An update from HMRC published on 01/08/2022 suggests there are 3500 businesses currently at risk of losing their ability to import goods come October the 1st this year.
The Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) will be closed down for imports for good by October the 1st 2022 and its replacement, the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) will be used from then on for import entries. Export entries will migrate over to CDS in March 2023.This means all import customs declarations will be submitted through the Customs Declaration Service from October the 1st.
If you are importing into the UK then you must subscribe to the Customs Declaration Service before this date and the earlier you do so the better to ensure you are prepared and your customs declarations for imports are not delayed.
You will also need to ensure that you have authorised your customs broker to use your deferment account and that you have set-up a new direct debit instruction for your deferment account on CDS if you use this facility.
Here at Pro Customs Solutions we have been training on the Customs Declaration Service dress rehearsal and have so far found the new system relatively easy to navigate. The main takeaway from practice entries we have completed is that more information is required, for example Incoterms now have to be expressly declared. It is also worth taking note of the fact that once a method of payment has been declared it cannot be changed to another. This may sound like it could cause problems however CDS has been set-up to make it easy to deposit funds when needed. If for example a deferment account needs to be topped up, you can simply login to your government gateway account to access this facility and click on the top up link for your deferment.
A direct link to the article from HMRC is below for further reading.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/3500-businesses-risk-losing-ability-to-import-goods
If you would like to discuss UK customs clearance for your goods and need any help with the above then please contact Pro Customs Solutions on the below email and we will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible.
