BIRDS

Simplified low value imports - below £135

In addition to Simplified Declarations for Imports (SDI), BIRDS can be used to clear low value consignments with a limited frontier declaration. It has the added advantage of allowing the goods to be declared without the need to pay customs duty.

SDIand BIRDS can be used to import mixed consignments above and below £135. Assured Customs Declarations can accept data for consignments in any combination, automatically sort and declare it.

The client receives a SDI frontier declaration, a BIRDS declaration and, if required, two safety and security (ENS) declaration. These are returned within a few minutes of the data being provided and, together, they ensure a trouble free clearance at the UK border.

Benefits

BIRDS has significant benefits:

• Low value e-commerce goods below £135 per order can be cleared without the need to pay customs duty.

• The importer or their agent has to be pre-approved to use BIRDS and, as part of that process, they will have demonstrated that they have the necessary internal controls to ensure accurate declarations.  Their resultant imports, therefore, are subject to significantly less scrutiny.

• The fees that Assured Customs Declarations need to charge for the declarations that we prepare are low.

The data requirement for the declaration is very limited, i.e. the name of the declarant and a general description of the goods.  Further information on the transport used and the number of packages in the shipment must also be provided.