Sign up for HMRC’s new Customs Declaration Service

The way customs declarations are made in the UK is changing and all importers and exporters who submit declarations need to register for the new Customs Declaration Service (CDS) which launches on the 30th September 2022.

The customs handling of import and export freight system (CHIEF) has been in use by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for nearly 30 years and the decision to replace it with HMRC’s new customs declaration service (CDS) was made in 2015, before the EU referendum.

CDS was due to launch in 2019, for when the UK left the European Union, but CDS was not ready to handle the large increase in customs declarations, so the launch was put back and the government focused on updating CHIEF, adding functionality and capacity to the system ahead of Brexit.

Now that CDS has been scaled to handle the increase in the volume of declarations resulting from Brexit, which has been estimated at 400 million p.a, the government feels confident that CDS can be rolled out completely. Consequently HMRC is moving from paper-based rules on CHIEF, to data processing rules on CDS in two stages:

30th September 2022

Import declarations will no longer be accepted via CHIEF

31st March 2023

Export declarations will no longer be accepted via CHIEF and the National Export System (NES)

Importers and exporters must hold a valid EORI and be registered to use CDS on gov.uk via their government gateway account and deferment account holders will need to set up a new direct debit mandate. 

Once registered traders will be able to get import VAT statements and certificates, view import and export data, check tariffs, apply for authorisations and simplifications, and check their duty deferment statements. 

LINKS
General CDS info
Set up Gov gateway
Create CDS specific direct debit
Register for the Customs Declaration Service
Authority to use your duty deferment approval number

SUMMARY
1 Register for a Government Gateway account (if you do not already have)
2 Apply for an Economic Operator Registration and Identification number (you already have this as you are a current Importer)
3 Register for the Customs Declaration Service (this can take up to five working days)
4 Choose which payment method to use
5 Instruct your customs broker or agent (here you add Noatum Logistics and authorise use of your deferment, add Noatum EORI 635733627000)

If you have not registered for CDS, or are uncertain how it applies to you, we can guide you through the changes and actions required. Contact us now for further information, or to discuss your situation.