Get someone to deal with customs for you
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-06)

Find out how you can hire a person or business to deal with customs for you.

You can hire a person or business to deal with customs for you. What they can do for you and who will be liable depends on:
- the services they provide
- what you want them to do
- the commercial agreement you have with them
Before you get someone to deal with customs for you, you should check what you need to consider (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-what-you-need-to-consider-before-getting-someone-to-deal-with-customs-for-you).

You will still be responsible for due diligence for your customs declarations (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/due-diligence-when-making-customs-declarations) if you appoint someone to deal with customs for you.

Who you can hire

There are different types of people or businesses who can help you, such as:
- freight forwarders
- customs agents or brokers
- express operators
They’ll need to be established in the UK for customs (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-youre-established-in-the-uk-or-eu-for-customs).

Freight forwarders

Freight forwarders move goods around the world for importers.

A freight forwarder will arrange clearing your goods through customs. They’ll have the right software to communicate with HMRC’s systems.

You can find out how to use a freight forwarder on the British International Freight Association (https://www.bifa.org/home) and Institute of Export (https://www.export.org.uk/) websites.

Customs agent or broker

Customs agents and brokers make sure your goods clear through customs.

Find a list of customs agents and express operators (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/list-of-customs-agents-and-fast-parcel-operators).

Express operators

Express operators (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-trade-fast-parcel-operators) transport items across the world in a specific time frame, including:
- documents
- parcels
- freight
They can deal with customs for you, as part of their delivery.

Find out about the other services express operators provide on the Association of International Courier and Express Services website (http://www.aices.org).

Check the register of customs agents and express operators

You can use the register of customs agents and express operators (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/list-of-customs-agents-and-fast-parcel-operators) to help find someone to deal with customs for you.

What information you’ll need to give

To find out what information you will need to provide, check our guidance on what you need to consider before getting someone to deal with customs for you (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-what-you-need-to-consider-before-getting-someone-to-deal-with-customs-for-you).

Agree the terms and conditions

You’ll need to confirm in writing the terms and conditions of your representation. Keep a copy of this agreement for your own records.

Whoever you hire cannot act on your behalf without written instructions from you. The instruction must show whether they’re acting for you directly or indirectly.

HMRC will only ask for evidence of the authorisation if we need it.

To find out more, check what you need to consider before getting someone to deal with customs for you (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-what-you-need-to-consider-before-getting-someone-to-deal-with-customs-for-you).