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Key differences between CHIEF and the Customs Declaration Service

Updated 10 January 2024

HMRC’s Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system is being replaced by the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), a resilient, reliable, cost-effective system which is adaptable to the future needs of businesses.

All import declarations must now be made through the CDS.

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.

There are some distinct differences between making declarations through the Customs Declaration Service compared to CHIEF.

1. Customs legislation

CHIEF:

• Community Customs Code (CCC) and Single Administrative Document (SAD) Harmonisation rules (boxes)

CDS:

• Union Customs Code (UCC) and Data Integration and Harmonisation rules

2. Declaration completion requirements

CHIEF:

• requirements can be found in the CHIEF Tariff
• if you submit a declaration through the Customs Declaration Service using the CHIEF tariff, it will be rejected because the codes won’t be recognised by the system

CDS:

• declaration completion requirements can be found in the Customs Declaration Service declaration completion guidance. There are separate sections for:

  • declaring Imports
  • declaring Exports
  • Inventory Imports
  • Inventory Exports

3. Data entry

CHIEF:

• 68 multi-use boxes
• was designed for people who completed paper records, with several boxes that accept data in a free text format and containing multiple pieces of information
• send supporting documents online for declarations made into CHIEF

Customs Declaration Service:

• 91 data elements each with a specific use
• entries are restricted to a specific format (except for name, address and goods description)
• upload supporting documents online for declarations made through the Customs Declaration Service

4. Procedure codes

CHIEF:

• 7-digit fixed Customs Procedure Codes (CPCs) for each goods item
• CHIEF CPCs and Customs Declaration Service Procedure Codes/Additional Procedure Codes are different/not the same
• there are CPCs for each type of declaration

CDS:

• codes split into 2 parts; a single 4-digit Procedure Code combined with up to 99 different types of 3-digit Additional Procedure Codes (APCs) for a single goods item
• Customs Declaration Service Procedure Codes/Additional Procedure Codes are always the same for standard and/or supplementary declaration types

5. Error codes

CHIEF:

• 4,000 separate error codes

Customs Declaration Service:

• 200 error codes pointing to the exact data element where the error has occurred so errors can be interpreted and resolved

6. Finance

CHIEF:

• payments via a Duty Deferment Account, guarantee and/or via the Flexible Account System (FAS)

Customs Declaration Service:

• has several payment options including a new cash account and immediate payment options

• you can access all your customs financial information online including:

  • view account statements
  • make payments
  • control standing authorities

7. Access

CHIEF:

• access into CHIEF is through Community System Providers (CSP)-linked agents, Electronic Data Capture Service (EDCS) or the National Export Service
• users are identified by a ‘CHIEF badge

Customs Declaration Service:

• subscription to Customs Declaration Service will enable access to customs financial accounts, and supporting services (for example, uploading supporting documents)
• import and export declarations need to be made using external software
• We’re also designing a digital service that will allow NESWeb traders and their representatives subscribed to CDS to make export declarations online