Importers have to meet many requirements to bring goods into the UK from any other country. And after Brexit, the UK has some new import and export policies. Therefore, if you are considering importing from China to the UK, it is better to have a clear understanding of these requirements and policies.
Also, if you know the time and cost range of the entire import process, including customs charges and shipping, you will be able to roughly estimate the cost of your products as well as the import cycle. It’s critical to your business.
Table of Contents
- Have an Economic Operator Registration Identification (EORI) Number.
- Check Import License and Product Restriction.
- Register with the CHIEF system to Declare Your Imports.
- Able to Include Full Details on All the Invoices and Labels.
- Use the Right Commodity Code for Your Imported Goods.
- Pay the Required Customs Charges (Import Duty & VAT).
- Decide Who Will Make Customs Clearance & Transportation.
- What to Do after Confirming the Product You Want to Import?
- Product Labeling and Marking Requirements (CE & UKCA).
- Shipping Method, Cost, and Time from China to the UK.
- Top Products that Are Imported from China to the UK.
Ensure that You Have an Economic Operator Registration Identification (EORI) Number.
UK customs use an EORI number to record imports and exports. Similar to an EU EORI number, but it is issued by the British Customs Authority (HMRC) and is only valid in the UK. You’ll need an EORI number to clear your goods through UK Customs, even if you use a freight agents.
From January 1, 2021, when you move goods into Great Britain (England, Wales, or Scotland), the UK customs only accept an EORI number starting with GB, for example, GB123456789000. If you already have a non-GB EORI number, you’ll need a new one. You can validate your GB EORI number here.
While moving goods into Northern Ireland, you need an EORI number that starts with XI. To validate non-GB EORI numbers, you can check here.
HMRC allocate EORI numbers. After submitting an online application to HMRC using your Government Gateway account, you will get a GB EORI number immediately, or within 5 days if HMRC needs to check your application, and XI EORI also within 5 days. More information for your application, you can get here.
Check if You Need a Licence and that Your Goods Aren’t Banned from Importing to the UK.
Before you try to import from China to the UK, it is essential to check if there are any import controls on your goods. The goods subject to import controls are firearms, anti-personnel mines, and certain nuclear and chemical goods. Know more information about import controls, please read Open General Import Licence – December 2020 (PDF).
Apart from import controls, for peace and security, the UK has import sanctions on arms embargoes and trade restrictions.
Though there are import controls and sanctions, for most industrial goods, you don’t need an import licence to bring them into the UK. But ensure to obtain one if your products are under control, like firearms, torture equipment, etc. It is issued by DIT’s Import Licensing Branch (ILB).
If you want to check whether there are any licences, certificates, and restrictions on your products and find out how to get one, visit the Department for International Trade.
Register with the CHIEF System to Declare Your Imported Goods.
Freight forwarders, importers, and exporters use the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system to submit an electronic declaration, input customs data, automatically check for errors as well as calculate payable taxes and duties. The CHIEF system also identifies which of your consignments need documentation or examination, thus allowing for a faster entry for low-risk goods.
If you hire a freight forwarder or agent to handle all your shipment woes for you, then he should do this registration for you. However, if you manage shipping by yourself, ensure that you have registered with CHIEF to declare your imported goods.
Ensure that You Can Include Full Details on All the Invoices and Labels.
Details of the receiver and sender should be in all the invoices and labels you use. Other details include the quantities of goods and their value, a complete description of the imported contents, and the commodity codes. Make sure that your invoice is typed and avoid making manual changes.
Use the Right Commodity Code for the Goods You’re Importing.
Commodity codes in the UK are 10-digit numbers to classify goods for import and export. It adds 4 other numbers to the international 6-digit HS code. You should use the right commodity codes if you want to:
- find out the right rates of Customs Duty and import VAT
- complete declarations as well as other paperwork
- Check if there are any duty reliefs
To find the correct commodity code for the products you are importing from China, you can go to The UK Integrated Online Tariff.
1. If you already have the name or the commodity code of your goods, you can directly enter them on this Trade Tariff tool to get more information about your products. Or you can look for your product on the A–Z list.
2. If you’re not so sure about the name of your goods, you can browse the goods classification. Choose the section, chapter, heading, the commodity step by step to select the commodity code that best matches your goods.
No matter which way you use, you will finally get the commodity code you want. If you cannot find the right commodity code for your goods, please contact HMRC for help.
Pay the Right Tax and Duty for Your Goods.
Find Out What Tariffs And Taxes You Need to Pay.
Import Duty
Import duty, or customs duty, is subject to goods from outside the UK to GB (England, Scotland, and Wales), or from outside the UK and the EU to Northern Ireland, if they are:
- excise goods of any value (tobacco and alcohol)
- non-excise goods worth more than £135 (including gifts)
The rate of customs duty depends on the types of goods and the country of origin. But the tariff rate of gifts valued from £135 to £630 is 2.5%, and lower for some goods.
