Purpose: Read some important notes on shipping between the UK and the EU with Sendcloud. Use our checklist as a guide ensure that you take the necessary steps when moving goods between these two countries post Brexit.
This article provides general information about moving goods between the United Kingdom and the European Union after Brexit. We recommend that you always check the official requirements and regulations with the responsible authorities and agencies, as well as the transport conditions of the carriers. If you need tax advice, please consult your tax advisor.
Important notes
With Sendcloud, you can only ship from the United Kingdom (from a UK sender address) if your business is based in the UK, that is to say, if your invoice address is located in the UK. This means that only UK Sendcloud accounts will be able to see UK carriers.
See example
Your business is based in the UK. The invoice address that you entered in Sendcloud is located in London. You opened a UK Sendcloud account. Although our platform may allow you to create a sender address in the Netherlands, this will not work. If you try to create a shipment from your Dutch sender address, no carriers will be visible.
Similarly, you won't be able to ship from an address in one of the countries that we support within the European Union if your business is based in the UK. This means that, if you are a merchant based in the UK, European carriers and shipping methods will not be available in your account.
See example
Your business is based in the Netherlands. The invoice address that you entered in Sendcloud is based in Amsterdam. You opened a Dutch Sendcloud account. Although our platform may allow you to create a sender address in the United Kingdom, this will not work. If you try to create a shipment from your UK sender address, no carriers will be visible.
Checklist for shipping
Step 1: Check your VAT process
Read our article on International shipping: VAT & EORI numbers to learn how to add your VAT numbers to your Sendcloud account so that your customs declarations are complete.
European Union (EU) > United Kingdom (UK)
If you are supplying goods to UK customers from a country in the EU, they are liable for VAT. Most shipments with a value higher than £135/€150 will attract VAT. You must ensure your VAT number is present on all documentation necessary for crossing the border.
For orders not exceeding €150 in value, VAT must be collected at the point of sale and is therefore the seller's responsibility. This means the seller will be required to register and account for the VAT to HMRC in the UK. The VAT paid by the buyer must be stated on the invoice.
To ship from the European Union to the United Kingdom, you need both your national VAT number and an extra UK VAT number. Check the official website for the UK government to read all the necessary information.
United Kingdom (UK) > European Union
If you’re an e-commerce merchant that is based in the UK and the place of supply of your service or goods is in an EU country, you do not pay UK VAT. For some supplies of goods you may need to register and account for VAT in the EU country that the customers you are selling to are located.
If you are a UK business selling products to EU customers that are below £135 in value, you may consider registering for the VAT Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) Scheme, which streamlines the entire VAT process and makes it easier for you to collect, declare and pay VAT. Check the UK Government's webpage to learn how the IOSS scheme works and how to register. If the value of the goods you are exporting to the EU exceeds €150 you should adhere to the normal import rules on VAT.
To add your IOSS number in Sendcloud, log into your account and go to Settings > Addresses > Sender > Click the pen icon > Enter the number under the section Do you ship to the EU? and click Save.
Read this guide on Dispatches of goods from Northern Ireland to the EU, and charging VAT if you ship from Northern Ireland.
Step 2: Apply for an EORI number
Read our article on International shipping: VAT & EORI numbers to learn how to add your EORI numbers to your Sendcloud account so that your customs declarations are complete.
European Union (EU) > United Kingdom (UK)
To ship from a country in the EU to the UK, you need an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number from your country, and an additional UK EORI that starts with "GB". To apply for a UK EORI number, visit the official website for the UK government.
United Kingdom (UK) > European Union
To ship from the UK to the EU, you need an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number. Visit the official website for the UK government to apply for an EORI number.
Please note that you may also need an EORI number starting with XI if you move goods to or from Northern Ireland.
Step 3: Choose the right Incoterms
For orders below £135, the seller is responsible for tax. This means that you will have to choose a shipping method that uses the Incoterm DDP (Delivery Duty Paid).
For orders above £135, it is up to the seller to decide who is responsible for tax. If you don't want to collect the tax, make sure to choose DAP (Delivered At Place).
Step 4: Consider adding insurance upon label creation
If you want to protect your shipments against damage or loss during transport, consider adding our Sendcloud insurance to your parcels.
Read our article Insurance: Sendcloud Shipping Protection (XCover) to find the terms and conditions, and learn how to add insurance and start a claim.
