Frequently asked questions

1. What are the requirements for deliveries into Amazon FBA Centres?

FBA centres have a strict set of requirements which must be adhered to in order for the delivery to be accepted. We are very familiar with requirements for Amazon deliveries including timed delivery, palletisation and labelling.

2. Do my goods need to be palletised at origin?

We recommend palletising in the UK as we have experience in palletising and labelling in accordance to the Amazon specifications. We have found that some Chinese suppliers do not palletise to the correct specification which can cause delays as cargo would need to be reworked in order to be accepted by the FBA centre.

3. Can you insure my cargo?

Yes, we just require details of the cargo including the value of the goods.

4. Do I need to register for VAT in order to Import goods?

VAT registration is not required to import the goods. Only EORI registration is required. However, you will be required to register for VAT if your VAT taxable turnover is more than £85,000 per annum.

5. Can I reclaim VAT paid on importation?

There is a VAT reclaim procedure for VAT paid on importation. To be entitled to this you need to be VAT registered.

6. Why do I need an EORI number?

Owning an EORI number is mandatory to import into the UK. We can guide and assist you through the EORI registration process, it is a simple process and free of charge. It usually takes 3-7 working days.

7. What paperwork do you need in order to arrange my import and customs clearance?

In addition to the EORI number we need your commercial invoice and packing list.

8. How much duty do I pay?

You need to establish your HTS (Harmonized tariff code) this code can be found on the customs website https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff/sections along with the duty percentage.

9. Can you deliver to Amazon warehouses in Europe?

We are able to customs clear cargo in the UK, and then move by road freight to other Amazon centre in Europe.

10. Do you also handle returns?

Yes, we can coordinate collection and return goods to our facilities to handle as instructed.

11. Where are the various Amazon Fulfilment centres located within the UK?

There are 13 Amazon Fulfilment centres across the UK. See map below for locations.

1. VAT

VAT (Value Added Tax) is a form of consumption tax, meaning that it is only a cost to the end consumer. In the UK the standard rate is currently 20%.

2. HMRC

HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) is the department of the UK government which deals with imports and exports.

Find out more here: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/

3. EORI

The EORI (Economic Operator Registration and Identification) scheme is an European scheme introduced to improve security.

It requires all businesses importing to Europe to have a unique number which is then used by customs officials to track goods as they enter and move around Europe, including the UK.

4. Commodity Code

The commodity code classifies goods for import and export so that you pay the right tax and duty. You must have a commodity code for all goods you want to import which is declared as part of the customs declaration to HMRC.

To help you find your Commodity Code go you can go to the UK link https://www.gov.uk/tradetariff/ sections or you can visit the HMRC website on http://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff – this site will help you find your duty rate into the UK.

We will help and guide you as much as we can, but the responsibility is yours to find the correct Commodity Code for your product.

Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/finding-commodity-codes

5. Customs Duty

Customs Duty is a tax charged on importation of goods into the UK from outside Europe. It is charged as a percentage of the total value of the goods.

To work out the percentage, each type of product is given a Commodity Code. This tells you what the Customs Duty rate percentage is for that particular product. There are around 14,000 different classifications with the duty rate percentage for generally varying between Free and 12%.

6. Excise Duty

Excise Duty is a tax on certain goods such as alcohol and tobacco.