THE Post Office is warning that packages containing gifts or goods will now need to have a customs declarations form from today as the UK exits the EU.

It has already started producing the forms online to allow people to print them off as the customs rules come into effect from January 1.

The UK’s exit from the Customs Union means that customs declarations are required.

How does it affect me?

The Post Office says that any parcel containing gifts or goods that is being sent from Scotland, England, or Wales to an EU country from today (Tuesday) should have a customs declaration form attached to it.

Despite the customs label coming into effect on January 1, the Post Office is advising anyone who sends a parcel from today (Tuesday) to attach the document to help avoid delays.

Amanda Jones, the Post Office’s retail and franchise network director, said: “We know that over the past few weeks, many people will have been preoccupied with thoughts about Christmas and the pandemic.

“Postmasters are on hand to provide practical advice, particularly to small businesses, who regularly send parcels to the EU.”

Customs forms are not required when letters and large letters containing only correspondence, commercial invoices or shipping documents are enclosed.

READ MORE: Royal Mail and Parcelforce make major changes to Christmas schedule

Around 45% of the total international parcel traffic received by Post Offices in Great Britain goes to EU destinations.

People posting a parcel from Northern Ireland to somewhere in the EU do not need to attach a customs declaration form, but one will still be necessary for parcels going to non-EU destinations.

What do I need to do?

For items worth up to £270 sent by Royal Mail, people have to complete and sign a CN22 customs label. For items over that value a separate CN23 form is required.

The Herald:

Users have to include details such as the type of goods, its value and the total gross weight of the whole parcel or package.

The forms are scanned by optical character recognition, and the Post Office say it is important to fill them in legibly, with as much information as possible to avoid delays in items being received.

The Post Office says the customs form should be on the front of the parcel or package as near as possible to the top left-hand corner but ensuring not to cover up the address.

It says the sender is "legally responsible" for the information on the customs declaration, so it’s "important to ensure that it is accurate and complete".

For items sent by Parcelforce, irrespective of value, items will require a customs declaration form which can be picked up in-branch.

Any items sent with Parcelforce globalexpress will require the customs declaration form CP72 regardless of the destination.

Parcels being sent by a Royal Mail International Tracked, Signed or Tracked & Signed service, can be downloaded and printed out from the Post Office website.

If you the item is being sent by Royal Mail International Standard or Economy, the Post Office say a visit to a PO branch is required to get the appropriate barcoded CN22 label.

Are there any fees?

The government has said that holidaymakers or online shoppers who buy items from the EU that are valued at more than £390 will have to pay customs duties.

VAT and handling fees may also apply on some items, while parcels may be held up in post offices until all duties and fees have been cleared by the recipient in the UK.

The Royal Mail says all consumers who receive goods from the EU will have to ensure they comply with customs regulations and warn they may have to pay duty, VAT or handling fees before they can pick up their package.

It is required by to present all items arriving from outside the EU to Border Force. This mail may be checked by them and be subject to customs charges.

Any charges are calculated and applied by Border Force on behalf of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). 

The Royal Mail says the charges depend on the contents, where the item came from and who sent it. Letters, postcards and parcels containing only documents are normally exempt.

For items sent through the post, Royal Mail pay HMRC any import VAT and Customs Duty on your behalf. This ensures you receive your item as quickly as possible.

The Royal Mail then send you a Fee to pay card. This shows how much you need to pay before you can receive your item. The amount will include our £8 handling fee.

Newly published government guidance on bringing goods into the UK spells out the post-Brexit rules.

Goods up to the value of £390, or £270 for those arriving by private plane or boat, will be allowed through the green channel at airports. The notice states: “If a single item is worth more than your allowance you pay duty or tax on its full value, not just the value above the allowance.”

Those importing goods purchased on a holiday or a business trip will be charged 2.5% duty on goods worth between £390 and £630, with other rates applying for more expensive goods depending on the type of good. Any amount over will incur excise duty and VAT.

There may also be VAT charges and handling fees depending on the value of the item they are sending and whether it is a gift or commercial goods, said Royal Mail.

It said: “For items under £135 (with the exception of gifts), VAT will be collected directly when they buy the goods online. For goods with a value over £135 (and gifts over £39), Royal Mail may collect the VAT and customs duties from the customer prior to delivery. These charges are applied on behalf of HM Revenue & Customs.”

The government says it is “well placed” to manage the impact of changes to customs processing which already apply to goods going to non-EU countries, adding: “We are working closely with government and other stakeholders to ensure that all cross-border mail continues to flow efficiently.”