Fears the rushed customs Bill will lead to uncertainty

The government’s decision to redraft UK customs law ahead of Brexit will lead to needless uncertainty for business the Chartered Institute of Taxation says. The move also runs counter to the government’s stated policy of incorporating EU law into UK statute on leaving the bloc.

The institute believes that giving effect to the EU’s Union Customs Code – with some amendments to reflect the UK’s departure from the union – as the starting point for a post-Brexit customs system would avoid much uncertainty and possible litigation.

Alan McLintock chair of the CIOT’s indirect taxes sub-committee said the approach was at odds with the government’s aim to ensure that the same rules and laws would apply in the UK the day after Brexit as they did before. He feared that the use of different phrases and words would ‘open the door to different interpretations and lessen the reliance...