There are currently 768 individual traders authorised for the deferred payment scheme. In addition, the Deputy should note that a number of deferred payment authorisations are held by customs clearance agents who can offer this facility to their clients when completing import formalities on their behalf.
The application process requires a trader to firstly be approved for a Comprehensive Guarantee in accordance with the EU Customs legislation namely the Union Customs Code. This is applied for through the EU Customs Decisions System which can be accessed online by any trader with a valid Revenue Online Service (ROS) Certificate and an Economic Operators' Registration and Identification (EORI) number. One of the conditions of the Comprehensive Guarantee is a requirement to have security in place to cover potential or existing customs and VAT debt.
Revenue advise me that each trader is responsible for making arrangements with their own financial institution to ensure that the necessary security and banking structures are in place. Revenue have no control over that procedure or the time that it takes. However, once this security is in place, the formalities associated with granting a deferred payment authorisation would normally be completed within two weeks. Full details of the application process are available on www.revenue.ie.
I am further advised that the current staff resources are sufficient to deal with the work involved and that the matter is under constant review, particularly in light of Brexit.
