VAT And Duty Implications Of The Windsor Framework
Fixing the failings of the NI Protocol ...
Posted by Roger Eddowes on 06/03/2023 @ 8:00AM
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced the Windsor Framework, developed in conjunction with the European Union which amends the Northern Ireland Protocol ...
The Windsor Framework fixes some of the failings of the original Northern Ireland Protocol!
It was agreed on Monday the 27th of February and covers the movement of goods into Northern Ireland from mainland Great Britain. The new deal is designed to:
smooth out the flow of trade within the UK's internal market
safeguard Northern Ireland's place in the Union of the United Kingdom
address the 'democratic deficit' perceived by NI political parties
The deal will, of course, be subject to a vote in Parliament, although the timings of this vote have not yet been confirmed. It is far more extensive than that being discussed in this blog post, so today, I'm going to concentrate on VAT and duty implications.
The Windsor Framework has established a new UK-wide internal trade scheme that is based on commercial data-sharing rather than actual international customs processes.
The existing NI protocol has a framework that allows goods to move from Great Britain to Northern Ireland tariff-free, but anything not falling within the framework has been treated as moving across an international border, which needs a full customs declaration.
Now, we have a green lane for internal trade!
In a nutshell, goods being sold in Northam Ireland are no longer subject to unnecessary paperwork, checks and duties as they were under the original NI Protocol. This means a significantly expanded number of businesses can freely move goods using the green lane as they are treated as internal UK traders.
There are three changes involved:
Any business in the whole UK is eligible, not just those with premises in Northern Ireland
turnover limits for businesses involved in the scheme is quadrupled to £2 million
turnover above the threshold is still eligible if the products are involved in animal feed, healthcare, construction or not-for-profit sectors
Businesses just need to show their goods will stay in Northern Ireland by using ordinary commercial data rather than customs data.
When it comes to VAT, under the existing NI Protocol, all goods in Northern Ireland were subject to EU VAT and excise rules and this was seen as grossly unfair, especially with the introduction of a zero rate for energy-saving materials being applied elsewhere in the UK.
"The Windsor Framework amends the NI Protocol!"
Now Northern Ireland is subject to the same VAT and excise rules as the rest of the UK. I remember saying back in the days of Brexit that Northern Ireland needed to be treated the same as Great Britain in as many cases as possible, and it seems the Windsor Framework is taking steps to fix the failings of the original Northern Ireland Protocol.
Let's see how it progresses through Parliament in the coming months.
Until next time ...
ROGER EDDOWES Business Godparent
Would you like to know more?
If anything I've written in this blog post resonates with you and you'd like to discover more about the Windsor Framework, it may be a great idea to call me on 01908 774320 and let's see how I can help.
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Roger trained at Edward Thomas Peirson & Sons in Market Harborough before working at Hartwell & Co, followed by Chancery, as a partner. He started Essendon Accounts and Tax with Helen Beaumont in 2014 as a general practitioner with a hands-on approach.
Roger loves getting his hands dirty, working with emerging, small-to-medium and family businesses to ensure they receive the best possible accountancy advice. Roger utilises an extensive network of business contacts to leverage the best guidance and practical solutions.
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