Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018

PART 1 Import duty

The charge to tax

1 Charge to import duty

A duty of customs (to be known as “import duty”) is charged in accordance with provision made by or under this Part by reference to the importation of chargeable goods into the United Kingdom.

2 Chargeable goods

Goods are “chargeable goods” for the purposes of this Part unless they are domestic goods.

Incurring of liability to import duty

3 Obligation to declare goods for a Customs procedure on import

(1) Chargeable goods which are presented to Customs on import must be declared for a Customs procedure by the making of a Customs declaration.

(2) It is the Customs procedure for which the goods are declared that determines when a liability to import duty is incurred.

(3) The Customs procedures for which chargeable goods may be declared are as follows—

(a) a procedure under which the goods are released for free circulation in the United Kingdom (referred to in this Part as “the free-circulation procedure”), or

(b) a special Customs procedure.

(4) In this Part “special Customs procedure” means—

(a) a storage procedure,

(b) a transit procedure,

(c) an inward processing procedure, or

(d) an authorised use procedure or temporary admission procedure.

(5) Schedule 1 makes provision about—

(a) the period within which Customs declarations are required to be made (and associated matters),

(b) the making, amendment or withdrawal of Customs declarations,

(c) the acceptance of Customs declarations by HMRC,

(d) the verification of Customs declarations by HMRC officers, and

(e) the release of goods to, and the discharge of goods from, Customs procedures.

(6) Schedule 2 makes further provision about special Customs procedures.

4 When liability to import duty incurred

(1) If—

(a) chargeable goods are declared for the free-circulation procedure, and

(b) HMRC accept the declaration,

a liability to import duty is incurred at the time of the acceptance.

(2) If chargeable goods are declared for—

(a) a storage procedure,

(b) a transit procedure, or

(c) an inward processing procedure,

the general rule is that a liability to import duty is not incurred by reference to the importation of the goods.

(3) This rule is subject to the following two exceptions—

(a) if there is no entitlement to make the Customs declaration concerned, a liability to import duty is incurred at the time the (purported) declaration is made, and

(b) if there is a breach by any person of any requirement relating to the procedure, a liability to import duty is incurred at the time at which the breach first occurs.

(4) In the case of goods declared for an authorised use procedure or temporary admission procedure—

(a) a liability to import duty is incurred at the time the declaration is accepted by HMRC,

(b) if there is an entitlement to make the declaration for the procedure, the rate of import duty is lower than the normal rate (see section 19(4)),

(c) if there is no such entitlement, the liability is at the normal rate, and

(d) if there is a breach of a requirement relating to the procedure, a further liability to import duty arises at the time of the breach at the normal rate reduced to take account of the amount of any earlier liability.

(5) In the case of goods declared for a temporary admission procedure, see also section 19(5).

(6) In this section any reference to the breach of a requirement relating to a special Customs procedure is to—

(a) a breach, occurring while the procedure has effect, of the terms of the declaration for the procedure or of any other requirement imposed in relation to the procedure by or under Schedule 2, or

(b) a breach, occurring at any time after the declaration was made, of any other requirement imposed by an HMRC officer in relation to the goods for which the declaration was made.

(7) In this section “the normal rate” means the rate that, at the time of the declaration or breach (as the case may be), would be applicable if section 19(4) were ignored.

5 Goods not presented to Customs or Customs declaration not made

(1) If chargeable goods—

(a) are imported into the United Kingdom, and

(b) are not presented to Customs on import (if so required),

the goods are liable to forfeiture (as to which, see Part 11 of CEMA 1979) at the time of importation.

(2) If goods are liable to forfeiture as a result of—

(a) subsection (1), or

(b) paragraph 1(5) or 3(4) of Schedule 1 (no Customs declaration made),

a liability to import duty is incurred at the time at which the goods become liable to forfeiture.

Person liable to import duty

6 Person liable to import duty

(1) If a Customs declaration is made in respect of any chargeable goods, the person in whose name the declaration is made is the person liable to import duty in respect of the goods.

(2) If a liability to import duty is incurred as a result of section 5 in respect of any chargeable goods, any person who is in possession or control of the goods when they enter the United Kingdom is liable to import duty in respect of the goods.

(3) In addition to any person liable as a result of subsection (1) or (2), each of the following persons is liable to import duty—

(a) a person on whose behalf a Customs declaration is made,

(b) a person liable as a result of provision made by section 21(6) (Customs agents),

(c) a person liable as a result of provision made under paragraph 21 of Schedule 2 (special Customs procedures), and

(d) a person otherwise involved in a breach of a relevant Customs obligation.

(4) For this purpose a person is otherwise involved in a breach of a relevant Customs obligation if—

(a) the person provides false information in connection with a chargeable Customs declaration and the person knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that the information was false,

(b) the person (“A”) acted (whether as a Customs agent or otherwise) on behalf of another person who breached a relevant Customs obligation and A knew, or ought reasonably to have known, of the breach by that other person,

(c) the person participated in, or was otherwise involved in, a breach of a relevant Customs obligation and knew, or ought reasonably to have known, of the breach, or

(d) the person possesses or controls the goods at a time when there has been a breach of a relevant Customs obligation and the person knew, or ought reasonably to have known, of the breach.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4)(a) a person (“P”) provides “false information in connection with a chargeable Customs declaration” if—

(a) P provides information to another person to enable that other person to make a Customs declaration,

(b) that other person makes the declaration, and

(c) the information provided by P is false.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (4) there is “a breach of a relevant Customs obligation” if—

(a) there is a breach of a requirement imposed on any person that results in a liability to import duty, or

(b) circumstances otherwise arise that result in a liability to import duty,

and, in a case within paragraph (b) of this subsection, references to knowledge of the breach are to knowledge of those circumstances.

(7) If two or more persons are liable to import duty in any case, those persons are jointly and severally liable to import duty in that case.

