Starting a new business? Get 40% off our accountancy services for 3 months! 😎
An Economic Operator’s Registration and Identification number (or EORI number for short) identifies your business as having permission to move some types of goods between Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland) and other countries. In this article we explain who should apply for an EORI number, and how to get one.
You might need to apply for an EORI number if your business moves goods between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and the rest of the world.
The rules are slightly different in Northern Ireland, so you’ll need an EORI number to move goods between Great Britain (Wales, England, Scotland) and Northern Ireland, but you don’t need one to move goods between Northern Ireland and the EU.
You may need an EORI number if you move goods between:
Depending on where you move goods to and from, you might need more than one EORI number. You’ll need to apply for an EORI number which starts with ‘GB’ to move goods to or from Great Britain.
You might also need to have an EORI number that starts with XI so that you can move goods between Northern Ireland and countries that aren’t in the EU. If you’re moving goods between Northern Ireland and the EU and you already have an EORI number from an EU country, then you won’t need one starting with XI.
You can apply for your EORI number online, although the documents you’ll need are slightly different depending on whether you’re applying for a GB EORI number, or an XI EORI number.
To apply for an EORI number starting with GB you will need:
You’ll need an EORI number starting with GB in order to apply for an XI EORI number, as well as:
Yes, you’ll need to show your EORI on your customs documents, and you won’t be able to move goods across the border without them. Documents must include your own EORI number, as well as that of the sender or receiver.
You export goods from Wales to France.
Your export documents must show your GB EORI number, along with the French EORI number of the importer.
If you are moving goods across the GB border to send to your own warehouse in the EU (or in the other direction), you’ll need to register for your own EU EORI number, as well as a GB one.
Your EORI number will start with the country code that issued it, and then your 12 digit VAT number. If your business isn’t VAT registered, your EORI number will start with the country code, and then a unique number generated by HMRC.
Learn more about our online accounting services for businesses. Call 020 3355 4047 to chat to the team, and get an instant online quote.
Subscribe to our newsletter to get accounting tips like this right to your inbox
Read our guide to UK tax rates and thresholds for sole traders, limited companies, partners and partnerships, employers, and other businesses. UK…
Read MoreVinted has grown in popularity as a place to make a bit of cash selling unwanted clothes following a declutter, but it…
Read MoreSubmitting your tax return as soon as the next tax year starts might seems like a strange notion, but it definitely has…
Read MoreThe number of monthly transactions you have entered based on your turnover seem high. A transaction is one bookkeeping entry such as a sale, purchase, payment or receipt. Are you sure this is correct?
Please contact our sales team if you’re unsure
It is unlikely you will need this service, unless you are voluntarily registered for VAT.
Are you sure this is correct?
Call us on 020 3355 4047 if you’re not sure.
You will receive our bookkeeping software Pandle for free, as part of your package.
You can use this to complete your own bookkeeping, or we can provide a quote to complete your bookkeeping for you.
Please select and option below:
Call us on 020 3355 4047 if you’re not sure.