Using the Trader Dress Rehearsal service
Find out how to use the Trader Dress Rehearsal service to help prepare for using the Customs Declaration Service to make declarations.
The Trader Dress Rehearsal is a free service that is designed to help you prepare for the live Customs Declaration Service. It is declarant focused and lets you submit different declaration scenarios in a simulated Customs Declaration Service.
You can use the Trader Dress Rehearsal service if you’re a:
- trader or declarant
- Community System Provider
- fast parcel or express operator
Key benefits for users
The Trader Dress Rehearsal service supports the successful migration to the Customs Declaration Service. You will be able to submit:
- import and export declarations in partnership with all your supply chain partners using real data — the data in the Trader Dress Rehearsal service is not updated in real time which means recent changes will not show immediately
- realistic business scenarios in a supported Customs Declaration Service simulated environment
No financial payments will be taken and your licenses or quotas will not be affected.
What you can do in the Trader Dress Rehearsal service
You can practice a wide range of import and export declaration scenarios in the Trader Dress Rehearsal service. This includes but is not limited to:
- submitting type A, B, C, D, E, F, J, K, Y and Z declarations in accordance with the UK Trade Tariff
- practicing ‘the arrival’ of goods
- declaration submission — requests for amendment
- declaration submission — requests for invalidation
- assuring paper and electronic licence scenarios by entering the relevant document status codes
- receipt of trader notifications for the declaration submitted
- querying your declaration using the declaration information service
- simulation of case management controls
Import scenarios
You can practice import declaration scenarios including:
- submitting pre-lodged declarations at locations that use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service
- importing agricultural goods
- calculating import duties in accordance with the UK Trade Tariff
- simulating payments processing
- simulating quota allocations
Export scenarios
You can practice export declaration scenarios including:
- submitting declarations — inventory linked locations
- submitting declarations — non-inventory linked locations
- submitting ‘arrived’ and pre-lodged export declarations at locations that use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service
- practicing the arrival and departure of a declaration using a declaration unique consignment reference (DUCR level only) at locations that do not use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service
- export declaration — submission and arrival of excise goods
Getting access to the Trader Dress Rehearsal service
To access the Trader Dress Rehearsal service, you will need third party software from a software provider. If you already have a software provider, contact them to get access to the service.
If you do not have a software provider, you can find software providers who can help with the service. You must also have:
- an EORI number
- obtained any necessary authorisations, licences and duty deferment accounts
- knowledge of the UK Trade Tariff and making customs declarations
- a plan to access the Customs Declaration Service
If you are a software developer you can find more information about the Trader Dress Rehearsal service on the HMRC developer hub.
Getting support to use the Trader Dress Rehearsal service
If you have any technical problems whilst using the Trader Dress Rehearsal service, and it relates to third party software, you should contact your software developer directly.
If the technical problem does not relate to third party software, you’ll need to email your query, giving the query context, impact and urgency, to: TDRcommunications@hmrc.gov.uk.
Last updated 15 September 2023 + show all updates
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Details of what you can do in the Trader Dress Rehearsal service have been added.
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Key benefits of using the Trader Dress Rehearsal service and how to get more information about the service if you are a software developer has been added.
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First published.