HMRC extend export declarations move to CDS

The government has extended the timeline for businesses to be submitting export declarations on HMRC’s new Customs Declaration Service (CDS), which is replacing the legacy CHIEF system.

The Customs Declaration Service has already replaced imports in the UK and we have been submitting import entries via CDS since last September. You can no longer make import declarations using CHIEF. 

While CDS Exports was initially set to take over from CHIEF in November 2023, HMRC has opted to postpone this transition after engaging with the broader trade community. 

This delay aims to guarantee a seamless shift and provide traders with ample time to transition smoothly.

During the first phase, HMRC and its software developers will support selected high-volume declarants to move to CDS for exports by Thursday 30 November 2023. The second stage of this approach will see all other businesses move to CDS for exports by Saturday 30 March 2024.

CDS replaced CHIEF as the UK import declarations platform last autumn and the initial intention was that it would come online for exports on the 31st January this year, but this was pushed back initially to the 31st March and then to the 30th November to allow for more testing.

The Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT), said the new phased approach is welcome, but all businesses need support with the migration, particularly lower-volume declarants who are unsure about their readiness for using CDS.

The additional time will also give HMRC and its delivery partners time to work through some of the technological issues posed by the migration, including functionalities around creating declarations for inventory-linked locations.

Traders need to ensure they’re ready for the CDS migration, by applying for an EORI number starting with ‘GB’ and subscribe to CDS, on the government gateway, to be able to submit export declarations.

PSP Worldwide Logistics has been CDS ready for some time. We have been submitting import declarations through CDS since last September and we are processing export entries via CDS every week.

Our customers have already been migrated onto the CDS platform and we are supporting them, so if you have not registered for CDS, or are uncertain how it applies to you, we can guide you through the changes and actions required. 

To learn how we can help, you can contact our customs expert, Michelle Redman directly – EMAIL Michelle.