Wholesalers who fail to sign up to the Alcohol Wholesale Registration Scheme (AWRS) by the end of the month risk a fine or criminal conviction, warns HMRC.
Wholesalers who sell alcohol to other businesses have until 31 March to sign up to the scheme or they may be treated as trading illegally and could be hit with a fine of up to £10,000 or even face a criminal conviction.
The scheme aims to stop the illicit trade of alcohol, where duty is unpaid, entering the supply chain.
An estimated £1.2bn a year in tax goes unpaid due to a minority of wholesalers competing unfairly in illegal trading.
“Do not run the risk of being hit with a fine. Give yourself plenty of time to get your application done,” said HMRC deputy director for alcohol and tobacco Laura Pollard.
“Any business selling alcohol to other businesses should check whether they need to apply.”
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