Consultation outcome

The future of customs declarations

This consultation has concluded

Download the full outcome

Detail of outcome

HM Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs published a Call for Evidence in June 2023 that sought views from businesses and the wider border industry on how customs declaration requirements can be streamlined and how technology can be used to make meeting these requirements as easy and cost effective as possible. 

The Government has considered the responses to this Call for Evidence and will simplify customs declarations for both imports and exports by reducing the information traders could have to provide by up to a quarter. The insights provided on the use of technology in the completion of customs declarations will inform the design of HMRC and wider Government border transformation programs.


Original consultation

Summary

We welcome views on potential simplifications to customs declarations and the use of technology to facilitate declarations and other customs processes.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

This call for evidence is seeking views on potential simplifications to customs declarations and the way that businesses use technology to facilitate the completion of customs declarations and other customs processes.

This call for evidence will be of interest to traders of all sizes making either import or export movements, including both traders who complete declarations themselves and those who use customs intermediaries and so do not interact with HMRC customs systems directly. It will also be of interest to customs intermediaries and customs software providers, as well as businesses who do not currently engage in international trade but may if customs processes could be simplified or better facilitated by technology.

HMRC will be holding webinars on 5 July 2023 and 13 July 2023 regarding this consultation where policy officials will explain the consultation questions and how to respond. If you would like to attend one of these webinars, please contact HMRC by emailing externalstakeholders.customs@hmrc.gov.uk by 3 July and 11 July respectively.

Any responses or queries about this call for evidence should be sent to customsdeclarationsandtechnology@hmrc.gov.uk.

Documents

Published 29 June 2023
Last updated 7 December 2023 + show all updates
  1. Published outcome and summary of responses to the call for evidence.

  2. First published.