Change of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pay-spirits-drinks-verification-fee

Change description : 2025-07-09 12:09:00: The verification fee information has been updated to reflect the fees payable between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2031. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-04-01 08:36:35.895039903 +00:00..2025-08-07 16:27:05.519412583 +00:00

Guidance

Pay the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme fee

How to pay your verification fee for the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme, and how long it takes for your payment to reach HMRC.

If you apply to join the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme, you’ll need to pay a fee. Check how much your verification fee will be for:

The verification fee is non-refundable and outside the scope of VAT.

Why you need to pay

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When to pay

After you’ve applied to join the scheme, or submitted an Undertaking for Scotch Whisky, we’ll send you an invoice covering your fee for registration and verification.

You’ll need to pay your fee:

  • before a verification visit can be arranged if you’re a producer in the UK
  • within 30 days of the date on the invoice

If the deadline is on a weekend or bank holiday, make sure your payment reaches us by the end of the previous working day.

If you do not pay

You’ll receive one reminder that your invoice is unpaid. If your payment is not received:

  • you’ll not receive your verification visit if you’re a producer in the UK
  • you’ll be treated as non-compliant from the date we give you
  • details of your verified production facilities will be amended, removed or not included on the Spirit Drinks Verification (SDV) Look-up Facility service
  • any products produced after the date we give you will not be verified — details will be amended, removed or not included on the list of verified brands on the look-up service
  • we may tell the designated enforcement authority

What you need

You’ll need your 14-number reference (for example, 18000012345678).

You can find this on the invoice we sent after you applied for the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme.

If you use an incorrect reference number there will be a delay in the payment being allocated correctly.

Pay online

You can pay by approving a payment through your online bank account by selecting the ‘pay by bank account’ option.

You’ll be directed to sign in to your online or mobile banking account to approve your payment.

You’ll need to have your online banking details to hand to pay this way.

The payment is usually instant but can take up to 2 hours to show in your bank account.

Pay now

Pay by bank transfer

If you pay by CHAPS (Clearing House Automated Payment System) or Faster Payments, your payment will be received on the same or next working day.

If you pay by Bacs (Bankers Automated Clearing System), allow 3 working days for the payment to reach us.

We recommend you check your bank’s processing times and maximum transaction limits before you pay.

Account details to use if your account is in the UK

Use the following details to make a payment if your account is in the UK:

  • sort code — 20 50 46
  • account number — 73987795
  • account name — HMRC Accounts Receivable Receipts

Account details to use if your account is overseas

Use the following details to make a payment if your account is overseas:

  • account number (IBAN) — GB61 BARC 2050 4673 9877 95
  • Business Identifier Code (BIC) — BARCGB22
  • account name — HMRC Accounts Receivable Receipts

You should make overseas payments in sterling (GBP). Your bank may charge you if you use any other currency.

If needed, you can provide your bank with the following HMRC banking address:

Barclays Bank plc
1 Churchill Place
London
United Kingdom
E14 5HP

Updates to this page

Published 30 October 2014
Last updated 91 JulyApril 2025 + show all updates
  1. The verification fee information has been updated to reflect the fees payable between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2031.

  2. Added details of a new verification fee that will start on 1 July 2025.

  3. Page updated to include references to Single Malt Welsh Whisky.

  4. You can now pay the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme fee using your online or mobile bank account.

  5. Overseas payment details updated.

  6. First published.

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Update history

2026-04-28 12:28
A Welsh translation has been added.

2025-07-09 12:09
The verification fee information has been updated to reflect the fees payable between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2031.

2025-04-01 09:36
Added details of a new verification fee that will start on 1 July 2025.

2023-08-21 09:00
Page updated to include references to Single Malt Welsh Whisky.

2022-07-28 16:38
You can now pay the Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme fee using your online or mobile bank account.