HMRC extends deadline for £8 million of customs training funding
The deadline for applications for a government initiative to help businesses prepare for EU Exit has been extended to 31 May 2019.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced that the deadline for applications for an £8 million government initiative to help businesses prepare for EU Exit has been extended to 31 May 2019.
This will enable more businesses to benefit from the investment available and provide more time for applications.
The funding will support customs intermediaries and traders completing customs declarations, and can be used to help businesses meet the costs of employee training and IT improvements.
Treasury Minister Mel Stride MP, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:
We are doing everything we can to get businesses ready for the UK leaving the EU, however businesses also need to take action themselves to prepare.
There is help available – we have provided funding to support businesses with customs processes, and we are now extending the deadline to 31 May 2019 giving more time for applications.
We have already received over 300 applications, and I’d urge businesses to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
The grant funding builds upon the ongoing efforts of HMRC to get businesses ready for EU Exit, including having written several letters to 145,000 VAT-registered businesses that trade with the EU to advise them how to prepare for a no deal scenario, and publishing more than 100 pages of guidance for businesses on processes and procedures at the border in a no deal scenario.
Training grant
To apply for the training grant, your business must either:
- complete customs declarations for yourself or someone else (or intend to in the future)
- import from, or export to the EU and complete customs declarations (or intend to complete customs declarations in the future)
IT improvements grant
To apply for the IT improvements grant, your business must:
- currently complete customs declarations for importers and exporters
- have 250 employees or fewer
- have an annual turnover of less than €50 million
The types of funding available
There are 2 different grants that you can apply for to help your business complete customs declarations:
- a training grant to help your employees to complete customs declarations and processes
- an IT improvements grant to help your business complete customs declarations more efficiently
Where you can apply
Online applications must be received by 31 May 2019. We advise applying as soon as possible, as it may be that applications close earlier than this date, dependent on uptake.
We encourage applicants to check the guidance carefully and submit all of the relevant information to ensure applications can be processed as quickly as possible
Businesses can apply for both the training and IT grants. The IT grant is only available to current customs intermediaries with 250 employees or less and an annual turnover of £50 million or less.
PWC is administering the grants on behalf of HMRC. If you want to apply for funding, please apply online – do not contact HMRC.