Sourcing printed loyalty cards from China

Duty and VAT on printed loyalty cards

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 4911 covers other printed matter, including printed pictures and photographs. Its lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions recorded in the supplied tariff data. This guide concerns printed paper and card loyalty cards. The table shows product variants under alternative classifications, rather than separate tariff lines for each card format.

The supplied tariff data attaches a cultural export-licence entry to the other printed matter line and the picture lines. Official guidance states that importing objects of cultural interest into Great Britain has no licensing requirement. If your broker selects an affected line, ask them to confirm how the tariff entry and its document waiver apply to newly printed cards from China.

Confirm the commodity code using the card material, artwork and function. Do not assume promotional cards qualify as zero-rated leaflets: a publication designed to be returned whole after completion is always standard-rated. For loyalty cards collected back after redemption, budget for 20% import VAT. See import duty and VAT and the wider promotional scratch-card guide.

Specify a card that accepts your stamp

Specify finished dimensions, card stock, thickness, stiffness, colours, corner shape and the finish on each face. Leave stamp and handwriting areas uncoated unless a production sample works with your actual ink and pen. Approve the reward wording, stamp positions, redemption instructions and any expiry wording on a physical proof before printing.

For numbered or barcode cards, agree the data file, sequence, duplicate checks and scanner used for acceptance. Test folded cards for cracking and flat cards for wallet wear. UK sellers must not sell consumer products they know, or should have known, are unsafe; include checks for sharp cut edges and peeling finishes.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20,000 printed promotional loyalty cards under 4911 10 90 00, invoiced at £1,100 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £1,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £1,600, so it is £320. 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

Artwork: compare both faces with the signed proof, including reward wording, stamp spaces, spelling and front-to-back orientation.

Stamping: use the shop's actual stamp and pen on finished cards, then check drying, smearing and transfer onto adjacent cards.

Stock and cutting: compare thickness and stiffness with the approved sample; check trimming, corner consistency, curled cards and cracked folds.

Data and packing: scan printed barcodes, check numbering for duplicates or omissions, and verify bundle counts and protection against moisture and crushed corners.

What goes wrong

A glossy finish can make stamp ink smear or handwriting wipe off. Trimming can cut into stamp spaces, reverse artwork can be upside down, and an old reward offer can remain in the printer's file. Approve a finished sample using the shop's equipment and identify the approved artwork version in the order.

Repeated numbers or unreadable barcodes can undermine redemption records even when the print looks acceptable. Compare the printed batch with the supplied data and keep a retained sample. Agree these checks before dispatch using the inspection guide.

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.