Single guarantee

Information on when you should use single guarantee.

For infrequent use, a single guarantee covering a single goods movement may be used.  A single guarantee may sometime be referred to as an individual guarantee. Both mean the same thing (single guarantee is the term used in UK legislation). 

You do not need to be authorised to provide a single guarantee.  Where HMRC require you to provide a guarantee (primarily where the duty value is unknown or disputed) you will be told what guarantee is needed and how much it needs to be.

Single guarantee amount

A single guarantee must cover 100% of the customs duties and taxes involved. You cannot get any reduction or waiver for single guarantees, even if you’re an Authorised Economic Operator for Customs (AEOC).

When to use a single guarantee

You should use single guarantees:

  • if you move goods no more than 3 times a year under Common Transit Convention or Union Transit 
  • if you put goods into customs procedures (inward processing, temporary admission, or end use) 3 times a year or fewer
  • if you need to cover an unusually large amount of customs debt that cannot be covered by your customs comprehensive guarantee
  • if you need to cover amounts due under the UK Agricultural Policy 
  • if you need to cover anti-dumping or countervailing duties or to secure an import quota
  • if the value of import duties is disputed or unknown and HMRC advise that a guarantee is required to release the goods

You can give HMRC a single guarantee using a: 

  • deed of guarantee 
  • general guarantee account 
  • duty deferment

Single guarantee by deed of guarantee

If you are providing a deed of guarantee from a bank or other financial institution, you will need to ensure that they meet the requirements for regulation and establishment in the ‘choosing a guarantor’ section. 

Your guarantor needs to give you the guarantee on form C&E250 to give to HMRC before your goods are released from customs.

Single guarantee by general guarantee amount

A general guarantee account allows you to provide multiple single guarantees from the same account, rather than needing to provide separate guarantees on each occasion. 

To provide a guarantee for a general guarantee account you need to submit a C&E250 guarantee form.  This is included in an application pack which you need to request from: 

Guarantee Seat NTAS 
HM Revenue and Customs 
3 New Bailey 
New Bailey Street 
Salford 
M3 5FS 
Telephone: 0300 322 7064 

If you are not registered for VAT, you will need to have an EORI number.