Step 5: Take possible surcharges into account when choosing the shipping method and carrier
Carriers may apply special surcharges for moving goods between the EU and the UK. Make sure to check the transport conditions and list of surcharges of the carrier that you decide to ship with. If you ship at Sendcloud rates, you can visit our Carriers page for all necessary information.
Step 6: Prepare all the required customs documents
All goods must be declared. Keep in mind that certain goods, such as medical equipment, electronics or food, may be subject to restrictions. These restrictions may differ per country so make sure to check regulations with official authorities.
When you ship between from the EU to the UK or vice versa, a commercial invoice and a certificate of origin are always required. If you ship with a postal carrier, you need to include either the CN22 or the CN23 form, depending on the weight and value of your package. Read our article How to generate your customs documents in Sendcloud for more detailed information about the different documents and requirements. You will also find instructions on how to download or print them with Sendcloud.
You may also want to consider using Paperless Trade to share your customs documents electronically with the carrier.
Shipping from the UK to the EU
If you are exporting items that require a license you need to include a C and E83A "Exported by post under HMRC Control" label.
Moving goods between Northern Ireland and the EU
There are no declaration requirements for goods moved directly between Northern Ireland and the EU. Find out more information.
Step 7: Claim preferential rates of duty
The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement secures zero tariffs and quotas on goods moving between the EU and UK, provided those goods meet the rules of origin (RoO). To benefit from the TCA Zero Tariff, businesses must show the origin of their goods. A product qualifies as "originating" if it is "wholly obtained" in the UK and EU, or has been substantially transformed in one or both markets.
To add the country of origin in the Sendcloud panel, go to the Items section of an incoming order or in the manual shipment form and fill in the details, including the HS code.
European Union (EU) > United Kingdom (UK)
First, register in the Registered Exporter System (REX) for consignments of € 6 000 and above. Secondly, make sure that your products comply with the rules of origin by reading Chapter II of the EU-UK Trade Cooperation Agreement agreement as well as the Annex.
If you qualify for zero tariff, you must include the following statement on the commercial invoice in one of the EU languages:
Click here to see the text of the statement on origin
(The footnotes don't need to be reproduced)- (Period: from___________ to __________ (1))
The exporter of the products covered by this document (Exporter Reference No ... (2)) declares that,
except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of ... (3) preferential origin.
…………………………………………………………………. (4) (Place and date)
……………………………………………………………........ (Name of the exporter)
(1) If the statement on origin is completed for multiple shipments of identical originating products, indicate the period for which the statement on origin is to apply. That period shall not exceed 12 months. All importations of the product must occur within the period indicated. If the statement on origin is for one shipment, the field may be left blank.
(2) For an exporter located in the EU, put your REX number (for consignments above € 6 000);
(3) Indicate the origin of the product: the Union.
(4) Place and date may be omitted if the information is contained on the document itself.
United Kingdom (UK) > European Union
To comply with the Rules of Origin, there has to be some production in the UK. For more details, read the FAQs on Tariffs and Rules of Origin (ROO) in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement prepared by the UK government.
If you qualify for zero tariff, you must include the following statement on the commercial invoice:
Click here to see the text of the statement on origin
(The footnotes don't need to be reproduced)- (Period: from___________ to __________ (1))
The exporter of the products covered by this document (Exporter Reference No ... (2)) declares that,
except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of ... (3) preferential origin.
…………………………………………………………………. (4) (Place and date)
……………………………………………………………........ (Name of the exporter)
(1) If the statement on origin is completed for multiple shipments of identical originating products, indicate the period for which the statement on origin is to apply. That period shall not exceed 12 months. All importations of the product must occur within the period indicated. If the statement on origin is for one shipment, the field may be left blank.
(2) For an exporter located in the United Kingdom, this will be the number assigned in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable within the United Kingdom
(3) Indicate the origin of the product: the United Kingdom.
(4) Place and date may be omitted if the information is contained on the document itself.
Useful resources
Sendcloud
→ How to ship internationally with Sendcloud
→ Sendcloud's Post-Brexit Guide: Hassle-free Shipping
→ Video tutorial on how to master international shipping
Other official sources
→ Import, export and customs for businesses: detailed information prepared by the Government of the UK
→ Annex 3: Text of the origin declaration (all languages)
→ Export goods from the UK: step by step
→ Exports from the UK, sending goods abroad and charging VAT
→ Access2Markets: Statement on origin
→ Dispatches of goods from Northern Ireland to the EU, and charging VAT