Value-Added Tax (VAT)
VAT is also levied on goods sent from outside the UK to GB (England, Scotland, and Wales), or outside the UK and the EU to Northern Ireland, the same as customs duty. You will need to pay VAT to the delivery company if your goods are:
- Gifts worth more than £39
- Any items valued more than £135 (except goods exempt from VAT)
- Excise goods of any value
The VAT rate also depends on the types of your goods and services. In most cases, the standard VAT rate is 20%. For some goods and services, like children’s car seats and home energy, you can apply a reduced rate (5%). A zero rate (0%) is for goods such as books & newspapers, and children’s clothes & shoes.
You must pay VAT if you are VAT registered and ensure you pay any pending VAT fee that is due, but you can claim it back through your VAT return.
Excise Duty
In addition to customs duty and VAT, the UK also charges excise duty if you import alcohol or tobacco from outside the UK.
You can also use the commodity code to check the rate of excise. For example, 2204101100 is for Champagne, and excise is 3.8115 GBP/l.
Here I’ve made a chart to make a simple summary so that you can have a clearer idea about what duties and taxes you need to pay for different products in different value ranges.
Look Up the Rates of Duty and Tax.
After knowing the types of duty and tax you need to pay, you may want to check the relevant rates. Again, you can use the UK Integrated Online Tariff to look up rates of duty and tax. Just enter the right commodity code of your products, you will get the rates of import duty, import VAT, and excise (if any).
Meanwhile, it will tell you if your product is applicable to any tariff preference for the trade agreement between the UK and the country you are importing. Customs charges are unavoidable as it is required by law, but if there is a tariff preference, you can apply it to reduce your tariff. And a “Third country duty” means no tariff preference.
For example, if you want to import parasols from China to the UK, you enter the commodity code (6601 1000 00) on the tool and you will get the following information:
- The customs duty rate is 4.00 %.
- The import VAT rate is 20%.
- No chargeable excise duty and applicable tariff preference.
Calculate the Tax and Duty (Live Example).
For common imports from China, the UK charges customs duty and VAT on your imports. After knowing what duties and taxes you need to pay, you’d better know how to calculate the charges. It can help you estimate your costs and check if there are any mistakes when you are paying.
Customs duty is due to the value of goods + freight and insurance.
VAT is levied on the value of the goods + freight and insurance + any customs duties and taxes.
For example, now you are importing sun umbrellas from China to the UK, the value of goods is £10,000, and the freight and insurance cost is £4,000. The customs duty rate is 4.00 %, the VAT rate is 20%, and no chargeable excise duty, as we searched above.
The customs duty fee payable = rate * (the value of goods + freight and insurance cost) = 4% * (£10,000 + £4,000) = £560.
The VAT = rate * 20% * (the value of goods + freight and insurance cost + customs duty) = (£10,000 + £4,000 + £560) = £2,912
Thus, the import prices, or the landed cost, you need to pay for importing products to the UK generally consist of: cost, insurance, freight, duty, and standard VAT of 20%, which is £17472 (£10,000+ £4,000+ £560+ £2,912)
Free Import Duty Calculator
Import duty calculators are good tools to save time and energy and make calculation much easier. Take the calculator on UK Integrated Online Tariff as an example.
First of all, visit the UK Integrated Online Tariff and enter the right commodity code. Then click tariff duty calculator and enter the information as required:
- The date the goods will be imported
- The destination (England/ Scotland/ Wales/ Northern Ireland)
- The country of origin
- The customs value of the goods in GBP (the value of the goods & freight & insurance)
Check the information you enter and click “Calculate import duties”, you will get the calculation details, as the below picture shows.
Except for the calculator on UK Integrated Online Tariff, there are other import duty calculators on some non-government websites. But these tools may limit the number of times you can use them, require you to send an inquiry or become a member of their websites, need currency conversion, or not update rates timely. Thus, the calculator on UK Integrated Online Tariff may be more practical for you.
How to Pay Customs Charges in the UK?
The UK customs will let Royal Mail, Parcelforce or the courier company contact you if you need to pay any VAT, duty or delivery charges (handling fees) to receive your goods. They will send you a bill and tell you what and how many fees you need to pay. And you will have about 21 days to pay the bill. Otherwise, you can’t receive your goods.
If you receive a “Fee to Pay” card from Royal Mail, you can pay online at the Royal Mail payment webpage. But make sure you have a UK credit or debit card ready, or you can pay with PayPal.
If you receive a Parcelforce “Fee to Pay” card, please visit Parcelforce to pay online.
Or, you can go to the address on the “Fee to Pay” card to pay the charge and collect your items.
Brexit: Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA)
Before Brexit, you must pay for the import VAT first when clearing your goods through customs, and then recover it later through your quarterly VAT Return.
But after Brexit, the HMRC has implemented PVA since January 1, 2021. This means that you only need to record the import VAT amount on your customs declaration and then pay the actual VAT based on your sales later, rather than paying it upfront at customs clearance.
Pay attention, you still have to declare and pay VAT on time. The VAT declaration process remains unchanged, requiring sellers to provide full and complete sales data.
PVA applies to any imports from other countries to the UK, except the EU into Northern Ireland. So if you import from China to the UK, certainly you can apply for PVA.
