15 November 2021 
Andrea Marshall, Tax Specialist
Update as at 15/11/2021
Check if your goods can be moved into a Freeport customs site provides more information on the excluded and controlled goods that you cannot move into a Freeport customs site.
Check if you can claim the enhanced capital allowance relief in Freeport tax sites provides details of the enhanced capital allowance relief available until 30 September 2026, when a business buys plant and machinery for use in a designated Freeport tax site.
Update as at 11/10/21
Get your business ready to use a Freeport customs site will be updated with details about when you can use the Freeport customs special procedure to import or export excise goods as soon as possible
Apply to use the Freeport customs special procedure set out that you can now apply to use the Freeport customs special procedure.
Processing or storing identical goods to replace Freeport customs special procedure goods has been issued
Declaring goods and paying tax when using a Freeport customs site has been updated with guidance on what you’ll need to do to dispose of goods you’ve processed or repaired
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HMRC have issued a number of guides on operating and using a freeport. Businesses can set up within a freeport in order to store or process goods, subject to certain conditions. The guides issued so far are:
Operating a Freeport customs site
Get your business ready to use a Freeport customs site
Apply to use the Freeport customs special procedure
Declaring goods and paying tax when using a Freeport customs site
The locations for the English freeports were confirmed by the Chancellor in his 2021 budget statement (more information can be found in this News Article). Businesses operating in Freeports will be eligible to claim a range of tax reliefs or payment extensions – some available from April 2022. For a list of freeports and the universities that are close to them, please see this discussion thread.
There is quite a long list of requirements that must be met to operate a freeport site.
In order to process or move goods in or out of a freeport, you need to apply to use the Freeport customs special procedure.
HMRC will provide more information as it comes available.
