Policy & Compliance
BIFA’s views on the voluntary standard for Customs intermediaries have not been taken on board Outcome of Spring Budget consultations
a financial guarantee; • Improving the Transit procedure, making movements cheaper, easier and more accessible. Unfortunately, BIFA’s views on the voluntary standard for Customs intermediaries were not taken on board as most traders wanted to see it introduced. The only good thing is that it is only ‘voluntary’ and AEO-C will be retained alongside it, at least for the time being, although it is noted that allowing more traders to use Customs facilitations without the need for a Customs guarantee further diminishes its importance. There is a little more hope relative to simplifying Customs declarations; 65% of all respondents believed that the requirement to declare buyer/seller information would be challenging, a view that HMRC seems likely to take on board. More information on the outcome of the consultations can be found by scanning the QR code.
I n the 2023 Spring Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced plans to simplify Customs Procedures with the aim to reduce administrative procedures for businesses. The proposals under consultation were a curious mix of tinkering with administrative procedures and some rather more fundamental structural changes. It is no secret that BIFA and its Members did not see the relevance of certain of the proposals, such as the voluntary standard for the Customs intermediary sector. The Association and its Members strongly argued in favour of increasing standards within the AEO regime. Rather cheekily, the Association suggested that there should be a similar voluntary scheme for importers and exporters. On 7 December 2023, the results of the consultation on potential
improvements outlined in the Spring Budget were announced. New measures The measures, set to be delivered across 2024 and 2025, include: • Introducing a voluntary standard for the Customs intermediary sector; • Simplifying Customs declarations by cutting the amount of data traders must provide by up to a quarter; • Supporting key sectors, including creative, arts and sports, with potential improvements to the procedure for temporarily importing goods; • Simplifying and digitising the Customs and excise authorisation systems; • Allowing more traders to use Customs facilitations that delay duty payment without the cost of
GOV.uk Customs Simplification Measures
Delivering debt recovery & outsourced services to the freight, transport,
Business Support Services
Debt Recovery
Customer Care
Receivables Management
IT and Application Services
Software Solutions
controlaccount.com 01527 386 610
January 2024 | 13
www.bifa.org
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker