As you may remember from earlier this month, we released an article reminding you about the upcoming UK Plastic Packaging Tax that will be introduced from April 2022. This is a tax that all those involved in supply chains should be aware of as it will affect anyone who imports using plastic packaging. We’d like to think our previous article gave a pretty clear explanation of what the plastic tax is, but we realized that we didn’t necessarily give you advice on what to do to prepare for the tax. This article will hopefully rectify this.
What Is The UK Plastic Packaging Tax?
The UK Plastic Packaging Tax will come into force on 1 April 2022. The new tax will apply to plastic packaging manufactured in or imported into the UK that does not contain at least 30% recycled plastic. Please be aware that this percentage refers to weight rather than surface area, and also applies to all plastic packaging that is imported into the UK, whether it is filled or not.
Those who may be affected should also be aware that this tax will apply to anyone who has imported over 10 tonnes of plastic packaging in the last 12 months, or expects to do so within the next 30 days. Please also note that the tax rate is set to be £200 per ton of plastic packaging.
What Do You Need To Do About The Plastic Packaging Tax?
The first thing you will need to do if you think there’s a chance you will be affected by the tax is to research the new tax. There is a chance that this will incur an initial cost if you seek professional advice, especially if you have to train yourself and/or your staff on complying with the tax. Even if you are a company who is no longer liable to pay the Plastic Packaging Tax, you will have to keep records in order to prove that you are not in scope of the tax.
In addition to these costs, there is of course the unavoidable cost of tax filing and the payment of the tax itself. In these cases, it is best to employ the services of tax experts, such as ourselves at J&P, to guide and you assist you through the process. You should also be aware that you could have joint or secondary liability for your suppliers if they do not comply to the tax so checking on your supply chain partners would also be wise.
Failure to comply with the Plastic Packaging Tax will incur an initial fixed penalty of £500, followed by a daily charge of £40. This will chargeable for failure to register and failure to submit acceptable returns.
The Imminent Plastic Tax Makes Sustainability Even More Urgent Than Ever
The Plastic Packaging Tax will surely act as an extra incentive for UK merchants to reduce their use on non-recycled plastic. Find out more about the incoming plastic tax by following the link to our previous article.
Should you require any assistance, don’t forget that our long history of working with ecommerce sellers, especially those who use Amazon and eBay, means we offer expert advice when it comes to your processes.
Please do not hesitate to send us an e-mail at enquiries@jpaccountant.com or contact us through social media to receive a quote today for our support with all your tax needs or logistic support. In addition to our logistic and ecommerce services, we would be more than happy to help you register for UK & EU VAT and file your UK & EU VAT returns, and help you comply with VAT in case your account faces any issues.
