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If you apply to join the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme, you鈥檒l need to pay a fee.

The verification fee is non-refundable and outside the scope of VAT.

Why you need to pay

HMRC is the designated verification authority for the UK. UK legislation allows HMRC to charge a verification fee to recover the costs of administering the scheme.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the UK government announced a 5 million pound investment into the scheme to support UK spirit producers. HMRC has since introduced a standard verification fee that will remain in place between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2031.

Any substantial future changes to the fee structure will be communicated to the industry before their introduction.

The verification fee

HMRC will charge a standard verification fee of 拢250 per facility for verifications conducted between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2031.

The fee is chargeable for each geographical indication spirit. For example, a facility that bottles Scotch Whisky and Single Malt Welsh Whisky will be charged for both.

Repeat visits, including verification of new processes and compliance checks, will be charged at a further 拢250 per facility.

When to pay

After you鈥檝e applied to join the scheme, or submitted an Undertaking for Scotch Whisky, we鈥檒l send you an invoice covering your fee for registration and verification.

You鈥檒l need to pay your fee:

• before a verification visit can be arranged if you鈥檙e a producer in the UK
• within 30 days of the date on the invoice

If the deadline is on a weekend or bank holiday, make sure your payment reaches us by the end of the previous working day.

If you do not pay

You鈥檒l receive one reminder that your invoice is unpaid. If your payment is not received:

• you鈥檒l not receive your verification visit if you鈥檙e a producer in the UK
• you鈥檒l be treated as non-compliant from the date we give you
• details of your verified production facilities will be amended, removed or not included on the
• any products produced after the date we give you will not be verified 鈥� details will be amended, removed or not included on the list of verified brands on the look-up service
• we may tell the designated enforcement authority

What you need

You鈥檒l need your 14-number reference (for example, 18000012345678).

You can find this on the invoice we sent after you applied for the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme.

If you use an incorrect reference number there will be a delay in the payment being allocated correctly.

Pay online

You can pay by approving a payment through your online bank account by selecting the 鈥榩ay by bank account鈥� option.

You鈥檒l be directed to sign in to your online or mobile banking account to approve your payment.

You鈥檒l need to have your online banking details to hand to pay this way.

The payment is usually instant but can take up to 2 hours to show in your bank account.

Pay by bank transfer

If you pay by CHAPS (Clearing House Automated Payment System) or Faster Payments, your payment will be received on the same or next working day.

If you pay by Bacs (Bankers Automated Clearing System), allow 3 working days for the payment to reach us.

We recommend you check your bank鈥檚 processing times and maximum transaction limits before you pay.

Account details to use if your account is in the UK

Use the following details to make a payment if your account is in the UK:

• sort code 鈥� 20 50 46
• account number 鈥� 73987795
• account name 鈥� HMRC Accounts Receivable Receipts

Account details to use if your account is overseas

Use the following details to make a payment if your account is overseas:

• account number (IBAN) 鈥� GB61 BARC 2050 4673 9877 95
• Business Identifier Code (BIC) 鈥� BARCGB22
• account name 鈥� HMRC Accounts Receivable Receipts

You should make overseas payments in sterling (GBP). Your bank may charge you if you use any other currency.

If needed, you can provide your bank with the following HMRC banking address: