Europa Road said its new delivered duty paid (DDP) services were working well for exporters, less than a month after the abolishment of one-off tax representation in France for non-EU businesses.
The new rules which came into effect on 1 January, require UK exporters shipping goods into the EU via France under DDP terms to hold a French VAT number.
Alternatively, the EU importer can appoint Europa to zero-rate the import VAT on their behalf.
Europa said confusion around the new French regulations was rife at the end of last year and threatened to undermine GB exporters’ confidence in European trade.
As a result, the company expanded its DDP Flow services to offer a choice between ‘DDP Flow – Importer’s Signature’ and ‘DDP Flow – Own French VAT Number’ to ensure EU customers did not face disruption or delays.
Allaway Acoustics is relying on Europa’s services and it said the company had reduced the impact on customers and it had been able to secure a French VAT number in time to send its first shipments in the New Year.
Sam Giles, head of logistics at Allaway Acoustics, said: “The news of Regime 42 was widespread, which made it all feel daunting.
“However, Europa supported us every step of the way, clearly outlining the options available and how this would all affect our customers.
“Initially, I struggled to know our best option but with the hands-on approach the Europa team provided, it made our options clear and ensured I fully understood each process from start to finish.”
Europa CEO Andrew Baxter said: “Our focus was to provide clarity and choice so customers could continue trading with confidence.
“Though some customers were more prepared that others, our branch teams across the country have worked hard to minimise any challenges they faced, ensuring we provide the fastest and best value for customers.”
