Amend or cancel simplified import declarations
How to amend or cancel simplified frontier declarations, C21s and non-special procedure non-monetary supplementary declarations.
You can request the amendment or cancellation of declarations submitted using the simplified customs declaration process, for:
- Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF)
- the Customs Declaration Service
Check if you need to request a simplified frontier declaration or C21 amendment
Any requests for amendments not detailed in this section will not be accepted and will be returned unactioned.
If your request concerns box 6 or Data Element (DE) 6/18 — total packages
If the original commercial import paperwork does not support the quantity, further evidence is required (for example, for short shipments, correspondence with the supplier is required).
If a short shipment is only identified on eventual receipt of goods, then a new simplified frontier declaration or C21 should be submitted when the goods arrive.
You must submit a simplified frontier declaration or C21 amendment form for the original declaration or C21. This should show details of the declaration or C21 and confirm ‘missing quantity now accounted for on entry…’.
You should complete the sentence with the new CHIEF entry or Customs Declaration Service movement reference number details.
If your amendment includes simplified entries to the customs warehouse, confirmation is required of the location of the goods within the email.
Overages declared on a simplified frontier declaration and delivered to the customs warehouse should be booked into the customs warehouse stock records.
For typos, if the commercial paperwork supports the amended quantity, an amendment request is not required.
If your request concerns box 8 or DE 3/15 and DE 3/16 — importer identification number or name and address
If your Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number is incorrect, the amendment must be requested except when representation type 3 (indirect representation) is declared.
If your request concerns box 14 or DE 3/17 and DE 3/18 — declarant identification number or name and address
If your EORI is incorrect, the amendment must be requested if representation type 3 is declared or if the authorisation holder is an authorised direct representative (representation type 2).
If your request concerns box 14 or DE 3/19 and DE 3/20 — representative identification number or name and address
If your EORI is incorrect, the amendment must be requested if representation type 2 is declared.
If your request concerns box 14 or DE 3/21 — representative status code
If you need to change the representation type, you will need to request it.
If your request concerns box 33 or DE 6/14, DE 6/15, DE 6/16 and DE 6/17 — commodity code and related boxes
You must only request a commodity code amendment when either:
- the goods are simplified customs declaration process controlled goods — prohibitions and restrictions
- customs procedure code 0611002 is used on a C21 (when a commodity code must be declared in an additional information (AI) statement under GEN45)
If your request concerns box 37, customs procedure code or DE 1/10 — procedure code, DE 1/11 — additional procedure code, customs procedure code or additional customs procedure code
If you need to change the procedure code, you will need to request it.
When the amendment involves changing the customs procedure code to customs warehousing, then a customs warehousing ID must also be provided in box 49 or DE2/3 and DE 2/7.
If your request concerns box 38 or DE 6/1 — net mass (kilograms (kg))
For a net mass change, an amendment request is required for the controlled goods customs procedure code.
If your request concerns box 38 / 41 or DE 2/3 — documents produced, certificates and authorisations and additional references
When simplified customs declaration process controlled goods require an amendment in relation to import licences, you will need to request it.
If your request concerns box 44 or DE 2/2 — additional information (AI), DE 2/1 — Simplified Declaration/Previous Documents/DUCR
If you need to change a declaration unique consignment reference, branch code change or addition of CHIEF document code GEN46, you will need to request it.
If your request concerns box 49 or DE 2/3 and DE 2/7 — identification of warehouse
If you need to change the customs warehouse authorisation or ID number or Customs Declaration Service document codes C517 and C518, you must request it.
If your request concerns DE 3/39 — holder of the authorisation identification number
If you need to change the authorisation identification number, you will need to request it.
Check if you need to request a non-special procedure non-monetary supplementary declaration amendment
Any requests for amendments not detailed in this section will not be accepted and will be returned unactioned.
If your request concerns box 8 or DE 3/15 and DE 3/16 — importer identification number or name and address
If your EORI number is incorrect, the amendment must be requested except if declaration type 3 (indirect representation) is declared.
If a C79 VAT adjustment is required, follow the guidance given later in this section.
If your request concerns box 14 or DE 3/17 and DE 3/18 — declarant identification number or name and address
If your EORI number is incorrect, the amendment must be requested if the representation type 3 is declared or if the authorisation holder is an authorised direct representative (representation type 2).
If your request concerns box 14 or DE 3/19 and DE 3/20 — representative identification number or name and address.
If your EORI is incorrect, the amendment must be requested if representation type 2 is declared.
If your request concerns box 14 or DE 3/21 — representative status code
If you need to change the representation type, you must request it.
If your request concerns box 33 or DE 6/14, DE 6/15, DE 6/16 and DE 6/17 — commodity code and related boxes
A commodity code amendment must only be requested when either:
- goods are simplified customs declaration process controlled goods – prohibitions and restrictions
- customs procedure code 0611002 is used on a C21 (when the commodity code must be declared in AI statement under GEN45).
