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UK Export Customs Declarations

Ian Simmonds • January 25, 2024

HMRC is recommending that UK exporters sign up for the Customs Declaration Service (CDS).

UK Customs Declarations

The Customs Declaration Service (CDS), which gives businesses access to a more capable and simplified system, is set to replace the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) service. CDS has been used to file import declarations for goods entering the UK since its debut in 2018. HMRC has declared that it is now putting into practise a "new phased strategy," forcing CDS use by March 30, 2024 for all other firms, and requiring "selected high-volume declarants" to transition to CDS for exports by November 30, 2023.

Learn more about the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) >>

Announcement from the UK government

The government advises all exporters to use the new Customs Declaration Service (CDS), which will be mandatory for export declarations as of March 31, 2024. Exporters may have to finish up to 65 data elements in CDS for their exports, depending on the circumstances and kind of declaration.

HMRC has emailed all export declarants who have not yet enrolled with the information and steps needed to register for the programme.

The present legacy service, Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF), will cease to exist on March 30, 2024. The system is already offline for importers who switched to the CDS last year.

Process for CDS Subscriptions

Before they can subscribe, declarants need to make sure they have the following information:

The date the business was established, the company's Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), their national insurance number, the Economic Operators Registration and Identification number (EORI number) using their current Government Gateway user ID and password, and, in the case of a sole trader, the business address listed in HMRC records.
Declarants must get the aforementioned information on their own or, in the case of an EORI number, ask for it if they are missing any of it.

Assistance with CDS

Please email info@icsglobalservices.co.uk if you would like more information about how we can assist you, and we will get in touch with you right away.

ICS Global Services

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