Customs Clearance

Enjoy a smooth journey through the formalities

Customs clearance is the necessary but complex procedure that nobody wants to have to go through, except for the 50-strong team of customs professionals at Good Logistics that is! We are here to help ensure that you never have to deal with the confusion, stress and delay involved in having incorrect paperwork. We handle customs procedures in-house for imports and exports at all UK ports and airports, with a wide range of facilities and solutions to choose from, and for businesses of any size.

We began planning for Brexit in 2017, upscaling our team and developing our tech to make sure we would be able to prepare and support customers old and new for the new customs clearance formalities. Find out more about how we can help you with the Brexit.

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“Our highly skilled team ensure that customers old and new have the “Go-To” department to ensure the continued, unfettered movement of goods to and from any location in the world, which is more important than ever for EU clients post-Brexit.“

Mike McGaughey
EU Brokerage Team Leader

Customs Clearance Services

  • Online customs declarations portal – for complete access and control
  • AEO – for fewer Checks, priority checks and fast-tracked clearance
  • Duty relief applications and processing – see if you should be paying less
    • IPR – Inward Processing Relief
    • OSR – Onward Supply Relief
    • RGR – Returned Goods Relief
    • TA – Temporary Admission
    • FC – Free Circulation
  • CFSP – Customs Freight Simplified Procedure – for faster clearance and cash flow control
  • SAD C88 – Home Use Entries
  • Direct Links to Chief and CDS
  • Badges at all main UK ports (and airports)
  • Bonded storage – only pay duty when your goods leave the warehouse
  • Strategic reviews – audits to verify tariff classification, adhere with HMRC regulations and identify any possible duty overpayments
  • Specific EU dedicated Customs team for European shipments

Don’t get caught short

When you’ve worked so hard to get your product to where it needs to be on time, the last thing you need is costly customs clearance mistakes or delays. Fortunately, our skilled professionals can identify exactly what you require to get through customs with ease. Moreover, they are supported by the technology needed to achieve this with scalable precision – growing with your business.

Speed up your customs

Looking to shorten your lead times? Make sure you work with an AEO-accredited customs partner who can fast-track your consignments through customs clearance controls, thereby giving you the advantage of fewer checks as well as priority checks. 

Want to make sure you always have accurate paperwork? We offer both manual and automated customs portals so nobody has to worry about whether the correct paperwork is on hand.

Find out more

Simplify your logistics

Our customs clearance services are available as a stand-alone service or as a bolt-on to our other third-party logistics services, including bonded warehousing, and sea, air and road freight forwarding. You can skillfully streamline your logistics and reduce your costs by outsourcing all your logistics activity to our multidisciplinary team.

Your EU partner post-Brexit

Whether you are facing EU customs for the first time or integrating new tasks to your automated systems, Good Logistics has a team of customs clearance experts and a range of digital solutions to suit all needs. We have a fanatstic EU Customs team who can take care of all your customs requirements. 

Find out more about EU Customs

“We have used the services of the John Good Logistics team for a number of years and they have always gone above and beyond to meet our requirements. With a proactive can do attitude they have supported us through the Brexit process and ensured we have met our customer needs.”

Kiddylicious

“We have been partnering with John Good Logistics for over 10 years. They have always provided a proactive and consultative approach to the management of our supply chain; we would certainly recommend their services.”

First Line

“We have worked with John Good Logistics since we began trading in the UK, their service as been reliable throughout, and the staff always happy to help”

Chris Cordingley

Giti Tyres

“The professionalism of the team at John Good Logistics has been displayed at every opportunity presented.”

Perkins

“Their knowledge, skill and commitment, plus their enthusiastic attention to our business needs is always exceptional and considering how complex and demanding we are as a business, with our variety of different products, they do a thoroughly professional job for us.”

Chris Thompson

Head of Procurement – Indirect Purchases, Marshalls Plc

“What we love about Good Logistics is the personal touch they provide – it is like they are part of our team.”

More success stories

Other logistics services you may be interested in

We also offer other logistics solutions designed to help you make moving your goods from Point A to Point B a breeze.

Air freight

Sea freight

Road freight

Warehousing and Distribution

Frequently asked questions

How much import duty will I need to pay?

The amount of UK duty you need to pay to successfully complete the customs clearance process will depend on the declared value of the goods and the type of product you are importing. On the other hand, the total VAT due is calculated on the basis of the total cost of your goods, plus the shipping cost and UK duty. You pay VAT on the full cost of getting your products into the UK, rather than the cost of buying them from the supplier.
You can check the online tariff at www.gov.uk/trade-tariff. However, this can be quite time-consuming. If you need any advice from a freight forwarding expert, give us a quick call and we will provide you with guidance tailored to your requirements.

How do I avoid delays when transporting goods from EU member states?

To avoid unnecessary delays at customs, make sure that the following information/documents are ready when importing and transporting goods from EU member states:

  • Correct trailer number
  • Number of packages
  • Correct UK port of arrival
  • Name of ferry operator
  • Commodity code

If you need any help obtaining this information, please feel free to contact our team of customs clearance experts and we will do our best to assist.

What is a commodity code?

A commodity code is a numerical code used to classify goods for import and export. It helps to ensure that the correct amount of tax, VAT and duty is paid. The UK commodity code comprises 10 numerical digits, while its EU equivalent has 8 digits. You can find the commodity codes to use at https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff.

Are you an AEO-accredited company?

Good Logistics is an Authorised Economic Operator or AEO-accredited company. As such, we can guarantee that your goods are always in safe hands during the customs clearance process.

What are the advantages of choosing an AEO-accredited freight forwarder?

Choosing an AEO-accredited freight forwarder can give you peace of mind knowing that your shipments will be processed quickly and efficiently. Consignments handled by AEOs are fast-tracked through customs controls. They are also given priority over those handled by non-AEOs when selected by customs officials for inspection, ensuring a faster and smoother shipping and customs clearance process.

I have deferred import declarations under EIDR and now need to make a declaration to HMRC. Can you help?

As part of our customs clearance solutions, we can help you set up a deferment account if you need to make an import declaration to HMRC. Alternatively, you could choose to use our deferment account which is available for a small fee. Whatever you decide to do, you can count on Good Logistics to provide you with the expert guidance you require.

Do you import goods subject to sanitary and phytosanitary controls from the EU?

Yes we do, provided that the goods have the necessary certifications. Otherwise, they might encounter customs clearance issues. For instance, if you are trying to import plants into the UK, you must ensure that they have phytosanitary certificates or ‘plant passports’ issued by the Animal and Plant Health Agency. If you have any further questions about this matter, feel free to contact us at any time and we will provide you with all the information you need.