Amount of import duty: the customs tariff, preferences, safeguarding etc

7 Amount of duty: introduction

(1) The amount of import duty applicable to any goods is to be determined in accordance with the customs tariff (see section 8), as amended or adjusted by provision made under any of the following sections—

(a) section 9 (preferential rates: arrangements with countries or territories outside UK),

(b) section 10 (preferential rates given unilaterally),

(c) section 11 (quotas),

(d) section 12 (tariff suspension),

(e) section 13 (dumping of goods, foreign subsidies and increases in imports),

(f) section 14 (increases in imports or changes in price of agricultural goods), and

(g) section 15 (international disputes etc).

(2) See also—

(a) sections 16 to 18 (which deal with the valuation of goods, their place of origin and cases where amounts are expressed in a foreign currency), and

(b) section 19 (which enables provision to be made for full or partial relief from import duty).

8 The customs tariff

(1) The Treasury must make regulations establishing, and maintaining in force, a system which—

(a) classifies goods according to their nature, origin or any other factor,

(b) gives codes to the goods as so classified,

(c) specifies the rate of import duty applicable to goods falling within those codes (whether by a formula or otherwise), and

(d) contains rules for determining the amount of import duty applicable to those goods.

(2) This system is referred to in this Part as the customs tariff.

(3) The customs tariff may provide for the amount of any import duty applicable to any goods falling within any code to be determined by reference to either or both of the following—

(a) the value of the goods, and

(b) the weight or volume of the goods or any other measure of their quantity or size.

(4) The customs tariff may include provision as to the meaning of any expression used in it.

(5) In considering the rate of import duty that ought to apply to any goods in a standard case, the Treasury must have regard to—

(a) the interests of consumers in the United Kingdom,

(b) the interests of producers in the United Kingdom of the goods concerned,

(c) the desirability of maintaining and promoting the external trade of the United Kingdom,

(d) the desirability of maintaining and promoting productivity in the United Kingdom, and

(e) the extent to which the goods concerned are subject to competition.

(6) In considering the rate of import duty that ought to apply to any goods in a standard case, the Treasury must also have regard to any recommendation about the rate made to them by the Secretary of State.

(7) In considering what recommendation to make, the Secretary of State must have regard to the matters set out in subsection (5)(a) to (e).

(8) In this section “a standard case” means a case other than one to which any of sections 9 to 15 or 19(4) apply (preferential rates, quotas, tariff suspension, safeguarding, etc).

9 Preferential rates: arrangements with countries or territories outside UK

(1) If—

(a) Her Majesty’s government in the United Kingdom makes arrangements with the government of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom, and

(b) the arrangements contain provision for the rate of import duty applicable to goods, or any description of goods, originating from the country or territory to be lower than the applicable rate in the customs tariff in its standard form,

the Treasury may make regulations to give effect to the provision made by the arrangements (whether by amending the customs tariff or otherwise).

(2) The reference here to the customs tariff in its standard form is to the tariff as it has effect without regard to any provision made under any of sections 10 to 15 or section 19(4).

(3) The power of the Treasury to make regulations under this section is exercisable only on the recommendation of the Secretary of State.

10 Preferential rates given unilaterally

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations establish a scheme (“a trade preference scheme”) under which the rate of import duty applicable to goods, or any description of goods, originating from an eligible developing country is lower than the applicable rate in the customs tariff in its standard form.

(2) A trade preference scheme may—

(a) apply to one or more eligible developing countries,

(b) provide for the application of the lower rates to be subject to the meeting of specified conditions, and

(c) make provision about the variation, suspension and withdrawal of the application of the lower rates.

(3) If a trade preference scheme is established under subsection (1), regulations under subsection (1)—

(a) must provide for a nil rate of import duty to be applicable to all goods originating from a least developed country, except arms and ammunition, and

(b) may make provision about the suspension and withdrawal of the application of the nil rate.

(4) In subsection (3)—

(a) “arms and ammunition” has the meaning specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State, and

(b) “suspension” and “withdrawal” may include the application of another rate that is lower than the applicable rate in the customs tariff in its standard form.

(5) The references in this section to the customs tariff in its standard form are to the tariff as it has effect without regard to any provision made under any of section 9, sections 11 to 15 or section 19(4).

(6) In Schedule 3—

(a) Part 1 defines “eligible developing country” and “least developed country” for the purposes of this section,

(b) Parts 2 and 3 contain lists for the purpose of those definitions, and

(c) Part 4 confers power to amend those lists.

11 Quotas

(1) Regulations may make provision for determining the amount of import duty applicable to any goods that are subject to a quota.

(2) Goods are subject to a quota for the purposes of this section if—

(a) Her Majesty’s government in the United Kingdom makes arrangements with the government of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom and the arrangements contain provision for the goods concerned to be subject to a quota, or

(b) the Treasury otherwise consider that it is appropriate for the goods concerned to be subject to a quota.

(3) Regulations may make any provision that the person making them considers appropriate for the purposes of this section, including (for example)—

(a) provision specifying the factors by reference to which a quota is to be determined,

(b) provision imposing conditions subject to which a quota has effect,

(c) provision for a quota in respect of specified goods to be subject to a licensing or allocation system (see also subsection (4)), and

(d) any other provision in relation to the administration of a quota.

(4) Regulations made under subsection (3) which make provision for a quota in respect of specified goods to be subject to a licensing or allocation system may include—

(a) provision authorising any public body to grant licences or determine a system for allocating the quotas,

(b) provision specifying the cases in which a person is eligible to make use of a quota,

(c) provision specifying the conditions subject to which any person may make use of a quota (including provision for the giving of a guarantee of a specified amount),

(d) provision authorising the conditions to be imposed by a licence or other document,

(e) provision requiring the payment of fees by any person in connection with any application for a licence or an allocation, and

(f) provision generally in relation to the administration of the licensing or allocation system.

