Customs & Excise Solicitors

Why choose JD Spicer Zeb’s customs & excise solicitors?

Whatever the item is being smuggled in, the rewards may well be high, but so are the sentences for individuals who are caught and convicted.

In recent years, HMRC has adopted a tougher and more aggressive approach to smuggling offences, turning its attention firmly towards those who are deliberately avoiding paying duty on their goods. Similarly, Courts are taking these types of offences very seriously, handing out tough sentences, including long terms of imprisonment.

These types of offences are complicated matters and should be handled by expert solicitors only. JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors can provide professional representation against smuggling accusations with the aim of preventing, or at least minimising, the confiscation of your assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

This is why it is vital that you seek specialist advice from our expert solicitors at JD Spicer Zeb and get quality legal representation right from the outset for customs and excise disputes.

Our customs seizures lawyers also have the expertise needed to have your goods released if they have been wrongly seized by the authorities.

Our dedicated team of customs and excise solicitors are ready and on hand to provide clear advice and robust representation that will make a positive difference throughout your case. We will advise you in straightforward plain English, ensuring you understand the investigation or action being brought against you and that you are fully informed of your rights and options on how best to proceed. If English is not your first language, then we can organise professional interpreters to translate any necessary documents.

Our customs fraud lawyers can also help you co-operate with the investigating bodies, liaise with HMRC on your behalf, and work with you diligently and proactively to either bring matters to a swift and satisfactory conclusion or secure the most favourable sentence.

Whatever the nature or severity of your case, you can be confident that you are in the most knowledgeable and experienced hands and that our customs solicitors are firmly committed to securing the best possible outcome for you.

What type of cases do JD Spicer Zeb’s customs & excise solicitors take on?

Customs Officers in the UK have the right to seize your goods such as counterfeit items, alcohol, or tobacco if:

• You have failed to pay the correct duty
• Your items are banned or restricted in the UK
• You have broken UK customs laws or regulations
• You are suspected of smuggling by importing or exporting goods illegally

If you find yourself in these circumstances, you need the expert advice and representation of our specialist customs and excise lawyers right away. They can help you with the prompt release of goods seized by HMRC and guide you through the process of recovery.

In particular, our customs lawyers can help you with matters relating to customs and excise disputes such as:

• Challenging the seizure of your goods if you think that it was incorrect or unfair
• Writing a prompt ‘notice of claim’ to HMRC on your behalf to get your goods back within the time limit
• Writing a ‘restoration letter’ to get your items back
• Complaints
• Claims of unfair treatment against you by HMRC

What is excise and customs duty?

Excise duty and customs duty are different types of tax that apply to imports.

Customs duty is a tax imposed by the government on all goods imported into the UK from foreign countries (unless there is a specific exemption from customs duty for a particular country or type of goods). Customs duty is based on the value of the goods.

Excise duty is a tax imposed on certain types of goods that are deemed to be harmful to public health or the environment. Types of goods which are subject to excise duty in the UK include tobacco, alcohol and petrol.

What to do if goods are seized by customs

If you have had good seized by HMRC or by the Border Force, you can send a formal ‘notice of claim’ challenging the seizure. This must be done on the grounds that the seizure was not lawful. This can be a complicated legal issue, so it is advisable to work with expert customs solicitors when challenging a seizure of goods.

What is the legal defence for breaking customs laws?

You may be able to avoid or minimise penalties for breaking customs laws if you can prove that there is a ‘reasonable excuse’ for your failure to comply with the law.

There is no strict legal definition of what constitutes a reasonable excuse, this will be for HMRC or an independent tribunal to decide. Generally, a reasonable excuse for breaking customs law will need to involve an unexpected or unusual event that you could not have foreseen or that was beyond your control.

Contact our customs and excise solicitors today!

For urgent specialist advice, immediate representation or to speak to us confidentially about a customs and excise case, please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated team of customs solicitors in London, Birmingham or Manchester on telephone:

• Brent & Camden London Office: 020 7624 7771
• Manchester Office: 0161 835 1638
• Birmingham Office: 0121 614 3333
• City of London: 0207 624 7771 - our senior Solicitors and Partners can meet by appointment in the City.

Or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online enquiry form and our customs lawyers will get back to you as soon as possible.

In Urgent Cases

For immediate representation and advice, you can contact our Emergency Number:

07836 577 556 and we will provide you with the urgent assistance you need.