Can I act as my own Importer of Record in the UK?

The UK is one of the most common locations for our clients to act as their own Importer of Record. FGX encourages and facilitates our clients acting as their own Importer of Record, allowing them to save overhead costs and reclaim their VAT. However, since Brexit, you can not use entities in other European countries to act as the IOR in the UK and vice versa.

I have equipment currently in the UK and would like to return it to the US or move it to another country, can I just ship it back using a freight or courier carrier?

Short answer - no. While importing into the UK is a fairly easy process, exports are much more heavily controlled. Depending on what you are planning to ship, you may need to get a license from the online Export Licensing System (SPIRE). There are several types of licenses and it’s best to consult an experienced logistics provider like FGX for further guidance. If the proper export licenses are not in place in advance of shipping, it is very likely that the UK border force will stop your shipments.