(5) Any fees payable as a result of provision made under subsection (4)(e) must be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

(6) The power to make regulations under this section providing for a quota in respect of specified goods to be subject to a licensing or allocation system is exercisable by the Secretary of State.

(7) The power to make regulations under this section containing any other provision is exercisable by the Treasury; and, in considering what provision to include in the regulations, the Treasury must have regard to any recommendation made to them by the Secretary of State.

12 Tariff suspension

(1) The Treasury may by regulations make provision securing that, for a specified period, the rate of import duty applicable to specified goods is to be lower than the applicable rate in the customs tariff in its standard form.

(2) The regulations must provide that (subject to any exceptions) the Secretary of State is obliged—

(a) to consider a request made by any person for goods to be specified goods for the purposes of the regulations, and

(b) to make recommendations to the Treasury about the request.

(3) The regulations may—

(a) make provision for extending the specified period (including by means of a notice),

(b) impose conditions on the application of the lower rate, and

(c) make further provision about requests made to the Secretary of State (including provision about the form and contents of a request and the manner, and date by which, a request is to be made).

(4) In this section the reference to the customs tariff in its standard form is to the tariff as it has effect without regard to any provision made under any of sections 9 to 11, sections 13 to 15 or section 19(4).

(5) In considering what provision to include in any regulations under this section, the Treasury must have regard to any recommendation made to them by the Secretary of State.

13 Dumping of goods, foreign subsidies and increases in imports

(1) Functions relating to import duty are conferred on the Trade Remedies Authority (“the TRA”) by—

(a) Schedule 4 (dumping and foreign subsidies causing injury to UK industry), and

(b) Schedule 5 (increased imports causing serious injury to UK producers).

(2) If the Secretary of State accepts a recommendation by the TRA under provision made by or under Schedule 4 or 5 that an additional amount of import duty should be applicable to goods, the Secretary of State must by public notice make provision giving effect to the recommendation.

(3) If the Secretary of State accepts a recommendation by the TRA under provision made by or under Schedule 5 that goods should be subject to a provisional tariff rate quota or a tariff rate quota, the Secretary of State must by public notice make provision for determining the amount of import duty applicable to the goods in order to give effect to the recommendation.

(4) If the Secretary of State accepts a recommendation by the TRA under provision made by or under Schedule 4 or 5 that—

(a) the application of an additional amount of import duty to goods under this section should be suspended, varied or revoked, or

(b) the application of a quota to which goods are subject under this section should be suspended, varied or revoked,

the Secretary of State must by public notice make provision giving effect to the recommendation.

(5) The Secretary of State may make regulations containing any provision that the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the purposes of subsections (3) and (4)(b); and section 11(3)(a) to (d), (4) and (5) apply to regulations under this subsection as they apply to regulations under section 11(3).

14 Increases in imports or changes in price of agricultural goods

(1) The Treasury may by regulations make provision for an additional amount of import duty to be applicable to specified agricultural goods, or a specified description of agricultural goods, if—

(a) the volume of imports of the specified goods, or goods of the specified description, into the United Kingdom during a specified period exceeds a specified trigger level, or

(b) the import price of the goods has fallen below a specified trigger price.

(2) The regulations may (among other things) make provision—

(a) limiting the period for which an additional amount of import duty is applicable;

(b) for the suspension of the application of an additional amount of import duty;

(c) requiring the giving of a guarantee in respect of an additional amount of import duty which is potentially applicable to goods, where the representative price for the goods has fallen below the specified trigger price and the import price of the goods is higher than that representative price;

(d) specifying the representative price for goods or a description of goods, (whether by a formula or otherwise) and providing for representative prices to be adjusted (whether by a formula or otherwise).

(3) The power of the Treasury to make regulations under this section is exercisable only on the recommendation of the Secretary of State.

15 International disputes etc

(1) If—

(a) a dispute or other issue has arisen between Her Majesty’s government in the United Kingdom and the government of a country or territory, and

(b) Her Majesty’s government in the United Kingdom is authorised under international law to deal with the issue by varying the amount of import duty in the case of goods, or a description of goods, originating from the country or territory,

the Secretary of State may make regulations varying the amount of import duty applicable to the goods or the description of goods.

(2) In exercising the power to make the regulations in the case of a dispute affecting any goods, the Secretary of State must secure that the amount of import duty payable in that case takes account of any additional amount of import duty which—

(a) is payable under section 13 as a result of the goods being subsidised, or

(b) would have been so payable had an undertaking not been accepted in respect of the goods.

Amount of import duty: supplementary

16 Value of chargeable goods

(1) This section makes provision for determining the value of chargeable goods for the purposes of this Part.

(2) The general rule is that the value of the goods is the transaction value of the goods when sold for export to the United Kingdom.

(3) For this purpose “the transaction value” means the total amount of the consideration—

(a) payable for the goods, or

(b) payable in connection with the importation of the goods into the United Kingdom,

subject to the inclusion or exclusion of matters specified in regulations made by the Treasury.

(4) The regulations may make provision for treating a matter to be of a specified amount or value.

(5) Regulations made by the Treasury may make provision for the value of goods for the purposes of this Part to be a value other than the transaction value.

(6) The following are examples of the kind of provision that may be made by the regulations—

(a) provision dealing with transactions between persons who are related to, or connected with, each other in a specified way, and

(b) provision dealing with cases where a transaction value cannot, or cannot readily, be determined.

17 Place of origin of chargeable goods

(1) This section makes provision for determining the place of origin of chargeable goods for the purposes of this Part.

(2) Goods are to be regarded as originating from a country or territory if they are wholly obtained in the country or territory.

(3) If goods are obtained in two or more countries or territories, the goods are to be regarded as originating from the last country or territory in which substantial processing of them has taken place that is economically justified.

