Sourcing tear-off desk calendars from China

Duty on printed tear-off desk calendars

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 7 November 2026, heading 4910 covers calendars of any kind, printed, including calendar blocks. Printed tear-off desk calendars fall within this description. The supplied tariff file contains only the commodity line shown here.

Goods from China carry 0% duty, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no listed suspension. The tariff also attaches a DCMS Export Licence measure. Official guidance says cultural objects have no import licensing requirement in Great Britain, although the exporting country's regime must be followed. Ask your customs broker to confirm how the attached measure applies to your shipment.

Confirm the commodity code against the finished calendar and any supplied stand or accessories. See the wider printed calendars guide for other formats. Confirm the applicable VAT treatment with HMRC or your customs broker and use the import duty and VAT guide to plan import taxes.

Specify the date block and tear-off construction

Supply a checked date file covering the intended year, weekdays and the relevant UK bank holidays. Agree whether weekends share a page, whether the reverse is printed, and how the final page and backing are presented. Approve the complete page sequence rather than only the cover.

Specify finished page size, paper weight, opacity, writing surface, print colours, glue position or perforation, backing board and stand construction. Use an assembled sample to agree how pages detach and how the calendar sits on a desk. Consumer products must be safe to use, and sellers must retain records identifying their suppliers.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 20,000 printed tear-off desk calendars under 4910 00 00 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

Dates and sequence: compare the finished block with the approved date file, checking for missing, repeated or misplaced pages and incorrect holidays.

Page removal: tear pages from different parts of the block; check that removal is clean and does not loosen the remaining pages or damage the next printed date.

Paper and print: compare stock, opacity, colour and trimming with the approved sample; check small lettering, ink transfer and writing performance where a notes area is supplied.

Stand and packing: check stability as the block becomes thinner, exposed fixings, backing adhesion and crushed corners; inspect arrival cartons for dampness and distorted blocks.

What goes wrong

A correct cover can hide an incorrect date sequence. Reused artwork can shift weekdays, while collation errors duplicate or omit pages. Keep the approved date file and assembled sample together so the factory and inspector use the same acceptance reference.

Excess glue can make pages tear through the date; weak glue can release the whole block. A lighter paper substitution can show printing through the sheet, and damp packing can curl the block or weaken the backing. Specify packing that protects both the paper and the assembled stand.

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.