Customs (Bonded) Warehouse

[-Cappo-]

Anyone run a Customs Warehouse? I'm trying to find out which reports of movements, amount of duty suspended, etc need to be sent to HMRC, particularly if it's a warehouse which doesn't store alcohol & tobacco but other duty-suspended goods? Been told it's a W1 but that looks heavily weighted towards the alcohol & tobacco business? Is there an alternative?

TIA.

[President Merkin]

It's been years since I worked in one but from memory, I'm sure you're right, W1 is for Alcohol & Tobacco movements, The boring but probably best answer is to get hold of HMRC (easier said than done, I know) and take their guidance.

[Muzzer79]

Complex topic

It depends on what product you are storing and where you are sending it to.

W1 is indeed related to alcohol and tobacco.

I would talk to a specialist customs clearance firm, some of whom will manage your bonded warehouse documentation.

This is one of those things in logistics that you don't mess around with and you spend the money to do it right, otherwise HMRC will come down on you like a ton of bricks.

[President Merkin]

As an aside, I once took a couple of subcontract loads of booze out of a bonded warehouse for delivery to somewhere in London, something very common in freight. Unbeknownst to me, the actual stock was subject to either carousel or export fraud, I forget which one it was but I had a couple of HMRC guys turn up at the office & go through every part of my involvement in it - which wasn't much other than supplying the actual vehicles to move the gear. It's the only occasion in twenty years trading I've blundered into something dodgy of that nature but it left me with a healthy radar when it comes to stuff involving excise duties.

[dirky dirk]

Yep i swerve it as well
my understanding is if it gets smashed you have to pay the duty onit as well?

[-Cappo-]

Thanks all for the replies. I did try to speak to HMRC but they were spectacularly vague! (as in, the person I spoke to gave the impression that they had started the job 3 minutes ago and knew less then I did).

The goods will be personal items shipped on behalf of customers on a global basis but which may be stored short-term in the UK until onward shipping, so this is to suspend duty whilst the goods transit the UK. No alcohol or tobacco or related products at all.

Customs agent is a good shout and I've asked someone else to follow that up.

Ta.