(4) Processing of any goods is to be regarded as substantial only if—

(a) it results in the manufacture of a new product or represents an important stage of manufacture, and

(b) it takes place in an undertaking equipped for the purpose.

(5) It is for the person making a Customs declaration to show that goods originate from a particular country or territory.

(6) The Treasury may by regulations make provision for the purposes of this section, including (for example) provision—

(a) for determining what constitutes, or does not constitute, processing that is economically justified,

(b) for determining what constitutes, or does not constitute, an important stage of manufacture,

(c) as to cases in which goods are, or are not, to be regarded as originating from a country or territory, and

(d) as to the evidence which is to be required, or is to be sufficient, for the purpose of showing that goods originate from a particular country or territory.

(7) In relation to any case where the applicable rate of import duty is determined under section 9 or 10 (preferences), the provision that may be made by regulations under subsection (6) includes—

(a) provision for the place of origin of the goods to be determined in accordance with the regulations,

(b) provision for regarding goods exported by or on behalf of persons approved in accordance with the regulations as originating from a country or territory or for regarding only goods exported by or on behalf of approved persons as originating from a country or territory,

(c) provision for different categories of approved persons,

(d) provision requiring the Treasury to publish a list of persons who are for the time being approved persons and information about the category of approval, and

(e) other provision about approved persons.

(8) The power to make regulations under this section is exercisable only on the recommendation of the Secretary of State.

18 Currency

(1) The value of chargeable goods for the purposes of this Part must be calculated and expressed in sterling.

(2) If an amount that is relevant for the purpose of calculating the value of goods for the purposes of this Part is expressed in a currency other than sterling, the amount must be converted into its sterling equivalent.

(3) The conversion must be made in accordance with provision contained in a public notice given by HMRC Commissioners.

(4) The public notice may make provision—

(a) specifying the exchange rate that must be used for the purposes of this section,

(b) for the conversion to be made by reference to an exchange rate (or rates) applicable at any time (including a time earlier than that at which an importation took place) or by reference to the average exchange rate for a specified period,

(c) for the exchange rate determined in accordance with the notice to apply to transactions or other events taking place in a specified period,

(d) for adjusting the applicable exchange rate if the value of sterling against the currency concerned has increased or decreased by more than a specified percentage, and

(e) for any conversion to be rounded up or down.

Reliefs

19 Reliefs

(1) The Treasury may by regulations make provision for full or partial relief from a liability to import duty.

(2) The regulations may provide for the relief to be given by reference to any factor, for example—

(a) the nature or origin of goods or anything else by reference to which goods are classified in the customs tariff,

(b) anything in the customs tariff by reference to which the amount of import duty applicable to goods is determined,

(c) the purposes for which goods are imported,

(d) the person by whom, or for whose benefit, goods are imported, and

(e) the circumstances in which goods are imported.

(3) The regulations may provide for a relief to be conditional on (among other things) the export of goods in accordance with the applicable export provisions.

(4) In the case of goods that are declared for an authorised use procedure or temporary admission procedure, the Treasury—

(a) must exercise the power to make regulations under this section so as to secure that the rate of import duty applicable to the goods is lower than the applicable rate in the customs tariff in its standard form, and

(b) may secure that result by amending the customs tariff.

(5) If the regulations provide for partial relief in respect of goods declared for a temporary admission procedure, the regulations must secure that—

(a) the partial relief operates by way of additional charges to import duty by reference to any period during which the procedure has effect, and

(b) the total of the additional charges does not exceed the amount of the liability in the absence of the partial relief.

(6) If the regulations provide for partial relief in any other case, the regulations may make provision corresponding to that mentioned in subsection (5)(a) and (b).

(7) The reference in this section to the customs tariff in its standard form is to the tariff as it has effect without regard to any provision made under any of sections 9 to 15 (preferential rates, quotas, tariff suspension, safeguarding, etc).

Administration etc

20 Notification and payment of import duty, etc

Schedule 6 makes provision for—

(a) the notification of any liability to pay import duty,

(b) the payment of import duty,

(c) the giving of guarantees in respect of any liability to pay import duty,

(d) the repayment of import duty,

(e) the remission of import duty, and

(f) the recovery of import duty.

21 Customs agents

(1) A person (“the principal”) may appoint any other person (a “Customs agent”) to act on the principal’s behalf for the purposes of this Part, and—

(a) the agent may make Customs declarations in the name of the principal (and in that case the agent acts as a “direct agent”), or

(b) the agent may make Customs declarations in the agent’s own name (and in that case the agent acts as an “indirect agent”).

(2) The appointment of a person as a Customs agent, and the withdrawal of an appointment of a person as a Customs agent, must be disclosed to HMRC in accordance with regulations made by HMRC Commissioners.

(3) The effect of an appointment of a person as a Customs agent is that anything done under, or otherwise for the purposes of, this Part by, or in relation to, the agent is regarded as done under, or otherwise for the purposes of, this Part by, or in relation to, the principal (and not by the agent).

(4) There is an exception to this rule if a Customs agent acts as an indirect agent (and see also section 37(8)(b)).

(5) In that case, the indirect agent is liable to import duty in accordance with section 6(1) (and the principal is also liable to import duty in accordance with section 6(3)(a)).

(6) If a Customs agent acts as a direct agent, the agent is also liable to import duty if—

(a) the agent acts at time when the appointment has not been disclosed to HMRC as mentioned in subsection (2),

(b) the agent acts at a time when the appointment of the person as a Customs agent has been withdrawn,

(c) the agent otherwise purports to act on behalf of the principal when the agent has no authority to do so, or

(d) a liability to import duty is incurred by reference to the importation of goods declared for a Customs procedure and the declaration was not made in accordance with regulations under paragraph 9 of Schedule 1 (simplified Customs declarations).

