ABOUT US
RBC Customs is a premier quality international customs advisory, brokerage and compliance specialist which works alongside its sister companies RBC VAT and RBC Freight.
Our mission objective is to provide highly commercial and actionable customs advice, assisting our clients in meeting new customs obligations. With years of experience we will ensure you meet all of your requirements in a simple and efficient manner. At RBC Customs we ensure our clients are satisfied by providing a personal service which keeps customers updated and informed.
RBC Customs also provide customs brokerage services covering all the major ports in the UK including declaration requirements for Northern Ireland.
A wealth of expertise
Shaun (RBC Customs principal and director) is an international customs specialist and has 23 years of experience in the industry.
Shaun was Honda’s internal International Customs Specialist and applied his customs advisory and compliance expertise to the Honda Indirect Tax Department to provide real time customs support to a globally recognised business operating complex, just-in-time, cross border supply chains.
Shaun had many responsibilities throughout the years at Honda which gave him a wealth of knowledge and experience in different parts of the industry.
Roger (RBC Customs principal and director) has 45 years’ experience as indirect tax specialist. Beginning his career as a senior inspector with HM Customs & Excise, Roger spent the majority of the 1990’s as an indirect tax Partner at Arthur Andersen, heading up a team of indirect tax professionals working principally on international VAT and customs matters across the whole of Europe. Roger joined Ernst & Young as a Partner and, over 5 years grew his team from 0 to 35 indirect tax professionals, again concentrating on international indirect tax across the whole of Europe.
Roger founded RBCVAT in 2003 – being the sister company of RBC Customs – and has been an independent indirect tax consultant ever since. Over the course of his career, Roger has advised many global and internationally recognised businesses on a range of international indirect tax matters and has reviewed the tax filings and associated business processes of many FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 businesses.
A wealth of expertise
Shaun Hall
Director
Shaun (RBC Customs principal and director) is an international customs specialist and has 23 years of experience in the industry.
Shaun was Honda’s internal International Customs Specialist and applied his customs advisory and compliance expertise to the Honda Indirect Tax Department to provide real time customs support to a globally recognised business operating complex, just-in-time, cross border supply chains.
Shaun had many responsibilities throughout the years at Honda which gave him a wealth of knowledge and experience in different parts of the industry.
Roger Bevan
Director
Roger (RBC Customs principal and director) has 45 years’ experience as indirect tax specialist. Beginning his career as a senior inspector with HM Customs & Excise, Roger spent the majority of the 1990’s as an indirect tax Partner at Arthur Andersen, heading up a team of indirect tax professionals working principally on international VAT and customs matters across the whole of Europe. Roger joined Ernst & Young as a Partner and, over 5 years grew his team from 0 to 35 indirect tax professionals, again concentrating on international indirect tax across the whole of Europe.
Roger founded RBCVAT in 2003 – being the sister company of RBC Customs – and has been an independent indirect tax consultant ever since. Over the course of his career, Roger has advised many global and internationally recognised businesses on a range of international indirect tax matters and has reviewed the tax filings and associated business processes of many FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 businesses.
THE BUSINESS CASE FOR CUSTOMS SERVICES
On 31 December 2020 the United Kingdom’s transition period with the European Union (‘EU’) will end. From 1 January 2021 businesses who conduct trade in goods between the UK and the EU will be impacted by new Customs and Value Added Tax (‘VAT’) obligations and costs.
The UK has confirmed that it will implement and operate a full external customs border with the EU which will be introduced in three stages up to 1 July 2021. Similarly, the EU has confirmed that it will implement and operate a full external customs border with the UK, although this will involve an
immediate transition to full customs formalities from the end of the transition period.
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN NOW
Business that trade in goods between the UK and the EU should have already begun to take the necessary actions to prepare for the post-transition period trading environment, including:
- applying for a GB EORI number to move goods into and out of the UK;
- applying for an EU EORI number, if undertaking EU customs procedures;
- understanding the customs requirements for EU member states you will import into;
- if importing goods on the controlled goods list, prepare for full customs declarations from January 2021;
- if importing non-controlled goods, decide whether to delay UK customs import declarations for up to six months or submit full customs declarations at the time of import from January 2021;
- decide how to complete customs declarations, i.e. in-house or use a customs intermediary;
- apply for a Duty Deferment Account if you wish to pay customs duty, excise duty and import VAT once a month instead of on individual consignments;
- check to see if you can use a customs special procedure to reduce, defer or claim relief from import duties and VAT;
- if importing live animals or high-priority plants and plant products, be prepared to submit additional documentation and for checks taking place at the destination from January 2021;
- if exporting from the UK to the EU, be prepared to submit UK customs export declarations from January 2021;
- if exporting from the EU to the UK, be prepared to submit EU customs export declarations from January 2021;
- from April 2021 businesses importing Products of Animal Origin (‘POAO’) or a regulated plant and plant product, must be prepared to submit pre-notification and the relevant health documentation;
- from July 2021, all businesses must meet full customs requirements on all UK imports and UK exports, including preparing and submitting customs declarations; and,
- ensure you can comply with the new VAT and customs regimes if trading cross-border with Northern Ireland.
There is a substantial amount of work that businesses need to undertake to be ready for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and we can assist businesses that need to address some or all of the above.
RBC Customs builds upon the success of its sister company – RBCVAT – to provide its clients with premier quality customs-related consultancy and compliance services. Our services include:
- Import and export customs clearances;
- Customs consultancy projects such as customs compliance evaluation, EU-exit impact assessments, project management, and developing customs standard operating procedures;
- Customs authorisation applications and audit support;
and, - Customs training.