If you hire a freight forwarder, then you don’t need to apply PVA by yourself. You can entrust your freight forwarder to choose PVA on your customs declaration. But they must use your EORI number or VAT registration number.
Decide Who Will Make Customs Clearance and Transport Your Goods.
You can hire a freight forwarder to help you, or just do it by yourself. But most of our clients will choose the former because customs clearance is complex. You can consult them about the custom limits of imported goods. They will give you advice on all the aforementioned and handle everything about customs clearance and shipping for you, thus making importing from China to the UK hassle-free and simple. Except for freight forwarders, customs agents or brokers can also help you deal with customs.
What to Do after Confirming the Product You Want to Import?
After the above steps, you are eligible to import and able to estimate your importing cost.
The next step is finding a manufacturer from China. You can find them through Chinese business websites, markets, and fairs.
If you’re just starting up with a small order and don’t want to go all the way to China, you can find online suppliers, such as Alibaba, AliExpress & DHgate, Global Sources, Made in China, etc.
Also, you can choose a sourcing company in China, like Jingsourcing, to help you deal with the whole importing process. They can help you overcome the language barrier and the lack of importing experience and attach great importance to your business.
However, if you have experience in importing goods from China to the UK and you want to dig deeper into a certain product category, it is advisable that you go to China and visit a large-scale exhibition or a wholesale market to find a cooperative supplier.
Labeling & Marking Requirements
The CE Marking
Essentially, the CE mark is a label that shows an item is compliant with all the applicable directives from the CE or EN. Products that are not regulated by these directives shall not be marked with the CE label. This mark is to be affixed to the product unit as well as its user instructions and packaging and should be done by the Chinese supplier.
However, keep in mind that your supplier may not always be aware of the specific labeling requirements applicable to the product being imported. Therefore it is essential that you offer your supplier affixing position, dimensions, and graphical files on the product.
Some EU directives of a CE marking
EN 71: Toy safety directive – This not only regulates toys but also other children’s products. It is used to regulate physical and mechanical properties, flammability, heavy metals, and chemicals. EN 71 is an umbrella standard that can be divided into 13 different ones. It also stipulates the requirements for graphical symbols such as age warnings.
Low voltage directive (LVD) – This applies to electronics and electrical components that have an input or output of 50 to 1000 volts AC and 75 to 1500 volts DC. Because of this, the LVD requirement covers a myriad of products including home appliances, cables, sockets outlets, and chargers with an exception of battery-powered devices.
European echo-design directive – applicable to domestic electrical appliances, light bulbs as well as non-electrical products such as insulation materials, this was put in place to decrease the emission of greenhouse gases.
Machinery Directive (MD) – This is applicable to machinery as well as interchangeable parts and equipment excluding motor vehicles and a wide range of consumer electronic appliances.
RoHS 2 – restrictions of hazardous substances – This restricts the amounts of certain substances in electronics such as mercury and lead. Even though they’re a few exceptions this labeling requirement is compulsory for all electrical items with a CE mark.
Radio equipment directive (RED) – This is used to regulate telecommunication and radio equipment such as Bluetooth and WiFi receivers and transmitters, radio, wifi routers, and some smartphones and android tablets.
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – This directive whose aim is to make sure that electrical equipment does not interfere with other signals and electronics, is only applicable to fixed electronic appliances like LED displays.
Brexit: Using the UKCA Marking
After Brexit, the UK established the UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) system to replace the European CE Marking for goods sold in the GB (England, Scotland, Wales). It covers most of the goods that once require the CE marking. To check if your product needs a UKCA marking, please refer to the relevant product legislation.
The UKCA marking came into effect on 1 January 2021, but you can still use the CE marking before 1 January 2023, unless your CE marked goods can’t meet the UK requirements.
For example, if you have existing stock only with CE marking but meet UK requirements, you can still sell them in the UK until 31 December 2022.
All in all, you’d better apply for the UKCA mark as soon as possible, in case there are any new adjustments between EU and UK requirements.
When affixing the UACK mark to your product, it must be legible and clearly visible. If not, you should affix it to the packaging, user manual, or other relevant documents. The exact rules depend on the specific regulations. You can download UKCA mark image fills from Department for International Trade.
Noted: CE Marking will continue to be recognized in Northern Ireland. You can not place the imported goods only with UKCA marking on the Northern Ireland market.
Shipping from China to the UK
China is located about 7, 775 kilometers away from the UK, and this distance is longer when the route is defined by water bodies. When it comes to shipping products from China to the UK, you can choose sea freight, air freight, rail freight, or express, depending on your shipping needs.
Sea Freight
Sea freight uses ships to transport goods between ports in different countries and regions. It is definitely the cheapest way to transport your products from China to the UK if ignore that it is slow and takes longer.
It is usually about 24 days from port to port, plus 1-2 days to unload from the ship and take out of the container, and about a week for customs clearance and delivery. In total, you may need to wait about 40 days to get the goods.
Therefore, if you are not in a hurry to get your bulky goods from China to the UK, sea freight is undoubtedly the best method of transportation.