(7) HMRC Commissioners may by regulations make further provision about Customs agents for the purposes of import duty.

(8) Each of the following is an example of the kind of provision that may be made by the regulations—

(a) provision requiring persons to be eligible for appointment as Customs agents only if an HMRC officer has approved the appointment, and

(b) provision specifying the criteria for approving the appointment (including provision for the criteria to be specified in a public notice given by HMRC Commissioners).

22 Authorised economic operators

(1) HMRC Commissioners may by regulations make provision—

(a) disapplying or simplifying specified requirements made by or under this Part in relation to things required or authorised to be done by authorised economic operators, or

(b) requiring HMRC to have regard to the status of a person as an authorised economic operator when considering whether or not, or how, to exercise any power or other function for the purposes of this Part.

(2) For this purpose “authorised economic operators” means persons authorised in accordance with provision made by or under the regulations.

(3) Regulations under this section may (for example)—

(a) specify the criteria to be applied in determining whether or not any person should be an authorised economic operator,

(b) specify those criteria by reference to professional standards of competence (as set by any specified person) or by reference to anything else (including the judgment of any person as to suitability),

(c) make provision for a person’s status as an authorised economic operator to be subject to compliance with conditions specified in the regulations or in the authorisation, and

(d) establish different classes of authorised economic operator.

23 Approvals and authorisations granted under regulations

(1) This section applies in relation to approvals granted to any person under regulations made under this Part (whether in respect of premises or anything else) unless the regulations in question make alternative provision.

(2) In this section references to an approval include an authorisation.

(3) The regulations under which an approval is granted may—

(a) require an application for approval to be made in a specified form and in a specified manner and to contain specified information,

(b) specify cases in which an application for approval may not be made,

(c) require HMRC to consider, within a specified period, whether or not an application, or purported application, for approval is, as a result of provision made by paragraph (a) or (b), one that falls to be determined,

(d) confer on the applicant a right of appeal to an appeal tribunal in a case where HMRC have failed to comply with paragraph (c),

(e) require HMRC to notify a person making a purported application for approval that, as a result of provision made by paragraph (a) or (b), the purported application does not fall to be determined, and

(f) make further provision about the notification.

(4) The provision that may be made under subsection (3)(d) includes—

(a) provision for an appeal to be brought only if a period specified in the regulations has ended, and

(b) provision limiting the power of an appeal tribunal to the power to direct HMRC, in a case where it is satisfied that HMRC have acted unreasonably, to consider the application as mentioned in subsection (3)(c) within such further period as is specified by the tribunal.

(5) An approval granted by HMRC is treated as if it had never been granted if—

(a) the (purported) application for approval was deficient in some respect,

(b) the applicant knew, or ought reasonably to have known, of the deficiency,

(c) HMRC consider that the approval would not have been granted if the deficiency was known at the time it was granted by the person granting it, and

(d) HMRC give a notice to the applicant under this subsection notifying the applicant of the effect of this subsection.

(6) Regulations made by HMRC Commissioners may make any provision that they consider appropriate for the purposes of subsection (5), including provision specifying cases in which the approval is to continue to be treated as still in force.

(7) An approval may be amended, suspended or revoked in cases specified in the regulations under which it was granted.

(8) The amendment, suspension or revocation of an approval takes effect from the date specified in a notice given by HMRC to the person approved (and, accordingly, does not affect anything already done by any person before that date in reliance on the approval).

(9) HMRC—

(a) may not specify a date before the notice is given unless HMRC and the person both agree that such a date may be given, and

(b) may not specify a date that falls more than one year after the date on which the notice is given.

(10) In this section “an appeal tribunal” has the same meaning as in Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the Finance Act 1994 (see section 7).

24 Rulings as to application of customs tariff or place of origin

(1) HMRC Commissioners must by public notice make provision establishing a system under which persons apply for rulings given by HMRC officers for the purpose of—

(a) determining any issue as to the code in the customs tariff applicable to any goods, or

(b) determining the place of origin of any goods for the purposes of this Part.

(2) Each of the following is an example of the kind of provision that may be made by the notice—

(a) provision specifying cases in which rulings need not be given,

(b) provision about the making of the applications (including their form, the information to be contained in them and any documents to accompany them),

(c) provision requiring the applications to be determined within a specified period,

(d) provision about the period for which, and other conditions subject to which, the rulings are to have effect,

(e) provision about the form in which the rulings are to be given,

(f) provision for the withdrawal or amendment of rulings,

(g) provision determining the extent to which the rulings may be relied on by applicants, and

(h) provision requiring any person to whom a ruling has been given to disclose that fact to HMRC.

(3) The system established by the notice must secure that an application may be made for a ruling even if an HMRC officer considers that the ruling is not, or may not be, required to resolve a doubt as to the issue being determined.

Supplementary

25 Disclosure of information

(1) HMRC (or anyone acting on their behalf) may disclose information relating to import duty for customs duty purposes.

(2) In this section “customs duty purposes” means purposes in connection with, or otherwise incidental to, the imposition, enforcement or other regulation of import duty.

(3) A person who receives information as a result of this section may not further disclose the information except with the consent of the HMRC Commissioners (which may be general or specific).

(4) A person who receives information as a result of this section may use the information only for customs duty purposes.

(5) If a person discloses information in contravention of subsection (3) which relates to a person whose identity—

(a) is specified in the disclosure, or

(b) can be deduced from it,

section 19 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (offence of wrongful disclosure) applies in relation to that disclosure as it applies in relation to a disclosure in contravention of section 20(9) of that Act.

(6) This section does not limit the circumstances in which information may be disclosed under section 18(2) of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 or under any other enactment or rule of law.

(7) Nothing in this section authorises the making of a disclosure which—

(a) contravenes the data protection legislation, or

(b) is prohibited by any of Parts 1 to 7 or Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.

