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Guidance

CDS Declaration Completion Instructions for Imports

This guide provides detailed completion instructions for data elements when making an import declaration to the Customs Declaration Service (CDS).

Updates to this page

From:
HM Revenue & Customs
Published:
23 October 2019
Last updated:
7 October 2026
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  1. In ‘Group 2: Reference of Messages, Documents, Certificates and Authorisation’ an incorrect reference to the Document Identifier for ‘Authorisation for customs procedures’ has been removed from the Declaration Completion Instructions for Data Element 2/3 in the Imports DE Guide.

  2. Declaration category H7 of 'CDS Declaration Completion Instructions for Imports' has been updated to include, 'Declaration Category H7 may currently only be used for movements into Northern Ireland (NI) under the UK Carrier Scheme (UKC) that are 'not at risk' of entering the EU'. Changes made to DE 6/13 Cus Code for Chemicals to remove reference to chapters 28 and 29 under “All Declaration Categories”.

  3. Data Element 2/2 has been updated in Group 2 to clarify when an EU trade defence measure will affect the ‘At Risk’ status of goods imported into Northern Ireland. Data Element 2/3 and 2/7 in Groups 2 and Data Elements 3/15, 3/16, 3/18, 3/19, 3/20 and 3/39 in Group 3 have been updated to include EU EORI guidance.

  4. In 'Group 2: References of Messages, Document, Certificates and Authorisations', Data Element 2/3 has been updated to reflect the creation of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST).

  5. To incorporate declaration simplifications, changes have been made to Data Elements 1/9, 3/19, 4/11, 5/26, 5/27, 6/9, 6/11, 6/13, 7/2, 7/5 and 7/15.

  6. Amendments have been made to various parts of the Declaration Completion Instructions in relation to PVA01 / the removal of the PVA01 workaround. The DE 4/17 completion instructions has been updated to highlight that the declared preference code must be compatible with the declared commodity code, otherwise the declaration will be rejected.

  7. The commodity codes that can be used with AI Code COMNE have been updated.

  8. Updates have been made across the pages to reflect that from 4 July 2026, EORI numbers from an EU country can be declared in certain data elements. Data Element 3/40 has also been updated to provide a clearer example of the completion instructions for a manual duty calculation using Postponed VAT Accounting.

  9. In 'Group 2: References of Messages, Document, Certificates and Authorisations', the DE 2/3 section has been updated with guidance on use of document codes 9L51 and 9Y17.

  10. In ‘Group 2: References of Messages, Document, Certificates and Authorisations’, a correction has been made to the DE 2/2 section to clarify the Country of Dispatch codes that must be used with AI code NIDOM.

  11. Declaration Completion Instructions for Data Element 6/18 have been updated. Negative values can no longer be declared in this DE for these movements.

  12. D/E 2/2 has been updated to clarify the Country of Dispatch codes that can be entered when AI Code NIDOM is used. The guidance for AI Code EUPRF in DE 2/2 has been updated to clarify when the Country of Origin and Country of Preferential Origin should be completed. DE 5/15 guidance has been updated to show that it is now always mandatory. DE 5/16 guidance has been updated to reflect that DE 5/15 must also be completed when claiming preference, even if the country codes in both DEs are the same. DE 6/10 guidance has been updated to indicate this number must always be greater than or equal to zero.

  13. The Notes section for 'DE 4/15 Exchange Rate' has been amended to clearly reference the correct data element.

  14. In ‘Group 2: References of Messages, Document, Certificates and Authorisations’, the Data Element (DE) 2/2 has been updated to amend the list of commodity codes that Additional Information Code ‘COMNE’ can be used with. In ‘Group 5: Dates, Times, Periods, Places, Countries and Regions’, the DE 5/23 has been updated for Northern Ireland goods locations.

  15. Completion instructions for DE 5/14 Country of Dispatch/Export have been updated to reflect the impact of using Additional Information Code NIDOM. DE 5/14 has been further updated to show that code EU is not permitted in this data element.

  16. Amendments have been made to Group 2: Reference of Messages, Document, Certificates and Authorisations. Under “Recommended Format of DUCR” section in Data Elements 2/1 and 2/4.

  17. Changes have been made to the ‘Notes’ sections for DE 6/14, 6/15, 6/16 and 6/17.

  18. Updates have been made to 'Recommended Format of DUCR' in Data Elements 2/1 and 2/4 for Imports.

  19. In the 'Group 4: Valuation Information and Taxes', the Import Declaration Completion Instructions for Data Element 4/17 have been updated to change the allowed Preference Codes on an I1 B&E Declaration.

