Please see below the verbatim message we have received from HMRC related to the forthcoming changes to Alcohol Duty from 1st August 2023.
At the Spring Budget 2023, the Chancellor confirmed changes to the structure of the Alcohol Duty system, creating standardised tax bands for all alcoholic products based on alcohol by volume (ABV). These changes take effect on August 1st 2023.
Changes to Alcohol Duty
We are writing to make you aware of steps to take if you submit import declarations through the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) and make declarations using commodity codes linked to alcohol for consumption. These will be codes starting 2203, 2204, 2205, 2206, and 2208.
For any pre-lodged declarations, or declarations you make through CDS on or after 1 August 2023, you may have to change the information you include for:
- Tax Types for Data Element 4/3 of the Customs Declaration Service.
- National additional codes to declare with Data Element 6/17 of the Customs Declaration Service.
What you need to do for declarations on or after 1 August 2023
- Make sure the new 300 series tax type is used in declarations. Declarations using codes from the 400 series will be rejected on CDS.
- Use the new X300 series for national additional codes. Any declarations using codes from the X400 series will be rejected on CDS.
The exception to the above changes is for supplementary declarations. Those with an accept date prior to 1August 2023 will be allowed to use the 400 series and X400 codes until they are cleared.
What you need to do for pre-lodged declarations
You will need to cancel or amend any pre-lodged declarations in CDS that are expected to be cleared on or after 1 August 2023 to use the 300 and X300 codes. You will only be able to do this from 1 August 2023.
Please read the guidance on how to cancel or amend a declaration on CDS on GOV.UK.
How to get more support
You can find more information about the Customs Declaration Service and Alcohol Duty from 1 August 2023 on GOV.UK.
