Understanding UK Customs Laws: 6 Important Customs Laws

Author: Charlie Turner
Custom law is a set of rules that is totally based on the norms, traditions, and customs of a community. Custom law is an intrinsic part of the social and economic as well as social systems of the community and native people. Custom law is not rigorous but flexible to change according to the acceptance and rejection of particular acts by a state. International custom law is called the law of nations.Here are Some Topics Related to Customs Law:
  1. 1. Cash
  2. 2. Personal allowance
  3. 3. Banned and restricted goods
  4. 4. Foreign Trade Policy
  5. 5. Anty dumping duty authority
  6. 6. Classification of the goods
  • 1. The Custom Law for Cash

When entering or leaving Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales), you are required to declare any cash amounts of £10,000 or higher to UK customs. This rule applies to all countries outside the UK and to groups traveling together with a total of more than £10,000.

  • 2. The Custom Law of the UK for Personal Allowance

When entering or leaving the UK, you are required to declare cash amounts of £10,000 or more. It is possible to make a declaration online up to 72 hours prior to your arrival. Most travelers can bring goods worth up to £390 into the UK without incurring tax or duty charges. If arriving by private plane or boat, the allowance is £270. Should you exceed your allowance, you will be required to pay tax and duty on the total value of the goods. For multi-gift packages, each individual gift must be separately wrapped, addressed, and declared on the customs declaration. Certain goods are strictly prohibited, including drugs, offensive weapons, and indecent or obscene material.

  • 3. The Custom Law About Banned and Restricted Goods

Certain items are prohibited from being brought into the UK under any circumstances, while others are subject to restrictions. Regardless of their country of origin, the following items are completely banned: illegal drugs, offensive weapons like flick and gravity knives, self-defense sprays such as pepper and CS sprays, indecent and obscene materials, rough diamonds, and personal imports of meat and dairy products.

  • 4. Foreign Trade Policy

Goods imported into the UK with a fair market value exceeding £135 are liable for customs duty upon arrival. An overall VAT of 20% is imposed on the total value of imported goods at the border. Nevertheless, some goods and services are eligible for a reduced VAT rate of 5%, while certain goods are charged at 0%. Alcohol, tobacco, road vehicles, oil, and petroleum products are subject to excise tax upon sale in the UK. The Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939, along with statutory instruments, enforce import controls as part of the UK’s national import prohibition legislation. Businesses are tasked with accurately categorizing their goods and documenting their origin. Exportation generally does not incur VAT.

  • 5. Anti-dumping Duty Authority

In the UK, an anti-dumping duty is a tariff imposed on imports to safeguard domestic industries from inexpensive imported goods. This duty is in addition to other tariffs, like customs duty, and is levied on products sold at significantly lower prices than their usual value. The usual value is determined by the prices of similar goods sold in the exporting country’s domestic market. The anti-dumping duty applies to both direct and indirect imports and pertains to specific goods from identified countries or exporters. Its objective is to equalize the cost of imported goods with the cost of domestic production. If a safeguard duty is also enforced on an import, the anti-dumping duty is adjusted so that only the higher of the two duties is applicable. In certain instances, authorities may impose a duty that is lower than the dumping margin if it is sufficient to prevent harm.

  • 6. Classification of the Goods

The custom law employs global tariffs to classify goods. The tariff is a document that comprises a product coding system. For import, a 10-digit code; for export, an 8-digit code. Tariff law is based on the World Customs Organisation. Goods cannot have the same commodity code. Footwear classification requires more details. HMRC can provide help with classifying goods.

Conclusion –

Custom law is very important for the country and for the person who is going to enter that country. There are some important rules that must be taken into account. Here we have discussed some custom laws, Customs law for cash, the Customs law of the UK for personal accounts, The customs law about banned and restricted goods, foreign trade policy, anti-dumping duty authority, and the classification of goods. Still, if you have difficulties understanding the custom laws or want to know more about them, you can go for well-versed law experts for your help.