Last month we advised that the Trader Support Service (“TSS”) was expected to be launched in late September. The free to use digital service went live on 28 September and the UK Government is now encouraging businesses to sign up to the service with fewer than 100 days until the end of EU transition period. The service can be used by any business moving goods between GB and NI. This Institute continues to engage with both Government and HMRC as the 1 January 2021 approaches.

HMRC is also in the process of writing to VAT-registered businesses in Northern Ireland highlighting actions they need to take to prepare for new processes for moving goods under the Northern Ireland Protocol from 1 January 2021.

According to HMRC, the benefits of the TSS are two-fold:-

• Traders who sign up to the Trader Support Service will be guided through the new processes under the Northern Ireland Protocol and can also use it to complete digital declarations to manage import and safety and security declarations on their behalf; and/or
• The service will educate businesses on what the protocol means for them, and the steps they need to take to comply with it. This will include online training sessions and webinars, with information being continually updated as we move closer to 1 January 2021.

This means a business can choose to use the TSS in a way that suits it; either by using it to complete the relevant digital declarations and/or skill up on what the protocol means for their business.