Inwards Processing & Customs Warehousing

Inward Processing & Customs Warehousing

Inward Processing and Customs Warehousing allow businesses to manage imported goods under special customs procedures, with the potential to suspend customs duty and import VAT while the goods remain under the relevant regime. Bacsoft supports businesses operating these procedures, helping manage customs declarations, stock movements and the records required to maintain compliance with HMRC requirements.

Our proprietary customs automation platform is designed to support the management of these regimes, providing traceability throughout the lifecycle of goods held under customs control. This includes entry to and removal from customs warehousing, Inward Processing activities and the tracking of serial-numbered or volume-based assets. By combining customs expertise with automated record management, we help businesses maintain visibility of their goods, meet their authorisation requirements and make effective use of the duty-saving opportunities available.

What We Handle

Our Inward Processing and Customs Warehousing services support businesses with customs declarations, stock management, regime compliance and record keeping throughout the lifecycle of their goods.

  • ✓Declarations to place goods into customs warehousing, and to remove them when released to free circulation, re-exported or moved on
  • ✓Declarations and records for inward processing
  • ✓Full lifecycle traceability from entry to discharge
  • ✓Stock management for serial-numbered and volume-based assets
  • ✓Guidance on whether a public or private customs warehouse suits your business
  • ✓Support with authorisation applications and guarantee requirements
  • ✓Proof of origin checks when goods leave the procedure
  • ✓Records that match your declarations, and support during HMRC checks or audits

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about import customs clearance.

It lets you store goods imported from outside the UK in an approved warehouse and delay paying customs duty and import VAT until the goods are released for free circulation in the UK.

It allows customs duty and import VAT to be suspended on eligible goods that are brought in to be processed and then re-exported, which helps UK businesses compete on the world market.

Yes. HMRC authorisation is needed for both customs warehousing and inward processing. For customs warehousing, HMRC describes public and private warehouses. Which one suits you depends on whether you store only your own goods or goods for other businesses.

HMRC may ask for a guarantee to cover the duty and VAT that is suspended, unless you are an Authorised Economic Operator or can meet the AEO conditions. We can explain what applies.

The depositor, who places goods into the warehouse, must be established in the UK. Goods can include those liable to customs duty, excise duty or import VAT.

HMRC's guidance expects goods to arrive at the warehouse premises within 5 working days of the declaration being cleared, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Customs warehousing and excise warehousing are different regimes with different rules. Tell us what you store and we will explain how they interact.

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