(8) In this section “the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018.

26 Co-operation with other customs services

(1) HMRC may co-operate with other customs services on matters of mutual concern with a view to securing (by the exchange of information or otherwise)—

(a) the administration of the import duty system,

(b) the prevention or detection of evasion or other fraud relating to import duty, and

(c) the prevention, reduction or elimination of avoidance of a liability to import duty.

(2) Section 25(3) to (7) apply in relation to information disclosed as a result of this section.

27 Fees for exercise of functions in connection with import duty

(1) The Treasury may by regulations authorise the charging of fees in respect of the exercise of any specified function of HMRC, or of an HMRC officer, for the purposes of, or otherwise in connection with, import duty.

(2) The power may be exercised by the Treasury only if they consider that—

(a) its exercise is consistent with arrangements between Her Majesty’s government in the United Kingdom and any other government or any international organisation or authority, and

(b) the circumstances in which the specified function is, or is likely to be, exercised are such that it is fair and reasonable for the charge to be made.

28 Requirement to have regard to international obligations

(1) In exercising any function under any provision made by or under this Part—

(a) the Treasury,

(b) the Secretary of State,

(c) HMRC,

(d) the TRA, and

(e) any other public body,

must have regard to international arrangements to which Her Majesty’s government in the United Kingdom is a party that are relevant to the exercise of the function.

(2) This section is not to be read as affecting the circumstances in which any obligation to have regard to such matters would otherwise have arisen.

29 Consequential amendments

(1) Schedule 7 contains amendments consequential on the provision made by this Part.

(2) The amendments made by that Schedule include amendments dealing with—

(a) reviews or appeals of decisions in relation to import duty (see sections 13A to 16 of, and Schedule 5 to, the Finance Act 1994), and

(b) penalties in relation to breaches of requirements in relation to import duty (see Part 3 of the Finance Act 2003).

30 General provision for the purposes of import duty

The Treasury may by regulations—

(a) make provision supplementing provision made in relation to import duty by or under this Part or any other enactment, or

(b) make other provision generally for the purposes of import duty.

UK's customs union

31 Territories forming part of a customs union with UK

(1) This section applies if arrangements are entered into between—

(a) Her Majesty’s government in the United Kingdom, and

(b) the government of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom,

establishing a customs union between the United Kingdom and the country or territory.

(2) Arrangements establish a “customs union” between the United Kingdom and a country or territory if—

(a) they provide that no duty is to be chargeable by reference to movements of goods, or goods of a specified description, between the United Kingdom and the country or territory, and

(b) they provide for the same, or substantially the same, rules for charging duty on imports of goods, or goods of a specified description, from places outside the United Kingdom or the country or territory.

(3) For this purpose—

• “duty” means—

  (a)

  import duty, or

  (b)

  any duty (however described) imposed by the law of the country or territory that is of a similar character to import duty, and

• “specified” means specified in the arrangements.

(4) If Her Majesty by Order in Council declares that it is expedient that the arrangements should have effect for the purposes of import duty, the arrangements have effect for those purposes despite any enactment.

(5) In the case of a customs union between the United Kingdom and the European Union, Her Majesty may not make a declaration by Order in Council under subsection (4) unless the arrangements have been approved by an Act of Parliament.

(6) HMRC Commissioners may make regulations generally for carrying out any arrangements having effect in accordance with this section.

(7) Among other things, the regulations may—

(a) modify or disapply provision made by or under this Part or any other Act,

(b) treat anything done by the government of a country or territory as if done by the appropriate authority or person in the United Kingdom, and

(c) apply or replicate, with or without modifications, provision relating to duty under the law of a country or territory as that provision has effect from time to time.

(8) Examples of the kind of provision within subsection (7)(b) are—

(a) provision treating an agreement entered into by a country or territory as if it were entered into by Her Majesty’s government in the United Kingdom, and

(b) provision treating a system for determining the amount of duty established under the law of a country or territory as if it were the customs tariff mentioned in section 8.

Regulations etc

32 Regulations etc

(1) Regulations under this Part are to be made by statutory instrument.

(2) A statutory instrument containing any regulations to which this subsection applies must be laid before the House of Commons, and, unless approved by that House before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which the instrument is made, ceases to have effect at the end of that period.

(3) Subsection (2) applies to—

(a) the first regulations under section 8 (the customs tariff),

(b) any other regulations under that section the effect of which is an increase in the amount of import duty payable under the customs tariff in a standard case (within the meaning of that section), or

(c) regulations under section 30 (general provision for import duty purposes).

(4) The fact that a statutory instrument ceases to have effect as a result of subsection (2) does not affect—

(a) anything previously done under the instrument, or

(b) the making of a new statutory instrument.

(5) In calculating the period for the purposes of subsection (2), no account is to be taken of any time—

(a) during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued, or

(b) during which the House of Commons is adjourned for more than 4 days.

(6) A statutory instrument containing regulations made under this Part other than regulations to which subsection (2) applies is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.

(7) Any power to make regulations under this Part may be exercised—

(a) either in relation to all cases to which the power extends, or in relation to those cases subject to specified exceptions, or in relation to any specified case or description of case, or

(b) so as to make different provision for different purposes or areas.

(8) Any power to make regulations under this Part includes—

(a) power conferring a discretion on any specified person to do anything under, or for the purposes of, the regulations,

(b) power to make provision by reference to things specified in a notice published in accordance with the regulations,

(c) power to make supplementary, incidental and consequential provision, and

(d) power to make transitional or transitory provision and savings.

(9) Any power to make regulations under any provision of this Part does not restrict the width of any power to make subordinate legislation under—

(a) any other provision of this Part, or

(b) CEMA 1979 or any other enactment.

