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Customs Declaration Service communication pack

Find communication products and information to help traders and intermediaries use the Customs Declaration Service.

Documents

Details

For more than 30 years, we have identified goods for checks at the border using the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system. HMRC is in the process of withdrawing CHIEF services and the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) will operate as the UK’s single customs platform.

The CDS must now be used when declaring imported goods.

While most export declarations can move to the CDS by Saturday 30 March 2024, we understand not all customers may be able to migrate by then. For this reason, you will have until Tuesday 4 June 2024 to move to the CDS. After this date you will no longer be able to submit customs declarations through CHIEF.

Published 16 September 2019
Last updated 10 January 2024 + show all updates
  1. Added 'Declarant checklist for exports – moving to the Customs Declaration Service ' to the page. Updated 'CDS Movement Reference Number (MRN) guide'. Removed 'UK imports guide', 'Declarant checklist for imports' and 'Trader checklist for imports'.

  2. This page has been updated to reflect that the last day for making export declarations on CHIEF has been extended to 30 March 2024.

  3. Updates to 'Key dates for 2023' timetable for exports migration.

  4. Information added to the ‘Customs Declaration Service toolkit’ section regarding key dates for 2023.

  5. Updated 'Customs Declaration Service toolkit' and 'Key differences between CHIEF and the Customs Declaration Service'.

  6. Updates to trader checklist and declarant checklist (online and print).

  7. Updated 'Key differences between CHIEF and the Customs Declaration Service'.

  8. Added 'Declarant Checklist – Moving to the Customs Declaration Service' and 'Trader Checklist – Moving to the Customs Declaration Service' to the page.

  9. Published an updated version of the 'Customs Declaration Service stakeholder toolkit', and added 'Key differences between CHIEF and the Customs Declaration Service' to the page.

  10. Link to the new requirements when completing an import declaration on the Customs Declaration Service added.

  11. The UK imports guide and UK exports guide have been added to the Customs Declaration Service communication pack.

  12. Removed migration timetable on page 7 of Customs Declaration Service toolkit – a new timetable will be published shortly.

  13. First published.