I have received an EORI (Economic Operator Registration and Identification) number, what is this?

This EORI has been issued to all VAT registered businesses ahead of Brexit which will happen on 31^st October 2019. To avoid any major effects on business, HMRC have issued these automatically now regardless of whether you trade with the European Union or not.

On this date there will be immediate changes to the way UK businesses trade with the EU:

• UK businesses will have to apply customs, excise and VAT processes to goods sold into the EU (these are the same rules that already apply for goods and services traded outside of the EU).
• Trading partners in the EU will have to apply customs, excise and VAT processes to trade they carry out with you, in the same way that they do for goods and services traded from outside of the EU.

This EORI is a reference number that allows UK business to move goods in or out of the UK. Without one, you would have increased costs or delays as your goods wouldn’t be cleared to leave or enter the UK and therefore you would then be charge storage costs etc.

If your business is not VAT-registered, you will still need to apply now for a UK EORI. HMRC cannot give you this automatically.

You can check the next steps you need to take to ensure that your business is ready for Brexit using HMRC’s trader checklist.

Date published 29 Aug 2019 | Last updated 25 Sep 2020

This article is intended to inform rather than advise and is based on legislation and practice at the time. Taxpayer’s circumstances do vary and if you feel that the information provided is beneficial it is important that you contact us before implementation. If you take, or do not take action as a result of reading this article, before receiving our written endorsement, we will accept no responsibility for any financial loss incurred.