  20. In the 'Group 6: Goods Identification' document, Data Element 6/2 Supplementary Units guidance has been updated.

  21. 'General Notes on Reading Data Element Completion Rules' within 'CDS Declaration Completion Instructions for Imports' have been updated to include references to Simplified Process for Internal Market Movements (SPIMM) and Final Supplementary Declarations (FSD).

  22. Group 2: References of Messages, Document, Certificates and Authorisations has been updated. Completion instructions for DE 2/2 Additional Information have been updated with changes to code NIQUO (including a link to Northern Ireland quota guidance) and the addition of code COMNE for claims to excise duty exemption on composite goods containing mineral oils.

  23. The notes for Data Element 3/24 Seller Name and Address and Data Element 3/25 Seller Identification number have been updated to clarify that when completing the name and address fields at header level with 00200, a valid country code must also be declared at header level as part of the seller address. The actual seller details must also be declared at item level. The instructions for Data Element 8/6 have also been updated.

  24. Data Element headings and some sections of text have been amended to remove obsolete references to the decommissioned CHIEF system. The format of a table for ‘Status codes for Documents, Licences and Certificates’ in the section for Data Element 2/3 has also been updated. The technical content remains unchanged.

  25. Data Element (DE) 2/2 guidance has been updated to make it clear that Additional Information Code NIREM is used to show goods are ‘Not At Risk’ when declared in DE 2/2 alongside document code 1UKI in DE 2/3.

  26. ‘Wine Easement’ and ‘Small Producer Relief’ sections have been updated at Data Element 4/4 Tax Base.

  27. Completion instructions for Data Element (DE) 5/14 have been updated to clarify that France should not be declared as the country of dispatch for goods which have simply been routed through France to connect with the Channel crossings.

  28. Instructions for Data Element (DE) 5/14 Country of Dispatch have been updated in the 'Notes' section to clarify that when goods are being removed from a Customs Warehouse or discharged from Inward processing or Temporary Admission, the country of dispatch should not be declared as GB.

  29. Import Declaration Completion Instructions for data element (DE) 6/15 have been updated in 'Group 6: Goods Identification' to clarify the requirements in relation to H2 declarations. Automated validation for sanitary and phytosanitary goods will fail if DE 6/15 is not declared and will delay clearance of goods.

  30. Amendments have been made to the Notes section of Data Element (DE) 1/1, for the code NIQUO and in Manual Duty Calculations in DE 2/2. Amendments have also been made in the Notes sections of DE 4/8, 5/14 and 7/4.

  31. Notes referring to document code 955D have been removed from Data Element (DE) 4/8. Links to information on exchange rates have been updated in DE 4/11.

  32. Import Declaration Completion Instructions for Data Element (DE) 2/1 Previous Document have been updated to remove the section 'Procedure for Electronic Application for Certificates from the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate (PEACH) and Common Health Entry Documents (CHEDs)' which is no longer applicable. Although Declaration Unique Consignment Reference (DUCR) matching is no longer required, a DUCR (Previous Document Type DCR) is still required in DE 2/1 at header level and should contain a code which enables the consignment to be traced in the trader’s records.

  33. Updates have been made at Data Element (DE) 2/2 and DE 3/40 to add guidance for the use of additional information code PVA01 when using Postponed VAT Accounting with a manual duty calculation and additional information code OVR01.

  34. The recommended format of a Declaration Unique Consignment Reference (DUCR) has been updated at Date Element (DE) 2/4. Minor formatting issues across the collection have also been resolved without impact on technical content.

  35. New guidance has been added at DE 2/2 for goods moving into Northern Ireland. Import Declaration Completion Instructions have been updated with information regarding the declaration of a United Kingdom Internal Market Scheme authorisation. Data Element 3/15 has been updated with information relating to the circumstances where a GB EORI can be declare in DE 3/16 and the importers name and address is required in DE 3/15. DE 3/16 and DE 3/39 have been updated with information relating to United Kingdom Internal Markets Scheme authorisations. DE 8/1 has been updated to reflect new changes for claiming Tariff Quotas on imports into Northern Ireland.

