# **Vaping product duty (VPD) compliance made simple**

From 1st October 2026, vape e-liquid will fall under HMRC's new excise duty.

Avoid delays, penalties and double duty payments with Descartes proven excise management technology.

## **Vaping Product Duty (VPD) is coming and the impact will be immediate**

HMRC’s VPD introduces new compliance obligations for importers, manufacturers, distributors and excise warehouse operators.

VPD isn’t just another form: it’s a structural change to how vape products move through the UK supply chain.

#### **_Getting it wrong risks:_**

- **Goods held or seized at the border**  
- **Incorrect duty payments**  
- **Delays in release from customs**  
- **Audit exposure and penalties**  
- **Loss of excise warehouse approval**  
- **Margin erosion from mis-declared product types**

## **The biggest challenges we’re hearing from the industry:**

Confusion between excise and customs requirements
  
Difficulty classifying products correctly
  
No centralised audit trail
  
Manual processes that increase risk
  
Limited internal expertise on excise regimes
  
Lack of clarity on duty suspension and warehouse movements

You’re not alone; most businesses are still unprepared.

VPD isn’t just another form: it’s a structural change to how vape products move through the UK supply chain. See how Descartes helps you manage VPD with confidence.

## **We support every stage of the vape supply chain**

Importing vape products  
  
Manufacturing e-liquids or devices  
  
Distributing or wholesaling vape goods  
  
Operating excise warehouses  
  
Retailing imported vape products

If VPD affects your business, we help you stay compliant.

## **How Descartes can support your business**

- **Manage excise warehousing properly**  
Ensure VPD is suspended correctly in excise warehouses without confusion with customs processes.
- **Duty suspension & cashflow control**  
Defer excise duty payments legally and effectively to protect working capital.
- **Customs & excise alignment**  
Manage both customs duties and excise duties across your supply chain without overlap or errors.
- **Automated compliance & reporting**  
Generate accurate reports and maintain auditable records for HMRC.

## **Simple 3-step process**

How we help you get VPD ready

**_1_**

### **Assess your VPD exposure**
Review product types, volumes and supply chain

**_2_**

### **Configure your excise workflows**
Duty suspension, warehouse movements and reporting

**_3_**

### **Go live with confidence**
Automated declarations and full audits trails from day one

Vaping Product Duty goes live 1st October 2026. Get VPD ready with Descartes.