To import furniture from Turkey to the UK, you need a GB EORI number, a customs declaration (usually filed by your broker), a commodity code for each product and, to claim the preferential duty rate, an origin declaration from the Turkish exporter under the UK–Türkiye trade agreement. For upholstered furniture you also take on the UK fire safety duties of the first supplier in the UK.
This guide is written by ellda mobilya, a furniture manufacturer in Kayseri, Türkiye, producing sofa sets, corner sofas, bed base sets and mattresses since 2010. It covers the customs side for all four product groups. If you mainly buy storage divans, our guide to divan bed wholesale for the UK goes deeper on sizes and divan formats.
The UK is not part of the EU–Türkiye customs union
Since 1 January 2021 the UK has traded with Türkiye under its own agreement. Goods from Türkiye no longer enter the UK on an A.TR movement certificate, which is still the document for EU imports. Preferential duty for the UK is claimed with a statement of origin made by the exporter, and only for goods that meet the agreement's rules of origin (gov.uk).
This matters because many Turkish exporters and forwarders work mostly with EU buyers. If your quote or your forwarder mentions an A.TR for a UK shipment, ask for the origin declaration instead.
How much duty is there on furniture from Turkey?
The answer depends on the product, and for sofas it is simpler than many buyers expect. We checked the UK Trade Tariff on 21 October 2026:
| Product | Commodity code (typical) | UK Global Tariff | Preferential rate for Türkiye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upholstered sofas and armchairs, wooden frame | 9401 61 00 00 | 0% | 0% |
| Sofa beds and other convertible seats, wooden frame | 9401 41 00 00 | 0% | 0% |
| Wooden bedroom furniture | 9403 50 00 00 | 0% | 0% |
| Mattress supports (bed bases) | 9404 10 00 00 | 2% | 0% |
| Mattresses, foam or spring interior | 9404 21 / 9404 29 | 2% | 0% |
Two practical readings follow from the table:
- For sofa sets and corner sofas the duty is 0% with or without preference. The origin declaration still belongs on the invoice, but it does not change the duty on these lines.
- For bed bases and mattresses the origin declaration saves 2%. On a mixed container this is the part of the shipment where a missing declaration costs money.
Classification is your broker's decision, not the factory's. An upholstered storage base can fall under 9404 10 or a furniture heading depending on its construction, and a corner sofa with a bed mechanism may move from 9401 61 to 9401 41. Rates change, so confirm the code and the current rate before you price the range.
Last verified: 21 October 2026.
The origin declaration: what the exporter writes
Under the agreement the exporter self-certifies origin. The declaration goes on the invoice or another commercial document (not the bill of lading), uses the wording set out in the agreement, and for UK imports stays valid for 24 months. Turkish exporters do not need a REX number; an approved exporter adds its authorisation number in the declaration (gov.uk).
As importer you declare on the customs entry that you hold proof of origin, so keep the invoice with the declaration on file. Ask your broker which preference code they use and whether they want to see the declaration before the goods arrive.
The agreement also allows cumulation with EU materials, and goods can transit the EU without losing preference as long as they do not clear EU customs on the way. Ask your forwarder how the route is booked if the container or trailer passes through an EU port.
Import VAT, EORI and the broker
- EORI. You need a GB EORI number to import into Great Britain.
- Import VAT. Import VAT is due on furniture whatever the duty rate. VAT-registered businesses can account for it on their VAT return through postponed VAT accounting, but must tell their broker in writing before the declaration is made (gov.uk). Businesses that are not VAT-registered pay it at import.
- Customs broker. Most retailers use a broker or forwarder to file the declaration. Give them the commercial invoice, the packing list with package dimensions and the commodity codes you have agreed.
UK fire safety: the first question UK buyers ask
The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 apply to upholstered furniture for domestic use, including sofas, beds, divans and mattresses. The duty to test sits with the first supplier in the UK, which for imported furniture is the importer (Business Companion).
Two dated points for 2026:
- An amendment in force since 30 October 2025 removed the display label for new products and extended the time limit for prosecutions from 6 to 12 months (gov.uk).
- A reform built on a smoulder test was consulted on from 31 March to 23 June 2026. As of 21 October 2026 the consultation page says the government is analysing the feedback and no response has been published (gov.uk consultation).
For a sofa range this means the fabric and the filling are a compliance decision, not only a design one. State in the enquiry that the goods are for UK retail, name the fabrics, and ask what test evidence the factory can supply for each model and fabric. We confirm what we can provide per order in the quote; we do not assume UK compliance for a model by default.
Who does what on a UK shipment
| Step | Usually handled by |
|---|---|
| Model list, quantities, fabrics, sizes | You, from the catalogue |
| Quote with price, delivery terms and lead time | The factory |
| Commercial invoice with origin declaration | The factory, when the goods qualify |
| Packing list and loading plan | The factory |
| Freight booking (depends on the agreed delivery term) | The factory or your forwarder |
| Commodity codes and import declaration | Your customs broker |
| Import VAT and duty | You, through your broker |
| Fire safety records as first UK supplier | You, with the evidence the factory supplies |
Checklist before your first UK order
- GB EORI number in place, and VAT registration if you want postponed VAT accounting
- Customs broker chosen and told in writing whether to use postponed VAT accounting
- Commodity code agreed with the broker for every product type in the order
- "Origin declaration under the UK–Türkiye agreement" requested on the invoice, not an A.TR
- "For UK retail" stated in the enquiry, with the fire safety evidence you need per model and fabric
- Sizes checked against UK mattresses and room sizes (our bed bases are 160 × 200, 180 × 200 and 90 × 200 cm)
- Delivery term, destination port or warehouse and target date stated
- A plan for the first delivery check against the packing list
How ellda handles UK orders
We make sofa sets, corner sofas, bed base sets and mattresses in our 10,500 m² factory in Kayseri Organized Industrial Zone, and all four groups can travel in one shipment. Our guide to mixed container furniture explains how to plan that load. Every order is checked for dimensions, stitching, surfaces and mechanisms before export packing; the steps are on our production page.
Price, minimum quantities, lead time and delivery terms depend on the models, fabrics and destination, so we state them in the quote. Our team works in English, and UK buyers can visit the factory by appointment.
Next step
Shortlist models from the catalogue, for example from our sofa sets with sofa widths from 220 to 295 cm, then send the list with the checklist above through our export page. For the full process from shortlist to shipment, read importing furniture from Turkey; for what to ask about construction, see questions to ask a sofa manufacturer.