The risk challenge of indirect tax - customs (Part I)
Mark Rowbotham
Customs, Excise & VAT Consultant, PORTCULLIS ISC, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Published 20 Aug 2023

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Indirect tax - customs duty, excise duty and VAT - while it must be paid correctly, also offers various cash enhancement opportunities, which is crucial for all organisations seeking to continuously improve their internal indirect tax function. However, the prerequisite is due diligence. In this article, we overview the host of indirect taxes and indirect tax compliance obligations and focus on the “prerequisite” by discussing risk analysis in customs control based on the rules of HRMC (the UK Customs) and highlighting the importance to achieve “low-risk” status. We also overview customs duty. In the following articles, we will discuss VAT and excise more in detail.