what you release for free circulation, when you release it, and goods re-exported from bond pay no UK import duty.
Other tools that ease cash flow
A duty deferment account lets you pay duty monthly rather than on every consignment, and postponed VAT accounting lets VAT-registered importers account for import VAT on their VAT return instead of paying it at the border.
Talk to us about bonded storage in Manchester and the right mix for your business.