Written questions

Customs

Commons · Question 2287 · Tabled 18 May 2026 · Treasury · Official record

Answered 27 May 2026

Question

Asked by Ben Lake

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consideration has been given to providing freight forwarders and customs agents with real-time access to the current VAT registration status of importers, so that agents can verify eligibility for Postponed VAT

Answer

Answered by Dan Tomlinson, 27 May 2026

HMRC provides a free online service which allows businesses, freight forwarders and customs agents to verify whether an importer or business is VAT registered at Check a UK VAT number - GOV.UK. Postponed VAT accounting (PVA) is not available where an inva...