TURN - Traders Unique Reference Number.?

[Boosted LS1]

This is a new one on me. Just about to receive goods from the US and I'm being asked to fill out a nice personal form for C&E for future imports. Can't say I'll be thrilled to do this. Anybody know much about this legislation and if there are good/bad points? Thanks.

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[david_s]

As I remember you need to get one from C&E, I think you can get a pseudo-TURN in the short term.

[Boosted LS1]

david_s said:

As I remember you need to get one from C&E, I think you can get a pseudo-TURN in the short term.

I know hence my post. Thing is, do I have to? Is it a new bit of legislation that's just arrived? I hate giving these effing people all my details.

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[david_s]

We certainly had to get one, we also get a c79 form every month listing all the vat payments paid at the various airports/ports and have to use the information in the c79 for our vat return. I think the two are linked. I am not so bothered about divulging the personal info, but the money I have to pay them this month will sting a bit.

[dight-s]

Hmmm, yes. I'd been happily importing a few bits and pieces from the US for quite a while when suddenly I got a call from the shipping company I use asking me for my VAT reg number. When I explained that I was not VAT registered they started questioning why I was importing the goods then!? Like it's their business!!

Anyway to cut a long story short they would not release the goods for delivery until I had applied to customs for a TURN number. I suspect that this is probably new legislation and is C&E's way of keeping tabs on what people are up to. The application takes about a week to be processed. You'll only receive a form C79 if you are VAT registered and if this is the case then you shouldn't need a turn number as your import agent will simply use your VAT number to clear your shipment through customs.

DDS

[Boosted LS1]

Thanks chaps. I'm not vat registered and also get calls asking for a vat number. I wonder when this pieces of legislation came about. Must have been recent. This time around they marked it as a personal import to speed things up.

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[Skoda_Rob]

This page: http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPo at HMRC has details on TURNs...I believe it is so they can track VAT payments, so if you do subsequently become VAT registered and try to claim back VAT on imports they have some record of it. Might be wrong though...

[Boosted LS1]

Thanks Rob, interesting read.

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