OPPORTUNITY TO RE-EVALUATE YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN & ENHANCE EFFICIENCY SUPPORTING IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

6 Dec 2023

HMRC Freeports Programme: 2023 round-up

HMRC share the significant progress UK Freeports have made in 2023:

1. 23 out of 24 designated tax sites across the English Freeports

1. 10 designated customs sites across 7 of the 8 English Freeports, including multiple sites at both Liverpool City Region and Solent Freeports, with work ongoing to support Humber in securing their first customs site.

HMRC have also announced 2 Green Freeports in Scotland, Inverness and Forth, and 2 Freeports in Wales, Anglesey and Celtic; all of which are working towards getting their first tax and customs sites designated in 2024.

In November 2023, the Autumn Statement revealed the window to claim Freeport tax reliefs will be extended from 5 to 10 years, until September 2031 in English Freeports, conditional on agreement of delivery plans with each Freeport. The UK Government will work with the Scottish and Welsh governments with the intention of delivering the same extension for Freeports in Scotland and Wales and will continue to work with stakeholders on how best to support investment in Northern Ireland.

HMRC remains keen to support businesses looking to take advantage of the benefits on offer within UK Freeports and have developed several products to help explain the tax and customs offer; some of which have been updated recently:

1. Freeports YouTube video – a high-level overview of the tax and customs offer
2. HMRC Freeports Induction Pack – a more detailed outline of the tax and customs benefits and information on how to apply
3. HMRC Freeports business examples – a series of customer journeys that explain how the benefits can work in practice.

We’d be grateful if you could make your members aware of the above products and delivery updates, as well as signposting any businesses who have Freeport-related questions to our team mailbox at hmrcfreeports@hmrc.gov.uk. Please also ask members to consider linking to these products or the main Freeports page from their own websites.

HMRC welcome any questions or feedback. Email: hmrcfreeports@hmrc.gov.uk