From 1 January 2021
They’ll need to be established in Great Britain or Northern Ireland.
You can use the list of customs agents and fast parcel operators to help find someone to deal with customs for you.
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 and Institute of Export websites.
Customs agent or broker
Customs agents and brokers make sure your goods clear through customs.
You can hire a customs agent or broker to act as a:
They 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.
Get someone to act directly
You can hire a person or business to act in your name. You’ll be liable for:
If you give clear instructions and they make a mistake, they may become jointly and severally liable.
You cannot ask someone to act directly if they’re submitting your declarations using:
Get someone to act indirectly
You can get someone to act for you in their own name, this means they’re:
If they have authorisation, you can get an indirect agent to make declarations using:
You cannot ask someone to act indirectly if you’re declaring goods for:
Source – Gov.uk