  36. Declaration Completion Instructions for DE 2/3 have been updated to provide guidance on use of document code 901Y.

  37. Group 1: Message Information (including Procedure Codes) has been updated to replace Customs Freight Simplified Procedures (CFSP) terminology with references to Simplified Customs Declaration Processes (SCDP).

  38. Blank table cells throughout the collection have been filled with em-dashes (—) to meet accessibility standards. Technical content remains unchanged.

  39. Data Element 7/15 (Nationality of active means of transport crossing the border) in Group 7: Transport Information (Modes, Means and Equipment) has been updated to state that EU is not an acceptable nationality code.

  40. Completion instructions for DE 4/4 updated to clarify that only one instance of Small Producer Relief (SPR) can be declared per item on a declaration. If more than one instance of SPR appears within an item, even if for the same amount, the declaration will fail to process and will become stuck.

  41. Amendment has been made to Date Element (DE) completion instructions to distinguish between GB and XI EORI rules following the introduction of XI EORI. Amendments have been made to DE 2/1, DE 2/3, DE 2/6, DE 2/7, DE 3/15, DE 3/16, DE 3/18, DE 3/20, DE 3/24, DE 3/25, DE 3/26, DE 3/27, DE 3/37, DE 3/39, DE 3/40, DE 8/3.

  42. The end date for wine easement has been updated to 31 January 2025.

  43. Group 4: Valuation information and taxes as been updated to include notes on wine easement and Small Producer Relief in preparation for the changes in the alcohol excise duty regime from 1 August 2023.

  44. Amendments have been made to DE 3/16 and 3/40 to reflect the introduction of Import One Stop Shop (IOSS). Please also refer to the latest version of the Known Error List (KELs) for interim workarounds that apply to IOSS. For DE 2/2, notes on EUPRF have been updated to show that it is not required for preference code mismatches in relation to quota claims in Northern Ireland. For DE 4/1, notes have been added directing to DE 4/14 when using delivery terms DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). For DE 4/8 MOP code G note has been removed as it is no longer required (MOP code G was removed in an earlier amendment). For DE 4/9 a note has been added directing to DE 4/14 when using delivery terms DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) and clarification provided that the currency code declared in DE 4/11 must be the same as the currency code used in DE 4/14. For DE 4/11 Text added covering declaration of value when using delivery terms DDP (Delivered Duty Paid. For DE 4/14, text added covering declaration of value when using delivery terms DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). For DE 4/15, clarification has been provided to make it clear that aa advanced fixed exchange rate declared in DE 5/15 will not be used by CDS in making any calculations. For DE, 4/17 Notes have been added for use of preference mismatch on Northern Ireland declarations and for DE 8/2, notes have been added to cover use of quota on Northern Ireland declarations.

  45. Incorrect guidance regarding requested procedures permitted on removal from a customs warehouse or freezone has been removed from Box 37: Procedure in Group1, Data Elements DE 1/10, 1/11 and Box 49: Warehouse ID in Group 2, Data Element 2/7.

  46. Group 3: Parties has been updated. In section DE 3/40 Additional Fiscal References Identification Number (No Previous Reference) the heading Additional Declaration Type C8 has been corrected to replace C8 with C* and a missing reference to Data Element 2/2 has been included in Completion Instructions table under the PVA manual calculation section.

  47. Various hyperlinks to re-titled guidance pages have been updated to correctly reflect the new page names. Technical content is unchanged.

  48. Group 8: Other Data Elements (Statistical Data, Guarantees and Tariff Related Data) has been updated. The DE 8/5 Nature of Transaction code 6 definition has been amended to “not currently in use” to show that the UK currently does not use this code to distinguish any particular transactions for national purposes.

  49. Guidance on the completion of DE 4/13 Valuation Indicator and DE 4/16 Valuation Method has been updated.

  50. In 'Group 2: References of Messages, Document, Certificates and Authorisations' terminology has been changed to reflect the creation of the ‘Department of Business and Trade’, formerly known as the ‘Department of International Trade’. Technical content remains unchanged.

  51. A guidance amendment to Data Elements DE 1/8, DE 3/19, DE 3/20 and DE 3/21 on representation and sub-agents has been made. Completion instructions for these data elements are unchanged.

  52. The definition of ‘Customs Union’ is added in Data Element (DE) 1/1 Notes.

  53. Declaration Completion Instructions for Data Element 2/2 Additional Information have been updated to include guidance on the use of Additional Information code EUPRF on Northern Ireland declarations when there is a mismatch between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and EU preferences. Data Element 4/16 Valuation Method Declaration Completion Instructions have been updated with details of the document code requirements for each valuation method. Valuation methods 2 and 3 can now be declared on the Customs Declaration Service.