(10) Subsections (7) to (9) apply in relation to any public notice under this Part; and any provision that may be made by a public notice under this Part may be made by regulations.

(11) An Order under section 31—

(a) is not to be submitted to Her Majesty in Council unless a draft of the Order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the House of Commons, and

(b) if it revokes an earlier Order under that section, may contain transitional or transitory provision and savings.

(12) After it is established, the Secretary of State must consult the TRA before making regulations under Schedule 4 or 5.

(13) Any power of HMRC Commissioners to make regulations under this Part is exercisable concurrently by the Treasury.

Interpretation etc

33 Meaning of “domestic goods”

(1) Goods are domestic goods for the purposes of this Part if—

(a) they are wholly obtained in the United Kingdom, or

(b) they have been subject to a chargeable Customs procedure.

(2) For the purposes of this section goods have been “subject to a chargeable Customs procedure” if—

(a) the goods were declared for the free-circulation procedure and the procedure has been discharged, or

(b) the goods were declared for an authorised use procedure and the procedure has been discharged.

(3) Goods cease to be domestic goods if—

(a) they are exported from the United Kingdom, and

(b) the export is one which is required to be made in accordance with the applicable export provisions,

and the goods are then chargeable goods until such time (if any) as they are next subject to a chargeable Customs procedure.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), every export of goods is required to be made in accordance with the applicable export provisions unless an exception provided for by regulations made by HMRC Commissioners applies to the export.

(5) HMRC Commissioners may by regulations make provision for goods exported from the United Kingdom in accordance with the applicable export provisions to retain their status as domestic goods if—

(a) the goods merely pass through places outside the United Kingdom before arriving at their ultimate destination in the United Kingdom, or

(b) the goods otherwise remain outside the United Kingdom for a temporary period.

(6) The provision that may be made by the regulations includes—

(a) provision requiring conditions to be met in relation to the goods while they are outside the United Kingdom, and

(b) provision requiring the making of a declaration in connection with their subsequent import into the United Kingdom.

(7) Goods that are in the United Kingdom are presumed to be domestic goods unless the contrary is shown.

(8) The Treasury may by regulations make provision—

(a) as to cases in which goods are, or are not, to be regarded as domestic goods for the purposes of this Part,

(b) for reversing the presumption that goods are domestic goods in specified cases (so that they are presumed not to be domestic goods unless the contrary is shown), and

(c) as to the evidence which is to be required, or is to be sufficient, for the purpose of showing that goods are domestic goods.

34 Presentation of goods to Customs on import or export

(1) For the purposes of this Part, goods are presented to Customs on import if—

(a) the goods are lawfully imported into the United Kingdom, and

(b) notification of their importation into the United Kingdom is given to HMRC in accordance with provision made by regulations made by HMRC Commissioners.

(2) The time at which goods are presented to Customs on import is the later of—

(a) the time at which the notification of importation in accordance with the regulations is received by HMRC, and

(b) the time at which the goods are imported into the United Kingdom.

(3) For the purposes of this Part, goods are presented to Customs on export if notification of their export from the United Kingdom is given to HMRC in accordance with provision made by regulations made by HMRC Commissioners.

(4) The notification must be given before the export of goods unless provision is made by regulations made by HMRC Commissioners authorising the notification to be given at a later time.

(5) Regulations made by HMRC Commissioners may make provision for the purposes of this section.

(6) Each of the following is an example of the kind of provision that may be made by regulations under this section—

(a) provision requiring a notification to be accompanied by documents of a description specified in the regulations or in a public notice given by HMRC Commissioners,

(b) provision authorising a public notice given by HMRC Commissioners to make provision about the form and contents of a notification,

(c) provision authorising a public notice given by HMRC Commissioners to require notification to be made in accordance with provision made by the notice,

(d) provision requiring or authorising, in specified cases, notification of an importation of goods to be given before the importation,

(e) provision deeming a notification to have been given in specified cases, and

(f) provision requiring a notification to disclose the location of the goods.

35 Exports made in accordance with applicable export provisions

(1) This section defines for the purposes of this Part what is meant by an export of goods from the United Kingdom being in accordance with the applicable export provisions.

(2) The export of the goods is made in accordance with the applicable export provisions if—

(a) the goods are presented to Customs on export, and

(b) the export is subsequently made in accordance with a procedure provided for by regulations made by HMRC Commissioners.

(3) The regulations may—

(a) provide for the procedure to involve the making of a declaration by the person making the export or any specified person,

(b) provide for requirements to be imposed on any person at any time while the goods are subject to the procedure,

(c) make provision specifying, or otherwise determining, the period during which the goods are to be regarded as subject to the procedure,

(d) deem, in specified cases, the export to have been made in accordance with the procedure, and

(e) provide for goods to be subject to the control of any HMRC officer from a specified time.

(4) The provision which may be made as a result of subsection (3)(a) includes provision applying or replicating the effect of—

(a) any provision made by or under Schedule 1 (Customs declarations), or

(b) any other provision made by or under this Part that operates (to any extent) by reference to a Customs declaration,

with or without modifications.

36 Outward processing procedure

(1) This section applies if—

(a) domestic goods have been presented to Customs on export, and

(b) the goods are declared for an outward processing procedure.

(2) A declaration of goods for “an outward processing procedure” is a declaration—

(a) that the goods are to be exported from the United Kingdom in order to be processed outside the United Kingdom,

(b) that the processing is to take place during a temporary period at the end of which the goods are to be imported into the United Kingdom, and

(c) that the processing is to be carried out in accordance with requirements imposed on any person by or under regulations made by HMRC Commissioners.

(3) The temporary period during which the processing is to take place is the period specified in a notice given to the person making the declaration by an HMRC officer.

(4) That period may be subsequently extended (or further extended) by another notice given as mentioned in subsection (3).

