Guidance

Apply for a grant to help small and medium-sized businesses new to importing or exporting

The SME Brexit Support Fund could give you up to £2,000 to help with training or professional advice, if your business has up to 500 employees and no more than £100 million annual turnover.

From:
HM Revenue & Customs
Published
11 February 2021
Last updated
15 April 2021 — See all updates

This guidance was withdrawn on

We are no longer accepting applications for this scheme. Find more information about import, export and customs for businesses.

What you’ll be able to use the grant for

You can use the grant for training on:

  • how to complete customs declarations
  • how to manage customs processes and use customs software and systems
  • specific import and export related aspects including VAT, excise and rules of origin

It can be used to help you get professional advice so your business can meet its customs, excise, import VAT or safety and security declaration requirements.

Who will be able to apply

Your business must:

  • be established in the UK
  • have been established in the UK for at least 12 months before submitting the application, or currently hold Authorised Economic Operator status
  • not have previously failed to meet its tax or customs obligations
  • have no more than 500 employees
  • have no more than £100 million turnover
  • only import or export goods between Great Britain and the EU, or move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, if you already import or export goods from or to a non-EU country you are not eligible for his grant

Your business must also either:

  • complete (or intend to complete) import or export declarations internally for its own goods
  • use someone else to complete import or export declarations but requires additional capability internally to effectively import or export (such as advice on rules of origin or advice on dealing with a supply chain)

How to apply

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is administering the grants for HMRC.

Applications will close on 30 June 2021 or earlier if all funding is allocated before this date.

Apply online through PwC.

Updates to this page

Published 11 February 2021
Last updated 15 April 2021 + show all updates

  1. Guidance about who will be able to apply has been updated.

  2. Guidance on how to apply for the SME Brexit Support Fund has been added.

  3. First published.

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