Guidance: Pay the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme fee

If you apply to join the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme, you’ll need to pay a fee. Check how much your verification fee will be for:

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

Why you need to pay

HMRC manages the verification scheme with the intention of recovering only our administration costs each financial year. These include

• salaries
• overhead costs of staff carrying out verification work
• staff travel expenses

The fees charged for UK processes are reviewed every year to make sure that charges match the verification scheme costs to HMRC. Fees are adjusted every 2 years to:

• cover the expected costs of the scheme
• account for any deficits or surpluses
• provide equity during the 2-year rolling programme of verification visits

We’ll publish any changes to the fees in the relevant technical guidance, and issue invoices to you for the verification fees using the information you have given on your application.

HMRC will consult the industry if substantial changes are needed to the fee structure.

When you need to pay

After you’ve applied to join the scheme, or submitted an Undertaking, we’ll send you an invoice covering your fee for registration and verification.

You’ll need to pay your fee:

• before a verification visit can be arranged, if applicable — you’ll only be visited if you’re a producer in the UK
• within 30 days of the date on the invoice

If you do not pay

You’ll receive one reminder that your invoice is unpaid. If your payment is not received:

• you’ll not receive your verification visit, if applicable
• you’ll be deemed non-compliant from the date we give you
• details of your verified production facilities will be amended, removed or not included on the look-up service
• any products produced after the date we give you will not be verified — details will be amended, removed or not included on the list of verified brands on the look-up service
• we may inform the designated enforcement authority

What you’ll need

You’ll need the 14-digit reference number you were given after you applied for the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme.

Pay now

How much time to allow

The time you need to allow depends on how you pay. You should also check your bank’s transaction limits and processing times before making a payment.

Payment method	Time to allow
Online or telephone banking (Faster Payments)	Same or next day
CHAPS	Same or next day
Bacs	3 working days

If the deadline to pay the verification fee falls on a weekend or bank holiday, make sure your payment reaches us on the last working day before it, unless you’re paying by Faster Payments (online or telephone banking).

How to pay

Approve a payment through your online bank account.

You can pay directly using your online or mobile bank account.

When you’re ready to pay, start your Spirits Drinks Verification Fee payment. Select the ‘pay by bank account’ option. You’ll then be directed to sign in to your online or mobile banking account to approve your payment.

The payment is usually instant but sometimes it takes up to 2 hours to show in your account.

You’ll need to have your online banking details ready to pay this way.

Online or telephone banking, CHAPS or Bacs

Use the following details to pay by Faster Payments, CHAPS or Bacs.

Sort code	Account number	Account name
20 50 46	73987795	HMRC Accounts Receivable Receipts

Overseas payments

Use these details to pay from an overseas account.

Bank identifier code (BIC) / Swift code	Account number (IBAN)	Account name
BARCGB22	GB61 BARC 2050 4673 9877 95	HMRC Accounts Receivable Receipts

HMRC’s banking address is: