Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What is the APPA registration process, how long does it take, and what are the reporting and warehousing requirements?
APPA registration is currently backlogged, with members reporting 2+ week delays on ID issuance. Once registered, the process itself is straightforward. **Registration and timeline:** - Expect delays; members have waited 2+ weeks for their APPA ID after application - APPA staff are reportedly "snowed under" working through the backlog **Reporting requirements:** - Members can continue submitting **W1 and W5 forms** while awaiting APPA approval - Once your APPA number is active, you can file **nil returns** instead of W1 and W5 forms - Members have successfully submitted nil returns; the process is described as "easy and straightforward" **Warehousing considerations:** - **Do not close your TF (Trade and Excise) license or warehouse yet** — several members flagged that APPA numbers do not yet work with EMCS (Excise Movement and Control System) - You will likely still need your existing warehousing and TF license to use EMCS, even after obtaining your APPA number - If you've asked the NRU (National Receipts Unit) to close your warehouse, follow up to reverse the request or delay closure until EMCS compatibility is clarified **Caveats:** The integration between APPA and EMCS is still in flux; do not assume you can decommission legacy systems immediately upon APPA approval.
What is the HMRC APPA registration timeline and will we receive direct communications?
APPA registration appears to be largely automatic for currently registered firms. According to members' contacts at HMRC, **existing registered firms will be automatically registered and receive their APPA number mid-February**, so no action is required until then. Members have not yet received formal HMRC letters or communications about APPA—awareness has largely come through the BDA. Some firms are choosing to continue submitting returns as normal this month, then switching to monthly W5 submissions from March onwards once APPA numbers and portal information are available.
What should I do if I've moved location and need to update my Alcoholic Products Producer Approval (APPA)?
When you relocate your drinks production business, you must proactively notify the relevant authorities of your new address—don't assume the novation of licenses covers this. **Key steps members have reported:** - Notify authorities of your location change before or immediately after moving; members found they should have advised them during the move process - Expect written confirmation by post; check you're receiving their mail (members noted that if post isn't arriving, the authority may have the wrong address on file) - Allow time for processing; members reported timelines of around 6 months from the location change, with written notification of the new APPA letter promised within specific windows (e.g. "by 25th Feb") - If you don't receive expected correspondence by the stated date, chase them proactively **Caveat:** The discussion contains limited detail on formal process steps. Members emphasise the importance of proactive communication with the authority to avoid the situation of discovering after the fact that you should have notified them.
What are the HMRC alcohol duty return procedures and timelines for APPA submissions?
HMRC requires alcohol duty returns to be submitted through APPA (Alcohol Packaging Producer Alliance) on a monthly basis, with specific deadlines tied to the product release period. **Key timelines:** - **By 15 March** – Alcohol Duty return submitted for product released in the previous month (e.g. February period) - **By 25 March** – Alcohol Duty payment due for the submitted return - Businesses must enrol in APPA as soon as possible after receiving their APPA ID, and by 15 March 2025 to submit their first return **Important caveats:** - Members noted that HMRC guidance can occasionally conflict or change; for example, some confusion arose around whether February returns would proceed via APPA or alternative W5 forms, though the standard practice remains APPA submission by the 15th of the following month - If you encounter queries or issues preventing timely APPA submission, you may need to file a NIL return via APPA and submit actual duty details via W5 (Excise Warehousing Remittance Advice) instead - For imports of underbond alcohol from abroad, you'll need to complete customs clearance documentation; CPC code **0700F06** applies to alcohol in duty suspense being moved via EMCS (Excise Movement and Control System) to a bonded warehouse