Guarantees
Provides information on how to set up guarantees and when to use them.
A guarantee is a financial security, such as a cash deposit or an undertaking from a bank or insurer, to cover a customs debt. In some cases, HMRC require guarantees to cover some or all of the duty that is suspended while goods are under TA.
If applying for a full authorisation to use Temporary Admission in Great Britain, you will not need a Customs Comprehensive Guarantee (CCG) unless HMRC tells you one is required when you apply.
If applying to use Temporary Admission in Northern Ireland, you will be required to provide a CCG.
More information on Customs Comprehensive Guarantees can be found at apply for a customs comprehensive guarantee to cover customs debts.
When using Authorisation by Declaration, a refundable guarantee is normally required. You can give HMRC a guarantee using a:
- duty deferment account
- deed of guarantee
- general guarantee account
- Alternative methods of payment include a cash deposit
Duty deferment account
The simplest way to provide a guarantee is to provide a deposit for the full amount of duty from a duty deferment account (DDA). If you do not have your own DDA and a customs intermediary makes customs declarations for you, they may agree to provide the guarantee from their own DDA if asked.
How to set up an individual guarantee
Guidance can be found at get an individual guarantee to cover customs debts.
Deed of guarantee
This is a legal undertaking from a financial institution to pay HMRC any outstanding import duties if you do not do so. In Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), your guarantor must be a financial institution regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).
Check if a financial institution is regulated by the PRA on the Bank of England website.
If you are providing a customs guarantee in Northern Ireland your guarantor must be established in either:
- Northern Ireland and regulated by the PRA
- the EU and accredited under the EU regulatory framework — you can check if a financial institution is regulated in the EU by checking the appropriate national list on the EBA website
Your guarantor needs to give you the guarantee on a C&E250 guarantee form before your goods are released from customs.
General guarantee account
A general guarantee account allows you to provide multiple individual guarantees from the same account, rather than needing to provide separate guarantees.
To provide a guarantee for a general guarantee account you need to submit a C&E250 guarantee form.
This is included in an application pack which you need to request from:
Guarantee Seat
NTAS HM Revenue and Customs
3 New Bailey
New Bailey Street
Salford
M3 5FS
Phone: 0300 322 7064
If you’re not VAT registered, you’ll also need to get an EORI number.
Claiming a guarantee refund
If you would like to claim back a security deposit or guarantee, this can be done online if you submit your claim after you’ve discharged the goods and before the Temporary Admission period is due to end.
If you wish to submit a claim after the Temporary Admission period has ended, you will need to email HMRC’s National Temporary Admission team at ntis@hmrc.gov.uk and provide evidence that the goods have been re-exported.
Before making a claim for a guarantee refund, read the claim back an import security deposit or guarantee guidance.