When shipping your goods by sea, you can choose FCL (full container load) or LCL (less than container load). FCL means that the whole container only holds your cargo and you don’t need to share the container with others. On the contrary, LCL means several clients use the same container to hold their cargo. FCL or LCL, which is right for you? It depends on whether your cargo can fill the whole container, your shipping cost, your time, etc.
Air Freight
The fastest way for your cargo to reach the UK from China is through air freight. It is faster, more punctual and safer, thus can greatly shorten the delivery time.
Direct flights from Chinese airports to UK airports can arrive within 24 hours. If it needs to transit in other cities, the time will be a little longer. It usually takes 5-15 days shipping from China to the UK by air, including pickup, transportation, customs clearance, and delivery to you.
But the cost of air freight is high, normally 4 to 6 times more expensive than sea freight.
So, if you want a quick shipment and your budget is adequate, or you need to ship sensitive or valuable cargo, air freight is a good option, especially when your cargo is about 300-500 kgs.
Railway Freight
For shipments from China to the UK, due to geographical reasons, the railway cannot reach the UK directly. The so-called railway transportation is also transited from other countries. This will increase the shipping time, usually about 30 days, and the shipping cost is between air freight and sea freight.
Express
Known to provide bulk services for every process involving importation, express services ensure that your product is delivered to your doorstep. DHL China to the UK is among the most trusted carrier companies together FedEx, TNT, and UPS. Express is usually for small-batch goods and normally takes 5-7 days.
Top Products Imported from China to the UK
You may also be very concerned about the products often imported into the UK from China. According to Trading Economics, here I will list some for your reference:
- Electrical, electronic equipment
- Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers
- Furniture, lighting signs, prefabricated buildings
- Miscellaneous chemical products
- Toys, games, sports requisites
- Vehicles other than railway, tramway
- Plastics
- Articles of iron or steel
- Articles of apparel, knit or crocheted
- Articles of apparel, not knit or crocheted
- Optical, photo, technical, medical apparatus
- Footwear, gaiters, and the like
- Other made textile articles, sets, worn clothing
The End
It is safe to say that importing from China to the UK is quite simple and straightforward. With the help of this guide, you should be able to understand the basics of importing from China to the UK, the rules and regulations, evaluating costs, and choosing the right mode of transport for you. Also, remember that hiring a professional freight forwarder is a smart thing to do. If you have any questions, feel free to CONTACT US, or leave a comment below.
Hi,
I would like to import glassware from Tianjin port, I am just starting the business.
The amount I want to go initially is quite bulky, 60 cartons of 60x45x40, what is the cheapest way to bring it to UK,also what tax do I nee to pay?
Thanks.
Hi Alex,
You’ll ship 60 cartons of 60x45x40(cm), a total of 6.48 CBMs. It is good for you to ship them by sea. As for the import duty, you can search for the HS code of glass on this GOV website: https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty, the HS code corresponds to its duty rate, and then according to the formula: Import duty= duty rate * declared value of the goods, you can get the tax you should pay.
I am looking to import 11 Kayaks from China to the UK (Edinburgh port) for my family and my sister’s family. I’m not buying for profit and have no company. I have been advised that I have to use a freight agent to import them can anyone offer advice on how to do this and what company may be able to assist.
Thanks
Hello,
I want to ship packaging from China to the UK for my business. It is paper packaging, boxes and a gift bag. We are ordering 100 x boxes and 200 x gift bags. The total cost comes to $355 for the products and an extra $550 for the shipping. So $905 in total which equates to £656 at the current exchange rate. I am struggling to figure out the duties on importing paper packaging. Would you be able to help me understand the total duties and VAT due on this import?
Is there a standard import duty % for paper packaging?
Is VAT always 20% from China?
Thanks so much – really appreciate your help!
Hi Courtney,
Forgive me to reply you so late, maybe you’ve found the answer. Firstly, you can check the HS code of paper packaging on the UK government site: http://www.gov.uk. And the HS code is related to the materials of products. For example, the carton you purchased, their main material is paper. I did a search and found the HS code https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/sections, which showed 20% VAT and 0% duty. Import duty= duty rate* declare goods value. As for VAT and duty rate, which may be slightly adjusted according to the country’s policies and economic conditions. Generally, there is little change in the duty rate for some regular goods. You should pay attention to your official government website to get real-time and accurate information or consult some reliable forwarders. I hope my reply is helpful to you, Courtney. If you have any other questions, let me know by leaving messages.
I have recently relaunched my clothing business. When previously importing clothing from China, the supplier arranged shipping directly to me, and the courier invoiced me the import tax on arrival to the UK. I understand things have changed now but am struggling to understand exactly what tax/import duty I will need to pay.
Also, my new supplier has offered two options for shipping – “not including tax shipping cost by air 6-8 working days”, and “including tax shipping cost by air 8-12 working days). They have said to me the second option is slower but cheaper as includes tax. Can you advise on this at all? It seems the preferential option as won’t take too much longer, but I am unsure on what tax would be included and if there would still be additional tax/duty charges when the clothing arrives?
