Practical customs support for goods entering Great Britain
An invoice is only the starting point. Customs preparation also depends on what the goods are, who is importing them, their origin and value, and how they will enter the country.
Dubee Agency combines customs brokerage with its digital platform so businesses can provide documents and follow the progress of their declarations. Tell us about the goods and route before the movement so we can confirm the work needed. This guide covers Great Britain; Northern Ireland has different requirements.
Start with the right importer and instructions
Provide the importer’s legal details and GB EORI, together with the documents supporting the shipment. Agree the representation and give the agent written instructions. Appointing an agent does not remove the importer’s responsibility to check the information supplied. HMRC explains the appointment process here: Read the official guidance →
What the preparation service includes
We check the importer and exporter against the source documents, together with relevant EORI details and the authority to act. Commercial invoices and packing information are the starting point for goods, values and quantities. An existing declaration can help with cross-checking, but it does not replace missing commercial evidence.
Goods descriptions and commodity codes are reviewed rather than blindly copied. Package counts, shared cartons, gross and net weights and invoice values need to reconcile. Any factual gap is raised with the party able to confirm it before an unsupported value enters the declaration.
Give the goods description enough detail
“Furniture”, “parts” or “accessories” may leave essential questions unanswered. Explain the product, its use and the material or model where relevant. Keep invoice lines connected to the correct goods and supporting documents.
If a delivery note includes goods absent from the invoice, or the package and weight totals do not reconcile, flag the difference. Do not hide it with a general description or allocate values without supporting evidence. Our document checklist (read guide) helps you assemble the request.
Understand duty, VAT and origin
Goods shipped from the EU are not automatically of EU origin or automatically duty-free. A preferential claim needs the relevant origin rules and evidence, such as an exporter’s statement on origin or importer’s knowledge. See HMRC: Read the official guidance →
Eligible UK VAT-registered businesses can use postponed VAT accounting for qualifying imports. It changes how import VAT is accounted for; it is not a VAT exemption and does not remove customs duty. Give your agent written instructions before submission if you want to use it. Eligibility guidance: Read the official guidance →
Separate preparation from release
Document review, declaration submission and customs release are different stages. Further information or an inspection may be required. Arrange transport against the actual declaration and border status, not an assumption that uploading documents means the goods are cleared.
For road freight, also establish who handles the ENS and any GMR. Read our ENS (read guide) and GVMS (read guide) guides if you are unsure which references are needed.
What happens after submission
We distinguish a submission attempt from an accepted result. Once the actual result is verified, the relevant declaration reference and documents can be provided. A prelodged declaration is not evidence that the goods have arrived, been released or completed clearance.
If there is a validation issue, rejection or request for information, we explain the next requirement. Transport arrangements should follow the actual status, not the existence of an uploaded invoice or a reference number alone.
Request customs clearance support
Send the commercial invoice, available packing and transport documents, goods description, importer details, route and planned arrival to info@dubee.agency. Tell us about licences, certificates or special procedures that may apply. We will confirm the required scope and price. Brokerage work and software access are separate enquiries; please say which you need.