  54. The details for ‘All Declaration Categories’ in DE 7/5 have been clarified in 'Group 7: Transport Information (Modes, Means and Equipment)'.

  55. Added guidance on using postponed VAT accounting when a manual duty calculation (AI code OVR01) is declared to DE 2/2, 3/40, 4/3, 4/4, 4/6, 4/7 and 4/8. Information on electronic licences has been updated in DE 2/3 and amended notes have been added for DE 7/5.

  56. Amendments made to the CDS Declaration Completion Instructions for data elements 2/3, 3/39, 8/2 and 8/3 to clarify guidance on how to declare Customs Comprehensive Guarantees and Guarantee exemptions.

  57. Field format requirements have been changed at DE 5/23 and data entry requirements have been amended at DE 4/8.

  58. Notes on retention of INCOTERM 2000 codes DAF, DDU, DES and DEQ have been removed from the completion instructions for DE 4/1 Delivery terms. INCOTERM 2000 codes DAF, DDU, DES and DEQ are not permitted on CDS declarations.

  59. We have updated 'Group 4: Valuation Information and Taxes' to cover changes to requirements for valuation methods 4, 5 and 6, including the introduction of new Additional Procedure Codes 1FV and 1SV for valuation method 4. For valuation methods 2 and 3, the current workaround of declaring valuation method 1 instead, is still applicable. It is anticipated that functionality for valuation methods 2 and 3 will be delivered in November 2022. We have updated 'Group 5: Dates, Times, Periods, Places, Countries and regions'. DE 5/21 has been updated to show the exclusion on declaring this data element when using Additional Procedure Codes E02 and 1SV (E01 was already shown as excluded).

  60. Updates made to the notes sections of DE 3/15 and DE 3/16 to remove reference to Additional Procedure Code ILV in relation to Low Value Bulk Items (LVBI) as this code is no longer in use.

  61. Notes for DE 3/2 have been amended to clarify how Code 00200 should be entered at header level in DE 3/1.

  62. The ‘Notes’ for DE 4/17 in Group 4: Valuation Information and Taxes have been updated.

  63. We have updated multiple links and page titles. Technical content has not been changed. Notes for Data Element 7/4 and 7/15 have been updated regarding Eurotunnel.

  64. 'Group 5: Dates, Times, Periods, Places, Countries and Regions' has been updated with clarifications on claiming preference under the UK-EU Trade Cooperation Agreement. The import declaration completion instructions have been amended for DE 5/14 Country of Dispatch/Export, DE 5/15 Country of Origin and DE 5/16 Country of Preferential Origin.

  65. This page has been updated to include amendments to the CDS Import Tariff for the introduction of the new H7 Declaration Category (Super Reduced Data Set (SRDS)) and the introduction of new procedures for Grouping (declaring different products under a single commodity code).

  66. Guidance has been included in DE 8/3 to specify the segments in which the EORI and CCG Reference numbers must be declared. DE 2/5 has also been updated with an amended timescale.

  67. Change to the procedure regarding the completion of a customs declaration for chemicals. The requirement to provide the precise name in accordance with British Standard 2774/1983 and insert the words "not listed” no longer apply. (DE 6/13 Import Tariff, DE 6/13 Export Tariff and paragraph 7.5 CHIEF Tariff)

  68. Addition to full description of excise goods in DE 6/8 (CDS Tariff Vol 3 Imports).

  69. Updates have been made to Group 6, D.E. 6/14 to 6/17 codes.

  70. First published.

Documents

CDS Declaration Completion Instructions for Imports

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Group 1: Message Information (including Procedure Codes)

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Group 2: References of Messages, Document, Certificates and Authorisations

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Group 3: Parties

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Group 4: Valuation Information and Taxes

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Group 5: Dates, Times, Periods, Places, Countries and Regions

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Group 6: Goods Identification

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Group 7: Transport Information (Modes, Means and Equipment)

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Group 8: Other Data Elements (Statistical Data, Guarantees and Tariff Related Data)

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Details

Known error workarounds may apply to this area of the instructions.

This guide does not cover completion instructions for export customs declarations or Customs Clearance Requests (CCR) inventory releases previously referred to as C21s.

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