HMRC has scheduled the long-awaited closure of the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system for Imports in September 2022 and Exports in March 2023.
This will be replaced by the new Customs Declaration Service (CDS) for all declarations of goods departing from and arriving into Great Britain
Ahead of the 31 March 2023 complete closure, services on CHIEF will be withdrawn in two stages:
- 30 September 2022: Import declarations close on CHIEF
- 31 March 2023: Export declarations close on CHIEF / National Exports System (NES)
What do we need to do next?
To move forward together we need Importers to embrace CDS and get themselves registered and familiar ahead of the implementation date. We would encourage you to set up a Deferment account (DAN) if you do not already have one. It is much easier to register for a DAN due to the introduction of CDS and will be a lot simpler moving forward.
1) Subscribe to the CDS Service through your Government Gateway. (Step-by-step video below)
2) Set up a new Direct Debit instruction for CDS. Please do not cancel your existing Direct Debit instruction for CHIEF. (Step-by-step video below)
3) Set up standing authority for CDS. Please ensure you list Harbour Shipping (EORI GB378038429000), Courier Network Ltd (GB851220561000) and Interdelta Ltd (EORI GB837879951000). (Step-by-step video below)
*Harbour Shipping & Courier Network Ltd are our nominated clearing agents.
If you do not wish to get a DAN, then you can apply for a Cash Account which can be used in a similar way to a DAN by depositing funds in to it and drawing down on them to cover Import Entries. However, if you do not have enough cleared funds at the time the Entry is made, you will have to make an Immediate Payment (formerly known as a FAS payment).
There will still be the option of using the Immediate Payment scheme to pay for all Duties and Taxes (formerly known as a FAS payment)
We will continue to send regular updates whilst CDS comes into effect and happy to support any questions you have may. Please feel free to contact a member of the team should you have any concerns, questions or simply to discuss the change from CHIEF to CDS and how this may affect your business.
The link for CDS Registration is Get access to the Customs Declaration Service – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Once registered, you can complete the CDS DDI for your DDA using this link
HMRC have shared with us a number of useful YouTube tutorials which we encourage you to review.
How to subscribe to the Customs Declaration Service – YouTube
How to set up a standing authority on the Customs Declaration Service (one signature). – YouTube
How to use the secure file upload service on the Customs Declaration Service – YouTube