What we file
Most freight forwarders subcontract customs to a separate broker. That's where shipments get stuck — paperwork bounces between two companies who blame each other when something goes wrong. We do customs in-house, on the same booking as the haulage.
- Import declarations (EU, UK, Morocco)
- Export declarations
- T1 / T2L transit documents for goods moving under bond
- EUR.1 and EUR-MED certificates for preferential origin
- ATA carnets for temporary export (trade shows, samples, equipment)
- Excise documents for alcohol, tobacco, fuel
- Anti-dumping classification — bicycles, solar panels, steel, etc.
- HS code verification against current tariff database
EU ↔ UK after Brexit
Since 1 January 2021, every shipment crossing the EU-UK border needs customs paperwork. The most common mistakes we still see:
- Missing EORI numbers on both EU and UK sides
- Wrong commodity codes leading to incorrect duty
- Origin claims without proof — you can't claim 0% duty under the TCA without a statement on the invoice
- Treating returns like new shipments — they need RGR (Returned Goods Relief)
Full guide: EU → UK after Brexit — what you actually need.
Europe ↔ Morocco
Morocco has had an Association Agreement with the EU since 2000, which means most industrial goods have 0% import duty when properly documented. The catch is "properly documented."
What we handle:
- EUR.1 certificate for preferential origin
- Commercial invoice in French/Arabic with required ADII fields
- Packing list matching exactly
- Bank domiciliation setup for payments over €5,000
- Conformity certificates for regulated goods (cosmetics, electronics, toys)
Full guide: Europe → Morocco — routes, transit times and paperwork.
VAT and duty deferral
If you import regularly, paying VAT upfront at the port kills cashflow. We can set you up with:
- Article 23 (Netherlands) — defer 21% NL VAT to your periodic VAT return instead of paying at the port. Single biggest cashflow lever for NL importers.
- ET 14.000 (Belgium) — equivalent for Belgian importers
- PVA (UK Postponed VAT Accounting) — for UK imports post-Brexit
Setup takes 4-6 weeks for first-time applications. Once it's in place, every import lands without paying VAT upfront.