UK small businesses importing from China: do the paperwork check before the supplier dispatches your order. A shipping quote does not establish that your business is ready to import, or that the goods meet the rules for their intended market. Start with a short pre-dispatch file you can share with the person handling customs.
1. Confirm the destination and your EORI
For a business importing into England, Scotland or Wales, check your GB Economic Operators Registration and Identification number. Northern Ireland has different arrangements: check the relevant route rather than assuming the same paperwork applies everywhere in the UK. Save the number and the business details that go with it in your shipment file. GOV.UK explains who needs an EORI and how to apply.
2. Gather the detail needed to classify the goods
“Home accessories” is useful for a shop category, but it is not a precise product specification. Ask the supplier for the material, purpose, construction and packaging details for the exact item you are buying. Use that information to check its commodity code in the UK Trade Tariff. Record the classification you used and the specification behind it; do not copy a code from an unrelated product simply because the descriptions sound similar.
3. Separate the quote from the import-cost check
A factory price is a starting point for your buying decision. Before committing to dispatch, make your own worksheet for the shipment: goods, transport, insurance, customs clearance, duty, import VAT and delivery to your premises. Identify what is included in each quote and what remains unconfirmed. Ask the relevant provider to resolve gaps in writing.
The commodity code and customs value help determine the import charges. Do not apply a blanket duty rate to every product from China. Check the current tariff for the actual goods, and confirm the valuation and VAT treatment with the person handling the declaration. A working estimate is useful; a guessed percentage presented as a confirmed cost is not.
4. Name the person handling customs
Agree who will arrange transport and who will submit the import declaration. Write down the documents they need from you, who will provide them and when. Make sure the supplier's invoice and shipment information describe the actual order. If something changes before dispatch, update your file and tell the agent; avoid working from several conflicting versions of the same paperwork.
5. Check product requirements before the goods move
Customs paperwork is only part of the preparation. Check whether your goods need licences, certificates, labelling or other product-specific evidence. Start with the government's importing step-by-step guide and follow the links relevant to your product. Do not treat a supplier's general assurance as evidence that every requirement for your exact item has been checked.
Keep a pre-dispatch evidence file
Use one folder for the agreed product specification, supplier invoice, EORI details, classification notes, cost worksheet, transport arrangements and the correspondence resolving any questions. After import, add the customs paperwork and relevant VAT evidence. Give each document a clear date and version. The practical question is simple: if your agent asks how you reached a figure or classification, can you find the evidence?
For a plain-English starting point, see Importing from China to the UK: The Complete Step-by-Step Blueprint for First-Time Importers. Available as an instant PDF. Also available on Amazon; check the edition and included extras before ordering.
Know what changed. Know what to do. Keep the proof. — PDFBlueprints
📘 PDFBlueprints — plain-English UK compliance guides for landlords, sole traders & small employers. Checklists, trackers & templates. Instant PDF. General information, not legal advice.
Official guidance checked 28 October 2026. General information: requirements depend on the goods, destination and circumstances. Check current official guidance before acting.