Government Resources: UK sanctions, New Zealand trade deal, sick pay, scams, tariffs, and customs

UK Sanctions
UK sanctions: Updated to show that new designations have been made under the Russia sanctions regime.
Financial sanctions, Russia: Updated with ‘Latest HM Treasury Notice, Russia, 24/02/2022’.

Sanctions

Financial sanctions, Russia: Updated with ‘Latest HM Treasury Notice, Russia, 28/02/2022’.
The latest on sanctions is published on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-sanctions-on-russia#full-publication-update-history

The webpage also details other contacts that businesses can send their queries to:

UK-New Zealand FTA
UK and New Zealand sign comprehensive trade deal: First published.
UK-New Zealand FTA: benefits for sectors of the UK economy: First published.
UK-New Zealand FTA: customs and rules of origin explainer: First published.

Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme
Final claims for the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme  
The Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme will close on 17‌‌‌ ‌March‌‌‌ ‌2022. You have until 24‌‌‌ ‌March‌‌‌ ‌2022 to submit any new claims for absence periods up to 17‌‌‌ ‌March‌‌‌ ‌2022, or to amend claims you have already submitted. 

You will no longer be able to claim back Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for your employees’ coronavirus-related absences or self-isolation that occur after‌‌‌ ‌17‌‌‌ ‌March‌‌‌ ‌2022.  

From 25‌‌‌ ‌March, we will return to the normal SSP rules, which means you can revert to paying SSP from the fourth qualifying day your employee is off work regardless of the reason for their sickness absence. For more information on SSP rules, search for 'Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): employer guide' on GOV‌‌‌.UK.  

For more information on eligibility and how to make your final claims, search 'check if you can claim back Statutory Sick Pay' on GOV‌‌‌.UK. 

Warning about scams 
If someone contacts you saying they’re from HMRC and wants you to transfer money urgently or give personal information, never let yourself be rushed. There are many different types of scam. Some threaten you with immediate arrest for tax evasion, others offer a tax rebate. Do not panic. We will never phone threatening you with arrest, only criminals do that.

Take your time and check 'HMRC’s advice about scams' on GOV‌‌‌.UK before you do anything. You can also phone us directly, but make sure you use our contact details on GOV‌‌‌.UK. The National Cyber Security Centre has a helpful guide on how to stay secure online and protect yourself or your business against cyber crime, which you can find at cybera‌‌‌ware.‌‌‌gov.‌‌‌uk. 

Authorised Economic Operator
Find out what types of Authorised Economic Operator status you can apply for: Information about record keeping when make declarations on behalf of others, security and safety and how to apply if you’re a group company has been added.

Customs Tariff

Reference Documents for The Customs (Tariff Quotas) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020: The Customs Tariff (Preferential Trade and Tariff Quotas) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 link added.

Customs Agents
Search the register of customs agents and fast parcel operators: The list of customs agents and the list of fast parcel operators have been updated.

Common Transit
Community, Common Transit and TIR newsletters: Newsletter 5 – 2022 has been added to the page. This details closure of the XML channel to access the New Computerised Transit Service (NCTS) on 28 February 2022 and what to do if you do not move to the new XML API channel.

National Cyber Security Centre – Message
Our colleagues at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the UK’s technical authority on cyber security, have issued guidance for organisations on the steps they need to take to bolster the UK’s resilience against the heightened risk of malicious cyber incidents in and around Ukraine. We know many organisations and businesses in the UK have well laid out plans and good cyber security measures in place but. However, due to the nature of online global networks attacks that occur overseas could have an impact on UK institutions, services and systems, which is why organisations and businesses are being urged to take action now.

While the NCSC is not aware of any current specific threats to UK organisations in relation to events in and around Ukraine, the guidance encourages organisations to follow actionable steps that reduce the risk of being impacted by cyber attacks, including:

•             patching systems; 
•             improving access controls and enabling multi-factor authentication; 
•             implementing an effective incident response plan; 
•             checking that backups and restore mechanisms are working; 
•             ensuring that online defences are working as expected, and; 
•             keeping up to date with the latest threat and mitigation information. 

 For further information visit: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/actions-to-take-when-the-cyber-threat-is-heightened where you will find the relevant advice, actions and resources.

 We would also encourage you to follow the NCSC’s social media channels: LinkedIn and Twitter for further alerts and updates.

 If you have any questions, please contact enquiries@ncsc.gov.uk who will be happy to assist.”

Defer Duty Payments
Apply for an account to defer duty payments when you import or release goods into Great Britain: Guidance has been updated when applying for a guarantee waiver of up to £10,000 per month, you will need to tell HMRC more information about your finances if you do not file accounts at Companies House (for example, if you are a sole trader or a general partnership).

Despatch, 2022_1Tamara CincikGovernment Resources