I have been searching the internet on this for a couple of days now with no luck as any advise is great! Thank you in advance
Hi Hollie,
Let me know your cargo volume and the shipping methods recommended by your supplier.
Hi I want to buy a android tab only cost £60 what is duty cost? How much will be?
1 piece? Just ship by express, no tariff.
Hi i want to print some stickers in china and ship them to the uk where im based. Im not vat registered because my turnover isn’t over 80k a year. So do I still need to pay vat? Also i looked up self adhesive materials on the government website for import duty costs and it says i need to pay 0% as in noting i guess, it gave me the code 4821101000 for printed self adhesive, i guess that includes stickers don’t you think? And that means i need to do noting as far as import duties go right? Thanks for your article and in advance for any assistance you can give me. Thanks
Hi Angus,
Sorry to reply to you so late, I found your message just now.
Generally, all importers are required to pay UK duty + VAT. As for “my turnover isn’t over 80k a year” you mentioned, I’m not clear about it. I think you should confirm with your VAT tax authorities. As for the exact HS code of your sticker products, you should check with the freight forwarder to make it clear. After all, I don’t know about your product, so I can’t provide you with an accurate code.
Hello
I want to import the electric scooter for food delivery from china to the UK, please advice
Hi Harry,
Send us an email and tell us more details.
I want to import ladies bikes from MADE IN CHINA from Tianjin – they are doing it on FOB terms.
How or what do i do when it arrives in the uk as i have no experience in this field – first time venture
Can some one advise me on what i can do or who i should contact to help me once it arrives in the uk
Very very helpful your info
Hi
I am looking at importing Kegarator refridgerators from China, can someone advise me on the dutys and other charges please
I would like to import goods to sell on Amazon and have them shipped direct to the Amazon warehouse, can someone please contact me for advice as I am completely new to this. Thanks
I have never imported before n want to import motorbikes and buggies from China how do I go about it
Thank you for your advice I have been getting items from China for 2 years now and I have learned the hard way now I have 2 shipping agents in China and one in the UK don’t ever let suppliers sort out shipping for you as then your get stuck with all kind of charges and always ship fob terms the only problem I have is finding suppliers in China for the items I need could you help
Can you recommend/advice who i should use when importing good from China supplier to my front door please?
3pallets weighing 845kg
I have an order under production in China – it now looks like it will not be sent until January 2021 – will the price of import duty into the UK increase due to Brexit?
Hey Caroline,
It’s hard to say, that depends on the actual Brexit date and corresponding import and export tariff policy at that time. If you are concerned, pay close attention to the related news and ask the forwarder about the details.
Hi
Could someone please tell me what is exactly required when importing goods from China. Ima new to all this?
Either as an individual or as a company, you can import from China, Tracy. The easiest way, you just find a Chinese reliable supplier from some China wholesale websites, such as Alibaba, AliExpress, Global source，Made in China, DHgate, etc. Most China suppliers can help you arrange shipment to your country port or to your door. You can consult with your suppliers any question about importing from China. You can try to buy some goods in small quantities for the first time.
Before then, you can check my importing from china guide, which covers all the knowledge related to importing from China. I bet you’ll benefit a lot. And we, the leading sourcing company in China, can help you find factories, get competitive prices, follow up production, ensure quality and deliver products to your door. If you need help, feel free to contact us: [email protected]
i have never been asked to pay vat or duties when i buy from a Chinese company called WISH
Hi There! Thats a very helpful content for us importers, I would like import some stuff from China to UK, could you please contact me?
Thanks
Hey Inder
Email us: [email protected]
What is the safest way to pay a Chinese company we are looking to import from?
Hi Matthew,
If your suppliers are from Alibaba, you can use trade assurance. Buyers can get 100% payment protection if the supplier breaks the on-time shipment or product quality terms of your contract.
Hi I want to import tents from china to the uk by breaking them up into smaller parcels so that it’s cheaper, how do I do this please?
Hi, I would like to import furniture from China, can you tell me if this is an easy process. I note that on the made-in-china website, the sellers state a minimum order, if the minimum order from a seller is 20 can it be 20 different items from same seller or 20 of the same items per order. Thanks in advance.
Hi, Tracey,
One of my supplier is produce furniture in China, Maybe I can help you.
Hello.
Very interesting article.
Could you please advise the easiest way to import food products from China to UK .
1000kg monthly.
Thanks
Hi everyone
I love to importing electronics part and electronics tools, phone ,television and some other devices of electronics from China to Nigeria
This is my first time and I need someone that can teach me how to do it, how to pay for it and how to get it
Really explained all the small bits that I couldn’t seem to understand in order to join everything up. Very informative and really useful
Hi,
I am interested in importing motorcycles from China to UK and from China to Pakistan.
As this is the first time I’m doing this could you please give me some advice?
Great article. I need to bring ebikes in from a supplier in china to the uk I need help with shipping and costs.need to find a quicker way than 5 to 8 weeks thanks
Hi I am considering ordering 1 garden awning from alibaba in China they are willing to ship to Felixstowe UK from china for 128 USD what will be the additional costs I will incur is it only VAT and Import duty? the cost of the Awning is only 130USD
Hi,
I am planning to import duvet set, fitted sheet and pillow pairs from China to UK.
