Many businesses will become exempt from the duty to file Intrastat returns, or will only need to file less detailed returns.
At present, any business with an assimilation threshold above a figure set each year must complete an Intrastat return giving data in three fields: mode of transport, country of origin, and number of consignments. The current Intrastat figure is £233,000,
From 1 January 2001, there is a second threshold to be known as the delivery terms threshold. This is being fixed at £12,500,000. If a business has arrivals or despatches which fall below the delivery terms threshold, it will no longer need to complete an Intrastat supplementary declaration for delivery information. If the company has arrivals or despatches (but not both) which do exceed this threshold, it will only need to submit a return for the one of arrivals or despatches which exceed the threshold.
A company which is geared up to providing the full Intrastat information may voluntarily continue doing so, even if the company no longer has to provide delivery information because of the new threshold.
As part of the same package of reform, the deadline for submitting Intrastat returns is being changed. From 1 January 2001, the current deadline of ten days from the end of the reference period is moved, according to whether data are submitted on paper or electronically. When data are submitted electronically, the deadline will be the end of the month after the reference period. Data submitted on paper will still be subject to the ten-day deadline until 1 January 2002.
The supplementary declaration (SD) form will be completely revised to reflect these changes.
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