Sourcing promotional scratch cards from China
Printed promotional scratch cards entered as trade advertising material under 4911 10 90 00 carry 0% UK duty from China. Prize promotions must award the advertised prizes or a reasonable equivalent. Agree concealed-code data and scratch performance before printing. Cambridge China Bridge sources printed promotional scratch cards.
Zero duty on promotional printed cards
Heading 4911 covers other printed matter, including printed pictures and photographs. For scratch cards whose purpose is commercial advertising, 4911 10 90 00 is the relevant line to check. The table shows different scratch-card formats using that same line, rather than separate tariff classifications. See the posters and printed matter guide for the wider heading.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the supplied record shows 0% duty for goods from China under 4911 10 90 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure, suspension or attached control on that line. Zero customs duty does not establish the import VAT treatment. Confirm the finished card's VAT treatment rather than assuming that advertising makes it a zero-rated leaflet.
Give your customs broker the finished sample, artwork, material description and intended promotional use to confirm the commodity code. If the card's function differs from commercial advertising, ask the broker to reassess its classification before shipment.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printed promotional scratch cards with concealed discount codes | 4911 10 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the concealed message and scratch layer
Specify card dimensions, paperboard weight and finish, artwork, scratch-panel position, concealed text or code, and the release layer between the print and scratch coating. Approve a physical sample made on the ordered stock. The coating should conceal the message before use, resist incidental rubbing in packing, and scratch away without removing the underlying print.
Agree the code file, winning-message allocation, duplicate policy, redemption process and treatment of rejected cards and surplus production. Ask the printer to reconcile the supplied data with the accepted finished cards. Claiming to offer a prize promotion without awarding the described prizes or a reasonable equivalent is a banned practice. Have the promotion reviewed before approving artwork, especially where participation involves payment.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order only: 20,000 printed promotional scratch cards under 4911 10 90 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,800, so it is £1,360. 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
Concealment: check the message cannot be read through the intact coating under normal handling or by viewing the reverse against light.
Scratch performance: compare removal with the approved sample, checking incomplete coverage, accidental flaking, sticky residue and damage to the revealed print.
Data and artwork: compare revealed messages with the approved allocation file, check duplicates against the agreed policy, and test redemption codes with the buyer's system.
Packing and arrival: check card counts, batch identification, scuffed panels, cards sticking together, bent corners and moisture damage. Use the quality inspection guide to define the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A scratch coating applied directly over unsuitable print can pull away the concealed message. Weak coverage can reveal codes before use, while a poorly matched coating can flake during packing or become difficult to remove. Approve the complete printed and coated construction, rather than a blank card with a scratch patch.
Variable-data mistakes can duplicate redemption codes, reveal the wrong message or leave the advertised winning cards out of the delivered batch. Reconcile accepted cards, rejected cards and surplus sheets against the approved allocation. Keep production samples and agree how unused codes and excess cards will be accounted for before releasing the order.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on promotional scratch cards from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty under 4911 10 90 00 for commercial advertising cards from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure. Confirm that the finished card fits this line.
Are promotional scratch cards zero-rated for VAT?
Do not assume so. Confirm the finished card's function and VAT treatment with your adviser. HMRC says stiff paper or card alone does not automatically exclude an item from being a leaflet.
Can I use imported scratch cards for a paid-entry promotion?
Have the proposed participation and prize arrangements reviewed before printing. This guide covers sourcing the physical cards; obtain advice on the promotion before approving its artwork.
How do I stop scratch-card codes being duplicated?
Agree a controlled code file and duplicate policy, test sample codes in your redemption system, and reconcile accepted cards, rejected cards and surplus production against the approved data.