It sound difficult but understanding it can save your business weeks of paper work and thousands of pounds in custom duties. As a customs broker in Birmingham with hands on experience handling customs documentation in the UK, Beyond Logistics regularly help the local businesses navigate this ATA Carnet process. This guide breaks down everything you need to know.

What Is an ATA Carnet?
An ATA Carnet is an international customs document that enables organizations to bring goods in or out of a country temporarily and exempt from duties or import VAT on the condition that the goods will be returned to their home country within a certain time frame (up to 12 months). It can be regarded as the “passport for goods” that allows your products to enter and leave the country without any customs fees, as long as they come back home.

This system has an international recognition and at present covers over 80 countries, thus providing a practical alternative for the temporary trade of UK businesses with the EU, USA, as well as parts of Asia and the Middle East. It was developed to make the process of temporary importation easier, and it is one of the most effective ways of temporary exporting from the UK.

When Do You Actually Need One?
An ATA Carnet doesn’t apply to every shipment; it only applies to shipments that are temporarily leaving the country. The following are the most common circumstances when a Birmingham business uses an ATA Carnet:

Trade Shows and Exhibitions
If your business is participating in a trade show in Germany, Dubai, or the USA, your merchandise, equipment, and marketing materials get covered by an ATA Carnet without having to pay any customs duties.

Professional Equipment
A photographer, film crew, engineer, or IT professional who is traveling outside the country to perform a service usually brings equipment such as cameras, computers, or other items and then transports them back home. In that case, a Carnet would save you from paying duties on equipment you don’t intend to sell.

Commercial Samples
A sales person transporting commercial samples which are shown to potential overseas buyers may also use a Carnet, but only if they aren’t sold and are transported back into the UK.

Sporting and Cultural Events
Musical Instruments, sports equipment, and art works used during performances, competitions and exhibition typically qualifies for Carnet.
In case your merchandise is intended to be sold, consumed, or left in the destination country, then a carnet would not work for you. You’ll be needing a standard export customs documentation instead.

This is where speaking with an experienced import export agent in Birmingham before you ship anything makes a real difference.
How the Process Works

The process of acquiring an ATA Carnet involves several steps:

The application is filled out through London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (a body responsible for issuing ATA Carnets in the UK), listing all the items, their value and serial numbers (if necessary).

A security deposit or a guarantee in case something happens needs to be provided and paid in advance–usually a part of the total value
of the goods.

Every time the goods are transported through a border, there should be stamps of customs
officers from the UK and the destination country put into the Carnet.

Once the goods are returned back to the UK within the validity period, the Carnet should be discharged.

Mistakes at any of these steps like missing stamps, incorrect good descriptions or late returns may result in the loss of the security deposit or in the retroactive payments of duties. That is why it is much better to seek for a professional help in this matter rather than performing custom declaration process individually.

Post-Brexit Changes in Customs Clearance Processes for UK Businesses
Since UK left the EU, ATA Carnets have become considerably more relevant for British exporters. Goods crossing from the UK into EU member states no longer enjoy free movement of goods, which means post-Brexit customs help is now a common need of firms that used to freely move their equipment into Europe without much trouble. If your company sends its employees or equipment into Europe on a regular basis, carnets can save you from unexpected VAT and duty charges.

Why You Need Local Experts
Applications for carnet and customs compliance might be hard to deal with for small to medium sized businesses handling this process for the very first time. Documentation errors are among the major reasons why the process gets delayed, and delays are expensive. Working with a freight forwarding partner in Birmingham that knows how to handle this documentation process will mean the difference between a smooth experience and an unnecessary expense.

We at Beyond Logistics, located in Birmingham provide assistance with complete customs clearance in Birmingham to firms in the West Midlands area, including information about the use of carnets, commercial invoices, and other services associated with customs compliance.
In our Beyond Logistics office, we assist companies from West Midlands in customs clearance process in Birmingham that includes advice on using ATA Carnet, commercial invoice filling, and overall customs clearance consulting. No matter, if it is the first time you plan to go to an international trade exhibition or you ship international cargo regularly, we will try to make it cost and time efficient.
Get Professional Assistance with Your ATA Carnet

If you need to temporarily export your goods and you are not sure if an ATA Carnet is necessary for your business case, don’t hesitate to ask our professionals for assistance. Incorrect use of temporary export documentations can result in duties, fines or even delays with your goods being held at customs.

Feel free to contact us now on +44 (0)121 318 7888 to discuss your needs with our customs documents experts or visit our website beyondlogistics.co.uk for more information regarding our international freight forwarding and customs clearance services in Birmingham and West Midlands area.