HMRC to consolidate services on single customs platform

HM Revenue and Customs has announced that the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), a system founded on world-leading technology, will serve as the UK’s single customs platform from 31 March 2023, when it will be closing its Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system. From this date, all businesses will need to declare goods through the Customs Declaration Service (CDS).

CDS is currently used for Northern Ireland and Rest of World declarations and has already processed more than one million declarations since it went live in 2018.

"CDS is a key part of the government’s plans for a world-leading fully digitised border that will help UK businesses to trade and to prosper," said Sophie Dean and Katherine Green, Directors General for Borders and Trade at HMRC. "This announcement will provide clarity for traders and the border industry. We are committed to making the switch-over as smooth as possible and are working to ensure traders are fully supported with the new processes."

CDS has been developed over a number of years in consultation with the border industry and will provide a more secure and stable platform that has the capacity and capability to grow in line with the government’s ambitious trade plans. The move to one system for all imports and exports will also deliver savings for the taxpayer.

Ahead of the 31 March 2023 complete closure, services on CHIEF will be withdrawn in two stages: 30 September 2022 when import declarations close on CHIEF, and 31 March 2023 when export declarations close on CHIEF / National Exports System.