When an incorrect commodity code has led to under or over payment, those amendments need to be referred to National Clearance Hub C18 Team or the National Duty Repayment Centre. Their contact details are given later in this guidance.
If your request concerns box 37 customs procedure code or DE 1/10 — procedure code, DE 1/11 — Additional Procedure Code — customs procedure code and or additional customs procedure code
If you need to change the procedure code, you will need to request it.
Customs procedure code amendments involving special procedure customs procedure codes must be referred to the supervising office for the special procedure.
For a customs procedure code change from free circulation to authorised use with airworthiness, a copy of airworthiness certificate must be provided.
If your request concerns box 38 or DE 6/1 — Net mass (kg)
A net mass change amendment request required for controlled goods customs procedure code.
If your request concerns box 38, box 41 or DE 2/3 — Documents produced, certificates and authorisations, additional references
When simplified customs declaration process controlled goods require an amendment in relation to import licences, you will need to request it.
If your request concerns box 44 or DE 2/2 — additional information (AI), DE 2/1 — Simplified Declaration/Previous Documents/DUCR
If you need to change the declaration unique consignment reference, branch code, or addition of CHIEF document code GEN46, you will need to request it.
If your request concerns box 49 or DE 2/7 — identification of warehouse
Customs warehouse authorisation or ID number change and changes to Customs Declaration Service document codes C517 and C518.
If your request concerns DE 3/39 — holder of the authorisation identification number
If you need to change the authorisation identification number, you will need to request it.
If your trader records do not require notification
If you do not need to notify the Simplified Customs Declaration Process National Assurance Team, you must keep your own records for amendments to:
- simplified frontier declarations
- C21s
- simplified customs declaration process, non-special procedure non-monetary supplementary declarations
Your records must:
- include supporting documentation
- include a copy of the original entry
- be made available to HMRC when requested
We will continue to monitor requests for amendments and cancellations. If we identify repeated or continuous errors in your records, you may be charged a penalty.
If you want to cancel a simplified frontier declaration, C21 or supplementary declaration
If cancellation is required, a request must always be submitted.
If a replacement entry is submitted, the ‘Replacement Entry Details’ section needs to be completed.
If there will not be a replacement entry, commercial evidence must be provided to show what has happened to the goods.
How to format the subject heading of your request
The subject heading in the email request must include (in this order) the:
- type of amendment or cancellation
- entry processing unit
- entry number
- entry date for CHIEF or movement reference number and entry date for the Customs Declaration Service
Examples of subject headings for simplified frontier declaration or C21 amendments or cancellations
‘CHIEF simplified frontier declaration or C21 amendment 120 123456A 01/01/21’
‘Customs Declaration Service simplified frontier declaration amendment 20GBBXC2R19FH695R7 01/01/21’
‘CHIEF simplified frontier declaration/C21 cancellation 120 123456A 01/01/21’
‘Customs Declaration Service simplified frontier declaration Cancellation 20GBBXC2R19FH695R7 01/01/21’
Examples of subject headings for simplified customs declaration process, non-special procedure non-monetary supplementary declaration amendments
‘CHIEF supplementary declaration amendment 670 123456A 01/01/21 or Customs Declaration Service supplementary declaration amendment 20GBBXC2R19FH695R7 01/01/21’
‘CHIEF supplementary declaration cancellation 670 123456A 01/01/21 or Customs Declaration Service supplementary declaration Cancellation 20GBBXC2R19FH695R7 01/01/21’
How to send single or batched requests
You can ask the Simplified Customs Declarations Process (SCDP) Team for permission to submit batched request forms by email scdpteam@hmrc.gov.uk.
If given permission the SCDP team will tell you how to submit your batched requests.
Batched requests can only be accepted for declarations relating to the same SCDP authorisation holder.
All requests, including requests for further information or clarification, must be emailed to scdpteam@hmrc.gov.uk.
Send a request
If you need to request a change, you must send an email containing:
- either the completed
- copies of original entries and replacement entries if required
- appropriate supporting documentation
Send your request to scdpteam@hmrc.gov.uk.
We will acknowledge action of the amendments or cancellations by email.
The amendment or cancellation forms and notification email should be placed with the original entries and retained with your records.
If amendment request results in a revenue change
Send C18 voluntary declarations for underpayment to npcc@hmrc.gov.uk
Send C285 repayment claims and current month adjustments to customsaccountingrepayments@hmrc.gov.uk
Send C79 VAT adjustment requests to belfast.pcateam@hmrc.gov.uk
Request more information
You can request further information or clarification by email or phone.
You can email: scdpteam@hmrc.gov.uk.
You can call telephone: 03000 587140
Last updated 3 January 2024 + show all updates
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The email address of the Simplified Customs Declarations Process (SCDP) Team has changed to scdpteam@hmrc.gov.uk.
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If your request concerns DE 3/39 (holder of the authorisation identification number) and you need to change the authorisation identification number, you will need to request it.
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First published.