Sourcing printed desk pad calendars from China

Duty and the calendar commodity code

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 4910 covers calendars of any kind, printed, including calendar blocks. Printed desk pad calendars fall within this description. The supplied record contains only the commodity line shown here. See the printed calendars guide for the wider heading.

Duty on goods from China is 0%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension listed. Printed calendars are standard-rated, so import VAT is 20%. The record also attaches a DCMS Export Licence control and describes a document waiver for recently manufactured goods. Official guidance states that importing objects of cultural interest into Great Britain has no licensing requirement. Ask your customs broker to confirm how the listed control and waiver apply to your declaration.

Confirm the commodity code against the finished product, particularly if the order includes a separate reusable holder or other accessories. Supply photographs, materials and an explanation of how the pad is used. The import duty and VAT guide explains the tax calculation.

Dates, writing paper and pad construction

Specify the finished footprint, calendar year, month sequence, week layout, writing space and holiday region. Supply an approved date file: bank holidays differ across the UK. Agree paper weight, surface, print colours, backing-board stiffness, glued edge, tear line and any corner retainers. Test the sample with the pens your customers are likely to use.

Approve a physical sample showing how the pad lies on a desk and how a used sheet comes away. Consumer desk pad calendars supplied in Great Britain must be safe. Check exposed staples, sharp retainers and rough edges as part of your product review. Confirm that artwork licences cover printing and sale.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 600 printed desk pad calendars under 4910 00 00 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,300. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,300, so it is £660. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Dates and layout: compare every page with the approved date file, including weekdays, holidays, month order and the usable writing area.

Paper and print: compare stock and colour with the signed sample; test ink feathering, show-through, smudging and writing comfort.

Pad and backing: check flatness, board stiffness, sheet alignment and clean removal at the glued edge; inspect retainers and exposed fastenings.

Packing and arrival: check corner protection, dry wrapping, carton contents and product identity; open arrival samples for dampness, curl and crushed backing boards.

What goes wrong

A reused date template can put weekdays out of alignment. Glossy stock can make writing smear, while thin paper lets ink show through. Excess glue tears the next sheet; weak glue releases the pad during handling. Moisture curls the paper and backing, and tight corner retainers can cover the date grid.

Agree acceptance checks on the signed sample before production. Compare bulk pads with that sample and keep the final approved date file with the order. Plan arrival around the selling season: a correctly printed calendar loses usefulness when stock arrives late.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.