What duty would I have to pay or is there A duty relief?
Any advice would be very helpful.
Thanks
Thank you! This is very helpful. I am looking for air freight company that can bring my goods from China to UK. Could you please recommend any company you know that is into this. Once again thank you very much for this great article and looking forward to more.
Thank you for liking our article. For shipping company, maybe you can check freightos.com to find some shiping companies.
Hi
My plan is import 200 coconut soap dish from China, to UK – London. The supplier can send it with Fedex. Can I ask what is the process which I need to go through to receive the goods? The item cost me 256 usd and shipping 108 usd
Regards
Peter
If I were to import a food product into the UK from China is it straightforward?
Hello, i am looking to import a container of hardware items and could do with some assistance, if someone could reach out to me about the process of collecting the container, that would be much appreciated.
Hi Daniel,
Sorry for my late reply, our customer service will contact you today.
Hi, I want to import 6.5hp petrol engines from China to the UK.
Please contact me to elaborate on how to get this done
Thank you
Hi Anthony,
Sorry for the late reply, our customer service will send an email to you immediately. if you still need the engines or some other goods, please reply to the email, our customer service will arrange an agent for you, who will help you contact suppliers.
Hi .
Great article many thanks . I do have one question what if I want to order a container of different goods just for personal use. What taxes do I have to pay ? Or what paperwork I don’t or I do need extra ones ?
Thanks
Thanks, Paul,
Firstly, different countries have different tax standards. The taxes are also based on the price of each kind of your goods. You can search on Google to find your country’s website for import taxes, if you can’t find one, you can ask the local customs for help, they may know which website is. You can check the approximate taxes for each of your goods.
Secondly, you don’t need to prepare much paperwork, the suppliers and the freight forwarders will help you prepare.
Thirdly, sourcing agent is the best choice. We can help you handle all the problems, like finding suppliers, dealing with paperwork, arranging the production process, and some transportation issues. You can submit a ticket to us if you need any help, https://jingsourcing.com/submit-ticket/
Hello, I’d like to import a few laptops from a supplier just to see if there are any good and I’m not sure how much shipping and taxes that I would have to pay on these as I will be selling them online just on eBay though.
Thank you,
Ryan
Hi Ryan, I don’t think importing laptops is a kind of good business, unless the laptops are second-hand, or some non-brand ones（the ones with the bad quality so you can’t control easily）. The sea freight is definitely not suitable unless the volume of your goods reaches 2 CBM (almost 200 laptops), this amount is obviously too big for you. Express is more suitable if your goods are imported to American, it costs about 6-7 US dollars one kilogram. About the taxes issue, you can search on Google, you can search your local website for checking import taxes, you can do some research on that.
Hi , i want to import spares and parts for e scooter , the total cost is 900£ . i have eori as an individual what else need to do before i order it ? ( i don’t have company )
Hi Ilias, as far as I know, if you have an eori number, you don’t need anything else. Or you can make it sure through your supplier, he may have any cooperating freight forwarding. You can also find a freight forwarding in your country, if you need to do anything else, they will tell you.
Hi
I need to import some stuff from China. Please contact me so we can discuss it further.
Hello, what are the stuff you want to import? please send more details to our customer service, we will reply to you as soon as possible. the email is:[email protected]
Awesome article! Do you provide any help for all those bureaucracy procedures?
Hello, we have cooperated freight forward to deal with your question. please send more information to our email: [email protected], so that we can help you. Thanks for your comment.
Hi I am going to drop shepingto Amazon can tell what I have to do.
Hello, Balwir, Our customer service will contact you soon, let you know more about our company’s drop-shipping mode.
Hi. Great post. Thank you. I am looking into importing kiddies plastic slides/ swings. How, and what tips could you provide for the forwarding when arrived in UK. Can I choose which Port? If I could choose then personal collection (Liverpool) would certainly be an option.
Thanks for your support. Our customer service will send an email to contact you soon.
Hi, I want to import wedding decorations/stages from china. How much would it cost to send to UK as these are very heavy and big. Thanks
yes, we can help you import this kind of product. Our customer service will send an email to contact you soon.
HI, great article! I’m looking to import golf training aids and accessories. Is there any releife for these goods and what would the cost/taxes be? Prices seem low for the goods but it seems that with all the taxes the price really increases meaning that the costs are not as low as first seem?
Hi Paul, thanks for your comment, about tax and price information, our customer service representative will contact you and provide help.
Hi, i sell wooden doors, and i want to start shipping wooden doors from china to uk.
How much would it cost to ship 20ft container wooden doors to uk and do i need licence to import doors?
What are process?.
Thanks
Hi Olawale, thanks for your inquiry, about wooden doors info, our customer service representative will contact you by email and help you.
Hi, I am a beginner in online business. I am planning to import some beauty product from China and sell in eBay. Do I need to register a company? Or what are the documents that I need for import?
