Sending parcel to N.Ireland?

[Lucan Unlordly]

The Windsor agreement, means we have to tick a couple of boxes when using Parcelforce in order to comply with customs etc., if sending business to business, but not so business to private individual.

The questions we have are whether a volunteer run charity led Youth Club is classed as a business and what category the trophies and awards we send fall into?

I cannot get a definitive answer from Parcelforce who 'think' it ok but................

Anyone throw some light on this?

 

[Scalloway]

I am treasurer for a couple of small voluntary groups and the Bank of Scotland have decided we need business bank accounts so in their eyes a voluntary group is a business.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I am treasurer for a couple of small voluntary groups and the Bank of Scotland have decided we need business bank accounts so in their eyes a voluntary group is a business.

.........are you sure it's not because there is no middle option? That if a voluntary group wants eg., two signatories then they have to have a 'business' account, if in name only?

 

[Scalloway]

The Bank of Scotland used to have free accounts for voluntary groups but the stopped that about a yeara ago.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I would put them as the lowest value for personal use as there is no commercial activities involved

 

[paulears]

It seems to have settled - B2C postage via royal mail's combined RM/parcelforce system to NI is trouble free now. B2B - which also seems to cover B2C when delivered to business premises, is a bit more tricky - but doable. No customs forms at all for B2C

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

It seems to have settled - B2C postage via royal mail's combined RM/parcelforce system to NI is trouble free now. B2B - which also seems to cover B2C when delivered to business premises, is a bit more tricky - but doable. No customs forms at all for B2C

Thanks Paul. I've got that far but looking for surety which I'm not getting. What happens when a consumer asks us to send to their business/work address for example?

 

[paulears]

Royal Mail's system gives you a prompt about is this a B2B, if you say yes - difficult when the customer wants a VAT invoice to say no - you then get the screen that requires the product code, and I now have a set of useful ones for my products that work. The difference is the extra documents that then get produced with the price you entered. Not a total pain. Certainly not enough of one to make it less worth doing.

 

[scstock]

This can't be right? – I clearly remember Boris Johnson telling Northern Ireland businesses they can put customs declarations forms “in the bin” because there will be “no barriers of any kind” to trade crossing the Irish Sea.

https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-johnson-contradicts-own-cabinet-on-northern-ireland-trade

 

[campbeji]

Hi,

Being from Northern Ireland I can tell you that it can be a pain to get stuff sent to us. I have a couple of suppliers that just stopped selling to NI because of the problems.

So there are two things to think about EORI number which you need to give to your supplier to allow them to send products to us, and then there is a UKIMS no which is to stop you having to pay customs duties (as long as the product isn't at risk of entering the Eurozone)

If your client has an EORI and a UKIMS number, then you don't have any problems, as long as they are not sending it into the South of Ireland.

I have a supplier who marks all of his shipments at a value of less than £135 and there has been no issues. I have talked to loads of companies about this, and I can confidently says that none of them have understood the rules and how to apply them.

The government website explains it all, if you read it, then you can learn everything you need to know, sort off, it seems to assume that you have a background in import/export or are some sort of expert. For example, if I buy goods from a supplier in England and then I 'process' them and sell them into the Eurozone, then there are no customs duties to pay, but try to find a definition of 'process' and you'll get frustrated. I have had definitions from repackaging right up to it being a part of a manufacturing process.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. Get their EORI and UKIMS and it'll be OK. Mind you, they probably don't have them. If they are regular clients tell them to get them, EORI first which is quick and easy, UKIMS next which for me was neither quick nor easy.

If they are not a regular client then do what most people do and put it through as a B2C sale.

Good Luck
Jim

 

[campbeji]

This can't be right? – I clearly remember Boris Johnson telling Northern Ireland businesses they can put customs declarations forms “in the bin” because there will be “no barriers of any kind” to trade crossing the Irish Sea.

https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-johnson-contradicts-own-cabinet-on-northern-ireland-trade

Lol, you don't go around believing politicians, do you?

 

[scstock]

Lol, you don't go around believing politicians, do you?

Not populists like Johnson or Farage but sadly many did, and continue to do so. You may have missed the sarcasm i intended ( there really should be a special typeface for sarcasm/irony)

It's a small consolation that only five years ago some were talking of Johnson being a 10-year PM, now he is an irrelevant has-been.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

If they are not a regular client then do what most people do and put it through as a B2C sale.

Thanks for the insight Jim..........and it's your last comment where the issue lies as we cannot get any cast iron answer regarding the sending of trophies - in this case Medals - direct to the customers residential address who's the leader of a volunteer led sports club.

When we select the product type 'Medals' they come up as collectors items with those of zoological, botanical, numismatic etc., etc., interest! Put in Trophies and it comes up with Statues and other ornaments? Medals aren't either!

Where do I find the proper classification?

 

[Customs Geek]

Try artificial jewellery in classification 7117 for medals , im assuming they are not gold or silver.
According to tariff notes the expression ‘articles of jewellery’ means:

a. any small objects of personal adornment (for example, rings, bracelets, necklaces, brooches, earrings, watch-chains, fobs, pendants, tiepins, cuff-links, dress-studs, religious or other medals and insignia)