Post-Brexit EU shipping involves more steps than most UK small businesses realise. This checklist covers everything you need to have in place before your next EU shipment — from documentation to pricing to customer communication.

Before you ship: know your numbers

  • Calculate the landed cost. Know the total amount your customer will pay to receive your product — product price, shipping, import duty, and destination VAT. Use ClearShip for a fast, accurate calculation.
  • Check your product's duty rate. Most UK-made goods attract 0% duty under the UK-EU TCA, but not all. Verify your product's commodity code and applicable duty rate before assuming zero.
  • Know the destination VAT rate. VAT rates vary across EU countries from 17% to 27%. The rate for your specific destination country affects the total your customer will pay.
  • Check the €150 threshold. Is your order above or below €150? Below it, VAT is typically handled at checkout. Above it, your customer will be charged on delivery unless you've set up DDP shipping.

Documentation: what every EU shipment needs

  • Commercial invoice. Every EU shipment needs a commercial invoice declaring the contents, value, and origin of the goods.
  • Accurate HS/commodity code. Your goods need to be classified correctly. The wrong code can lead to incorrect duty rates or customs delays.
  • Country of origin declaration. To claim 0% duty under the TCA, you need to declare that your goods originate in the UK.
  • EORI number. If you're exporting commercially, you need an Economic Operators Registration and Identification number. Apply at HMRC if you don't have one — it's free and straightforward.

Pricing and communication: set expectations upfront

  • Decide your shipping terms: DAP or DDP. Are you shipping DAP (customer pays duty and VAT on delivery) or DDP (you cover the charges upfront)? This needs to be a deliberate decision, not a default.
  • Tell EU customers what to expect. If you're shipping DAP, add a clear note to your EU listings or product pages about potential customs charges on delivery.
  • Price EU orders correctly. If you're shipping DAP, have you factored the landed cost into your EU pricing strategy?

Carrier and logistics: practical checks

  • Choose a carrier with EU customs experience. Not all carriers handle EU customs declarations equally well.
  • Use tracked shipping. EU shipments can take longer than pre-Brexit. Tracked shipping lets you and your customer monitor progress.
  • Get shipping quotes before committing. UK-to-EU shipping costs vary significantly by carrier, destination, and parcel dimensions.

After the sale: handling issues

  • Have a refused delivery policy. Know in advance what you'll do if an EU customer refuses delivery.
  • Keep customs documentation. Retain copies of all customs declarations and commercial invoices for at least four years.
  • Monitor delivery times for EU destinations. Track how long your EU shipments are taking to arrive.

The single most important thing on this list

Calculate the landed cost before every EU shipment. Everything else — pricing decisions, customer communication, DDP vs DAP — flows from knowing what your customer will actually pay.

ClearShip calculates the full landed cost for any UK-to-EU shipment in seconds. It's free to try.