Much appreciate.
Thanks in advance.
Ram,
If you want to know about what you should do to sell beauty products on eBay, you can contact the platform customer service directly. And if you want to source some beauty products from China, we can help you. we will contact you by email. Please pay attention to your email inbox
Thanks for all this comprehensive information
You are welcome. Thanks for reading our post ^_^
Hi, I know someone asked already , but could you please explain again , do you need any sort of documents when a whole seller from China is sending me alcohol based hand sanitizers to the UK. They are seen as flammable items. Secondly with Covid19 is import allowed to UK .
How to find shipper in China for shipping to UK .
I don’t wNt yo place order and it gets stuck in custom in china or UK .
Thank you,
Jay
Hi Jay, thanks for your inquiry. Importing Hand sanitizers with alcohol usually need documents and need to have a good ability to clear customs both in China and the UK, which id especially strick in this special period.
Great Article! How about importing electrical good from China? Duty category? do they need CE approval as above?
Thanks for sharing.
Hi JJK, thanks for your inquiry.Which electrical good do you need to import?And how many and value are they? I’ll let our customer service to email you to know more to help you
I would like a procedure to inport e bike from china door to door and inclusive of all fees .. if you coul help
Thanks for your comment, our customer service will reply to you soon.
Hi,
Thank you for this brilliant article. Will the weight of products increase the overall UK duty tax? I am also struggling to understand how one would be able to clear customs, please could you advise?
Hi Bill, the duty tax will be calculated according to the product value, usually we have our cooperated freight forward to help us clear customers.Our customer service will email you to help you in detail
Great summary – thanks for sharing the article
Thanks for your comment, Colin.
Hi. How about the dropshiping from China. Do I still need to pay UK duty, etc.?
Thank you
Hi Przemyslaw, thanks for your comment. What product do you need to do dropship? We can check the duty cost for you according to your product variety and order amount. Later our customer service will send an email to discuss more details with you
Hello sir I want to start my bisnes to buy things from Alibaba to bring them in uk and sell
Them most of them they are items white kit teeth do I need to have any precisely licence for this I’m gonna order around 3 or 4 boxes and the amount of money it’s around 3000 paund and I’m gonna have any problem about the items as they are for teeth
Hi Flori, thanks for your inquiry. Our customer service will soon send an email to assign our agent to support your product need
Thank you so much for this article/blog. Lots of sound advice and information.
Thanks for your comment, Sunday. We will keep creating more informative srticles.
Is it currently allowed to import medical masks from China to UK?
Hi Aleksieva, thanks for your comment. It is allowed to import medical masks from China to UK, but you need to clear customs by yourself. If you need to import the face masks, we can help order for you.
How can I contact you?
Hi Alekieva, thanks for your inquiry. Our customer service will send an email to contact you later soon
Hey Aleksieva, if you need any help about importing from China, feel free to email us: [email protected]
Yes, please
Hi Alexkieva, thanks for your inquiry. We’ll email you soon to know more about your needs
Hello,
I need some knowledge about UK customs, how do I clear them by myself and how muxh will it cost?
Hi Gitanas, thanks for your inquiry. We can help you check UK customs and related costs. What product do you need to import to UK? Our customer service will send an email to discuss more with you
Hi, I know someone asked already but the answer wasn’t clear. do you need any sort of documents when a whole seller from China is sending me alcohol based hand sanitizers to the UK. They are seen as flammable items. The items are on their way just don’t want to have any problems with custom. Thank you
Hi Steven, I have asked our customer service to contact you via email. He will answer your questions. Please pay attention to your email inbox.
hello . can i also see that email ? i want to import also few bottles .
Hi Johnny, thanks for your inquiry. Our customer service will email you soon to support your bottles need
Hi,
Please can I also receive the email as I have the same question.
Many thanks!
The EU website has a database with full details by HS Code for this sort of problem. It is huge. One of the many things we will lose with Brexit. (There is no UK equivalent, too big and expensive, also privatisable).
Very impressive info about the process of importing from china to UK. Thanks for sharing it in a detailed way.
Thanks for your comment.
Hi,
Do i need a licence or registration to import alcohol hand senitizers and cleaning products from china.
Hi Adeel, you don’t need lience or registration but it can only imported to European and American countries.
Hello, I am looking at importing 10 advertising boards that can be pulled by a bicycle from China to Glasgow, Scotland and starting a rental business. I have contacted the seller on Alibaba and they have quoted me $1450 for the 10 units and $200 for shipping. I am happy with this cost and I am now trying to find some answers about what the additional costs will be. Am I right in saying that I’ll need to pay a destination port cost (London), taxes, vat and delivery?
This will be my first time importing so it’s completely new to me.
Does the seller organise the delivery from London to Glasgow for me or do I need to organise this myself and if so could you recommend some companies please?
I will look on the UK government website for a code for the products and I will register for an EORI.
Thank you for your time,
Cameron.
Hi Cameron, since the supplier has quoted you the shipping cost, you can ask your supplier if the shipping fee includes the taxes or other else. If not, you can ask him to give you an inclusive quotation.