(5) If goods are declared for an outward processing procedure—

(a) the export of the goods is not one which is required to be made in accordance with the applicable export provisions, but

(b) HMRC Commissioners may by regulations make provision in relation to any export under an outward processing procedure corresponding to the provision that may be made by regulations under section 35.

(6) If the processing of the goods under an outward processing procedure consists in their repair by any person without charge, the goods continue to be regarded as domestic goods but only if, while the procedure has effect—

(a) there is no breach of the terms of the declaration for the procedure, and

(b) there is no breach of any other requirement in relation to the procedure.

(7) If the processing of the goods under an outward processing procedure consists in anything else, the goods are to be regarded as chargeable goods, but if—

(a) the goods are imported in accordance with the procedure, and

(b) there is no breach of the terms of the declaration for the procedure, or of any other requirement in relation to the procedure, while the procedure has effect,

the value of the goods is to be reduced to take account of so much of that value as can be attributed to the goods as they stood before being exported.

(8) HMRC Commissioners may make regulations for the purposes of this section.

(9) Each of the following is an example of the kind of provision that may be made by the regulations—

(a) provision specifying cases in which goods may not be declared for an outward processing procedure,

(b) provision imposing requirements on any person in relation to an outward processing procedure,

(c) provision for determining the reduction in the value of any goods for the purposes of subsection (7),

(d) provision authorised or required to be made by any regulations under Schedule 2, and

(e) other provision made by or under this Part of this Act that has effect in relation to a special Customs procedure.

37 Minor definitions

(1) In this Part—

• “approved guarantee”, in relation to goods declared for the free-circulation procedure, means any guarantee given in accordance with regulations made under paragraphs 6 and 7 of Schedule 6,

• “arrangements” includes an understanding of any kind,

• “CEMA 1979” means the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979,

• “directions” means directions in electronic form or otherwise in writing,

• “guarantee” includes any indemnity, surety, security and undertaking of any kind,

• “HMRC” means Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs,

• “HMRC Commissioners” means the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs,

• “HMRC officer” means an officer of Revenue and Customs,

• “notice”, except in the expression “public notice”, means a notice in electronic form or otherwise in writing,

• “specified”, in relation to any regulations or public notice, means specified in, or determined in accordance with, the regulations or public notice,

• “subordinate legislation” has the same meaning as in the Interpretation Act 1978, and

• “the WTO” means the World Trade Organisation.

(2) In this Part any reference to a rate of duty includes a nil rate.

(3) In this Part any reference to goods being wholly obtained in any country or territory includes—

(a) any case where the goods are grown, produced or manufactured only in the country or territory, and

(b) any other cases specified in regulations made by the Treasury.

(4) In this Part any reference to the processing of any goods includes the following activities—

(a) the erection, assembly, fitting or other working of the goods,

(b) the repair of the goods,

(c) the use of the goods for the purpose of facilitating the production or manufacture of any other goods, and

(d) the destruction of the goods.

(5) Any reference in any provision of this Part to a public notice is to a notice published by the Secretary of State, or (as the case may be) HMRC Commissioners, in such manner as the person giving the notice considers appropriate for the purposes of that provision.

(6) In this Part—

(a) references to a territory outside the United Kingdom include the European Union or any other international organisation or authority comprising territories outside the United Kingdom, and

(b) expressions relating to a territory outside the United Kingdom (such as the government of a territory outside the United Kingdom or the law of a territory outside the United Kingdom) are to be read accordingly with the necessary modifications.

(7) For the purposes of this Part any reference to goods being subject to the control of an HMRC officer includes control being exercised by—

(a) requiring the goods to be handled, or otherwise dealt with, in accordance with instructions given by an HMRC officer (whether given orally or in any other way), or

(b) requiring the goods to be kept in any place specified by an HMRC officer.

(8) In the case of any reference in this Part to a person who makes a Customs declaration—

(a) the reference is to the person actually making the declaration even if the declaration is made on behalf of another person, and

(b) if a Customs declaration is made by a Customs agent in the name of the principal, the reference is to the agent despite the provision made by section 21(3).

38 Table of definitions

The following table sets out some of the expressions used in this Part, showing where they are defined or otherwise explained—

acceptance (of a Customs declaration)	paragraphs 11(2) and 13(4) of Schedule 1
the applicable export provisions	section 35
approved guarantee (in relation to goods declared for the free-circulation procedure)	section 37(1)
arrangements	section 37(1)
an authorised use procedure	paragraph 13 of Schedule 2
CEMA 1979	section 37(1)
chargeable goods	section 2
control of HMRC officer	section 37(7)
Customs agent	section 21
Customs procedures	section 3
customs tariff	section 8
directions	section 37(1)
domestic goods	section 33
export (time of)	section 5 of CEMA 1979
the free-circulation procedure	section 3
guarantee	section 37(1)
HMRC	section 37(1)
HMRC Commissioners	section 37(1)
HMRC officer	section 37(1)
import (time of)	section 5 of CEMA 1979
import duty	section 1
an inward processing procedure	paragraphs 9 and 11 of Schedule 2
notice (except in the expression “public notice”)	section 37(1)
origin (of goods)	section 17
person making a Customs declaration	section 37(8)
presented to Customs on export	section 34(3)
presented to Customs on import	section 34(1) and (2)
processing (of goods)	section 37(4)
public notice	section 37(5)
rate of duty	section 37(2)
special Customs procedure	section 3
specified (in relation to regulations or public notices)	section 37(1)
a storage procedure	paragraph 2 of Schedule 2
subordinate legislation	section 37(1)
a temporary admission procedure	paragraph 15 of Schedule 2
territory outside the United Kingdom (and related expressions)	section 37(6)
the TRA	section 13
a transit procedure	paragraph 5 of Schedule 2
value (of chargeable goods)	section 16
wholly obtained (in the case of goods)	section 37(3)
the WTO	section 37(1)