China-Based Team · Direct-from-Factory Sourcing · HMRC’s CDS (Customs Declaration Service) Done Right · Door-to-Door across UK · Furniture Specialists

Direct-from-factory sourcing in China, sea and air freight to Felixstowe, and customs clearance filed correctly through HMRC’s CDS (Customs Declaration Service) — run end to end by a China-based sourcing and freight team. There is no UK–China trade agreement, so the UK Global Tariff (UKGT) MFN rates apply. The good news for furniture importers: much furniture (HS 9403) is rated 0%, with some categories at 2–4%. The duty is charged on the customs value plus freight to the UK border. Duty is often 0% on furniture, but 20% import VAT applies to the landed value. If you are VAT-registered you can use Postponed VAT Accounting and reclaim it — so the real cost is mainly the duty and freight. We give you that number before you order, not after the container arrives.

Why UK importers use a China-side partner

Anyone can be an importer in UK. Almost nobody has twenty years of Foshan factory relationships, on-ground quality control and consolidation. The problems importers actually hit are on the China side: the wrong factory, the wrong HS code, an invoice that doesn’t match the packing list, and a landed cost that turns out higher than the quote. We own the origin; you choose the destination.

What you pay in duty and tax

There is no UK–China trade agreement, so the UK Global Tariff (UKGT) MFN rates apply. The good news for furniture importers: much furniture (HS 9403) is rated 0%, with some categories at 2–4%. The duty is charged on the customs value plus freight to the UK border.

Then 20% VAT applies to customs value + duty + freight to the UK border. Duty is often 0% on furniture, but 20% import VAT applies to the landed value. If you are VAT-registered you can use Postponed VAT Accounting and reclaim it — so the real cost is mainly the duty and freight. VAT-registered importers reclaim import VAT via Postponed VAT Accounting on their return.

The one gate that catches importers

Wood packaging must meet ISPM-15; solid-wood furniture is generally fine, but the packaging is checked.

Getting set up as an importer

To import commercially into UK you need a GB EORI number — the single most-forgotten prerequisite — plus a UK VAT registration if you want to reclaim import VAT. Since Brexit, a GB EORI number is mandatory for commercial imports and is the most common thing first-time importers are missing at the border.

Reviewed by verified import specialists

The duty, tax and clearance guidance on this page reflects HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) practice and the applicable tariff schedule as of August 2026. Rates and procedures can change — we re-verify this page each quarter and confirm the rate for your specific HS code before you commit to an order. This is practical guidance, not a customs ruling on your particular goods.

How importing from China to UK works — step by step

1. Register as an importer

Get a GB EORI number — the single most-forgotten prerequisite — plus a UK VAT registration if you want to reclaim import VAT in place before you ship — it is the paperwork most first-timers are missing at the border.

2. Find and vet the factory

Alibaba and 1688 listings are trading companies as often as factories. We verify the business licence and production capability — for furniture that usually means Foshan, where a factory visit is a drive, not a flight.

3. Classify the goods and confirm the HS code

Do this before you order. The code sets the duty rate and whether any compliance regime applies, and it is what clears HMRC’s CDS (Customs Declaration Service) first time.

4. Inspect before the container seals

An inspection at the factory, before loading, is the last point at which a problem is cheap. After the seal, a defect is a claim, not a correction.

5. Choose freight — sea or air, and which port

Sea to Felixstowe runs 28–38 days; LCL adds 5–10 days; air is 4–8 days.

6. Clear the border and take delivery

We file through HMRC’s CDS (Customs Declaration Service) with the correct code and value; accurate paperwork clears in 1–3 days, then we deliver to your door.

What it really costs — a worked example

On a US$20,000 factory order with US$2,500 freight and insurance:

Line	Basis	Amount
Goods (FOB China)	Factory invoice	US$20,000
Freight + insurance	To Felixstowe	US$2,500
Customs value	Duty is charged on this	US$22,500
Customs duty	low UK Global Tariff duty — much furniture at 0%	US$0 (0% furniture)
VAT	customs value + duty + freight to the UK border	US$4,500 (20% VAT, reclaimable)
Duty + tax	0–4% duty + 20% VAT (largely reclaimable if VAT-registered)	US$4,500
Port, clearance, delivery	Varies by port and location	Quoted per shipment

Illustrative figures. Your actual duty depends on the HS classification of your specific goods — we confirm it against your product list before you order (about £0.79 = US$1 (floating)).

Sea freight and transit at a glance

Route	Mode	Typical transit
Shenzhen / Guangzhou → Felixstowe	Sea FCL	28–33 days port to port
Shanghai / Ningbo → Southampton	Sea FCL	30–38 days port to port
Any main port → UK	Sea LCL	add 5–10 days for consolidation
China → UK	Air	4–8 days

Transit times are typical ranges, not guarantees — we confirm the lane and rate at booking.

Frequently asked questions

What is the import duty from China to the UK?

There is no UK–China trade agreement, so the UK Global Tariff (UKGT) MFN rates apply. The good news for furniture importers: much furniture (HS 9403) is rated 0%, with some categories at 2–4%. The duty is charged on the customs value plus freight to the UK border.

How long does shipping from China to the UK take?

Sea freight runs 28–38 days port to port, with LCL adding 5–10 days for consolidation. Air freight is 4–8 days. Clearance is typically 1–3 days when documentation is accurate.

Do I need a licence to import from China to the UK?

You need a GB EORI number — the single most-forgotten prerequisite — plus a UK VAT registration if you want to reclaim import VAT. Since Brexit, a GB EORI number is mandatory for commercial imports and is the most common thing first-time importers are missing at the border.

What tax applies on top of duty?

20% VAT applies to customs value + duty + freight to the UK border. VAT-registered importers reclaim import VAT via Postponed VAT Accounting on their return.

Can one partner handle the China side for me?

That is what we do: factory sourcing and verification in Foshan, quality inspection before loading, consolidation of multiple suppliers into one shipment, freight to Felixstowe, and clearance filed correctly — with one landed-cost figure quoted up front and one point of contact throughout.

Get your landed cost before you commit to an order

Send us your product list or a supplier link. We classify the goods, confirm the rate against the HS code, and come back with one landed-cost figure delivered to your door in UK — goods, freight, duty, tax and local charges in a single number.

Related guides

• Import duty from China to UK — rates by product
• Sea freight China to UK — cost per CBM
• Most profitable products to import from China to UK
• UK import duty calculator
• Import from China — how the end-to-end process works