I did and they said that I would need to organise this myself. I looked on the UK government website for a code but couldn’t find a good match so I will need to email them to help.
Hi Cameron, you can check your product’s HS code to figure out the tax, and if you can’t find a code, it is okay to type in the same material products since HS code is decided by material.
Hello, I’m thinking of starting up as an eBay reseller importing goods from China but I’m very new to this and just doing some research, if for example I wanted to import some iPhone charger cables to the U.K. worth roughly £150/200, how much would this cost in custom charges etc? Thank you for any help you can give.
Hi Matthew, you can ask a freight forwarder to quote you the customs clearance fee. And we can also help you ship the products with a competitive price. If you need help, please submit a ticket to let us know.
Hello, thank you for your reply, that’s helpful, I just wanted to find out really if my package was only worth £150 £200 would there be any customs charge? I’m brand new to this and don’t know if it needs to worth a certain amount before any extra charges are added? Thanks again.
Hi Matthew, there will be customs charge and the courier company will tell you the fee and if you look for a freight forwarder, he will quote you the price.
Quick question: We are VAT registered and located in Canada.
If I Air Express from China to our 3rd party warehouse, I am unclear on who/when the Import VAT is paid? If we just ship through DHL – how do we pay the upfront 20% owed on the shipment
Hi Gary, does the 20% you mentioned refers to the deposit of your goods? If you import the products on your behalf, then you need to pay VAT. And if don’t, you can ask the third party warehouse or the freight forwarder company to do that.
Thank you for the useful article. I am just starting to import electronics products of a value of 400 Pounds MAX, do I need EORI number as well as other things you have mentioned?
Do I need to register as a “company” to be able to import and sell on online platforms?
Hi Jonas, you’d better register as a company if you need to import goods. And you need to register an EORI number only once, then it is available in Europe countries.
Hi Jonas, you’d better register as a company if you need to import goods. And you need to register an EORI number only once, then it is available in European countries.
Hello
I loved the article, but although this very detailed I find it hard to understand.
My idea is to bring some electronic products (watches, video cameras) and / or home products, clothes, etc. to resell them on platforms like EBUY or Amazon. I do not want to buy large quantities and I thought it was much easier to import them. But after reading your article it seems almost impossible to do so.
I do not have a company, it’s something I want to try as a way to earn some extra money and therefore the best solution may be to contract the services of a freight agent.
The doubts I have are:
1. How can I get an agent and know that they are not scamming me?
2. If I get the agent how many of these permissions that you are talking about in your article will I need?
This is a really good article. Impressed by JingSourcing. Wish you had an office in the UK to handle paperwork at this end.
Hello, I am considering as a new small start-up venture of importing cycling equipment (power meters) from Chine to Uk. I have located a manufactory/supplier. Each unit is valued at $575 ($530 for unit + $45 for shipping DHL air). I want to start small (importing max of 4 units at a time) and then as sales increase look to import more. I have been on the UK Gov site to locate the code. I can’t find a specific one but decided to use the sports category and located code 9506999000.
My question, is there a max amount you can order/import from Chine before having to pay any duty/tax? How does it work for small start-up businesses who are not importing large quantities and low value?
Many thanks, Paul
Hi, thanks for your comment, Under normal circumstances the duty is 30% of the value of the total amount. If you are importing to UK， the max amount before duty is under $12.
Learning even small detail in exporting in different country is important to ensure that you will not be mistaken with their law.
Definitely! You can’t be more careful with details in importing business.
Do I need any licence to import a fashion jewelery from China?
If you are doing small business, you don’t need to worry much about certifications or permissions.
What you need to know is what type of certification that the custom in your country needs for custom clearance. In this case, you can inquire your freight forwarder who help you with the import process.
On the other hand, if you are selling the product on an online platform like Amazon, you also need to inquire them if they need any certification for selling.
Otherwise, you don’t need to provide anything.
But if you are doing tens of millions of dollars of the peal business, it will be quite different, you need to inquire some experts in this industry for related permissions.
Hi i am a startup buisness and plan to bring steel in from china to do my work
If i get a freight forward company do i need to register as an importer etc or do they take care of all that the freight forward company and just send me one bill at the end for me to pay.
Kind Regards
Bryan calder
Hi Bryan, you don’t need to register as the importer, the freighter forwarder will help you process the various documents.
Thank you very much for your information .1 more question does a container go on value of goods or weight for taxing
Hi Bryan, the tax depends on the value of goods.
this is not easy trying to get people to find out the cost to get it to the port size of boxes ,some companys tell me you have not bought enough steel as you need to fill a container really ,Then you have companys who need drawings ,This is great reading everybodys problems glad its not just me!!!!!!!!
Hi Bryan, thanks for your comment, if the number of your goods can’t fill a container, you can find a freight forwarder to help you.
Hello,
I am interested in importing a car from China to UK. can someone please reach out and help me with the process.
Hello,
I am interested in importing a car from China to UK and the same one from China to Pakistan. The cost of car is around $4000. can someone please reach out and help me with the process.