HMRC revises approach: UK exports to transition to CDS system in phases

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has introduced an innovative and phased strategy for businesses transitioning their export declarations to the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), marking a significant advancement in customs procedures.

In the first phase, HMRC and its software partners will work closely with selected high-volume declarants to ensure a smooth transition to CDS for exports by Thursday, November 30, 2023.

The following phase will see all other businesses transitioning to the CDS for exports by Saturday, March 30, 2024.

This unique strategy offers multiple advantages. It enables HMRC and its delivery partners to improve performance evaluations by leveraging current IT testing capabilities. Simultaneously, businesses equipped with current IT functionality can begin their migration process. This approach ensures a well-supported and smooth transition for export declarants.

CDS is replacing the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) service, delivering a more user-friendly, streamlined system with increased functionality. CDS has been in operation since 2018 and is already being used to create import declarations when transporting products into the UK.

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Source: [Phased approach to CDS export migration announced, HM Revenue & Customs, 2023]. This information is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0