PACK & SEND has been arranging deliveries to and from China for more than 30 years. Large, small, awkwardly shaped and valuable – because we handle every type of freight, we’re the perfect choice for your imports from China. Just complete the form here to obtain a quote.
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Paperwork Needed for Importing from China
You will need to complete the following paperwork in preparation for importing items from China to the UK:
Customs declaration – this document provides details of the Chinese goods you are importing. It can be submitted by you, your broker, or your freight forwarder.
Commodity code – this ten-digit number classifies imports to determine the rates of duty and VAT you’ll pay and any restrictions on your items.
EORI number – this is a registration and identification number required for anyone importing goods into the UK.
Import licences – while most goods don’t require a licence, some items do. These include military goods, technology, art, plants, animals, medicines, and chemicals.
The duties and taxes payable on goods from China depend on their commodity codes, as well as the overall purchase and shipping value of the shipment.
As there is no free trade agreement between China and the UK, customs duties apply to goods worth over £135. The exact rate depends on the commodity code of the goods. You can check the duty rates for each code on the Trade Tariff website.
If you fail to pay any required import duties, customs may hold your goods for about three weeks before returning them. In some cases, goods may be seized, and you could face fines.
Value Added Tax (VAT) is payable on anything imported into the UK from China. VAT is calculated on top of import duties and is charged at the UK’s standard rate of 20%, the same as if the items were purchased in the UK.
This calculation includes the door-to-port cost of shipping the items to the UK, ensuring fairness regardless of distance from the port.
If your EORI number is linked to your UK VAT number, you can reclaim the VAT on your usual VAT return using HMRC form C79.
Avoid Double Taxation You must ensure you don’t pay China’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) or any equivalent tax, as VAT is paid in the UK, and double taxation is unnecessary. Ensure your Chinese supplier does not charge you GST on the export invoice, as reclaiming it can be a complex process.
This choice depends on how much you’re shipping and how urgently you need it. If your item is large or bulky, Sea freight is usually the best option. However, you should allow around two months for your items to reach the UK from China, so sea freight isn’t ideal for urgent shipments.
If you want your item to arrive quickly, choose air freight. Flight times will be around 12 hours.
Note that smaller items may take longer to arrive via air freight because they will be part of a consolidated flight and may have to wait until a plane is full before departing.
Simple to use and cost-effective, our Online Self-Service is an alternative way to import items from China.
It offers you access to our full range of shipping capabilities at a lower price than you would pay for a bespoke solution in our service centres. Your items may be eligible if your shipment is pre-packaged and weighs less than 30kg.
Using our Online Self-Service option is quick and easy, and you can control the whole process – packing your own items, scheduling the shipment, printing the labels and tracking the cargo all the way through.