Country: United Kingdom Provided by: Quality Freight UK Ltd.

Goods

Household goods, Personal Effects and motor vehicles

Documents required

A relatively simple clearance process here in the UK, most shipments of this nature will simply require clients to complete HM Revenue and Customs Form “C3”.

This form contains specific questions relating to the goods, their status as “Personal Effects” and obliges the client to warrant certain elements of information.

It should usually be supported by a full inventory or packing list, and a copy of the transport document; bill of lading or air waybill.

Please Note: If you are a private individual and are already a resident in the UK and you wish to import some items you ordered from outside the EEC or you shipped some goods unaccompanied which you bought on holiday, the goods will need to be treated as a commercial import. This does not apply to motor vehicles.

To enable us to arrange Customs Clearance on your behalf, we will require the information and documentation detailed in each section. Once these are received a customs entry is prepared and normally sent electronically to HM Revenue and Customs and then, if required, original documentation is lodged with H.M. Customs. If Customs are happy with this and they do not require any further checks on the cargo, such as a physical examination, they will release the shipment.

Clearance from Port Health will also be required on shipments of Personal Effects: Port Health are concerned with all imports of Personal Effects to see if they contain any types of foodstuffs or animal products as there are restrictions to the type of these goods allowed into the UK. If you have foodstuffs or animal products, you wish to import and are unsure if these will be acceptable please contact the Port Health authority at the port of arrival for your goods or us with details of the cargo to see if they are allowed into the UK.

The normal documentation required for Personal Effects to be sent to Port Health is: Copy of the Packing List Copy of the Import Bill of Lading

Once Port Health receives these they will advise if they require any further information or if they will examine the goods. Once they are happy with the consignment and documentation they will release the cargo.

Importing Your Personal Effects from Outside the European Community on Transfer of Residence.

If you are importing your Personal Effects into UK unaccompanied you are not allowed a "duty free allowance", but generally, except for the goods listed in the Exceptions and Prohibited Goods below, you can import your unaccompanied Personal Effects into the UK free of Duties and Taxes if you fulfil the following:

You have had your normal home outside the European Community for at least 12 months. You have owned and used your effects for at least 6 months.

To bring your Personal Effects into the United Kingdom the following documentation will be required from you and this will be attached to the customs entry:

Customs Form C3 Packing List. For items, less than 6 months old it may be useful to have proof of value. IE invoice. License or declaration of Exceptions and Prohibited Goods. (These may be seized by Customs)

Customs Information

All the detail that HM Revenue and Customs (UK Customs) generally require is contained in the C3 questionnaire.

Importing Your Private Motor Vehicle from Outside the European Community on Transfer of Residence.

You can import your Private Motor Vehicle free of Duty and VAT if you are transferring your residence if you fulfil the following:  You have owned and used your vehicle for at least 6 months.  You have had your normal home outside the EEC for a least 1 year.

To bring your Motor Vehicle into the United Kingdom on transfer of residence the following documentation will be required from you and this will be attached to the customs entry:  Customs Form C104A.  Proof of Ownership - E.G. Title Document / Log Book.  Proof of use of the vehicle for at least 6 months - E.G. Insurance Documents / Service Invoice.  Proof of living out of the UK for 1 year - E.G. Service(Gas/Electric) Bill.

Please note if your vehicle has undergone any repairs, alteration or renovation except for running repairs you may have to pay Duty and VAT on the cost of these procedures.

Importing Your Private Motor Vehicle on Payment of Customs Duty and VAT. If you have purchased your Vehicle outside the UK and cannot fulfil the conditions in the previous 2 sections regarding importing your Vehicle into the UK you will have to pay Duty and VAT on your Motor Vehicle if you wish to import it into the UK. The documentation required to do this is:  Customs Form C384  Proof of Ownership - E.G. Title Document / Log Book.  Proof of Purchase Price / Value - E.G. Invoice.  Copy Bill of lading

The following products are items which are not allowed to be imported free of charges. Duty and VAT must be paid upon import into the UK:  Wines and Sprits  Tobacco Products (Cigarettes, Cigars, tobacco etc.)  Items not owned or used for at least 6 months.  Goods for commercial use.

If you have any of these items you must let us know the price paid or current value of the items, the quantity of each item and for Wines, Spirits, the number of bottles and size of each bottle, for cigarettes the number of cigarettes. We will then calculate the taxes payable using the Customs Tariff and these will form part of the customs entry which is given to Customs.

The following is a list of Prohibited or restricted goods:

It not exhaustive and if you have goods or are in any doubt that any of your goods may be prohibited or restricted you should list them on your C3 form:  Controlled drugs such as opium, cannabis, amphetamines and lysergide (LSD)  Firearms (including gas pistols, electric shock batons, stun guns and similar weapons), ammunition and explosives (including flares incorporating a barrel)  Indecent or obscene material featuring children  Pornographic material that cannot be freely purchased in the UK  Horror Comics  Flick knives, butterfly knives and certain other offensive weapons and some martial art weapons.  Counterfeit currency  Radio Transmitters (walkie-talkies, Citizen Band Radios, cordless telephones etc.) not approved for use in the UK  Meat and poultry; many other animal products  Plants and plant produce including trees and shrubs, potatoes and certain other vegetables, fruit, bulbs and seeds.  Animals, birds and fish, weather alive or dead (e.g. stuffed), parts and articles derived from protected species including fur-skins, ivory, reptile leather, stony corals and goods made from them.

Remarks

Import taxes will generally not be applied to used “Personal Effects” however, to meet the “used” criteria, goods should generally have been in the owner’s possession for at least six months prior to import.

Any Customs or Notices mentioned in the following sections can be obtained from your local HM Revenue and Customs and Excise office or from the Customs Web site at www.hmrc.gov.uk

Quality Freight UK Ltd are always pleased to offer further specific advice on a case by case basis should it be necessary. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

This information is subject to change, interpretation and customs requirements should always be confirmed with the destination agent prior to shipment. WCA Relocations Network will not take responsibility for the contents of this publication.

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