INTERNATIONALTRADE
IS YOUR BUSINESS READY FOR THE CHANGE FROM CHIEF TO CDS?
Don’t let the new requirements for Import and Export declarations cause you delays! If your business trades overseas, by now you probably feel confident in navigating the paperwork. However, major system changes are coming soon which means you will need to be prepared for the switch over. With over 30 years of service, the Customs Handling of Import and Export (CHIEF) system is being retired and will be replaced by the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), in two stages. For imports, CHIEF is closing for good on 30th September 2022 and for Exports, 31st March 2023. This upgrade in IT systems is vital to keep up with the growing demand for Import and Export declarations following Brexit. The move falls in line with the Government’s ambition to have the world’s most efficient customs system by 2025, through the offer of resilience to change and reliability to the trade. There are 5 simple steps that will help your business understand the changes you need to make.
STAGE 1: ACCESS TO THE GOVERNMENT GATEWAY. Make sure you have access to the Government Gateway. To do this, you will need to obtain a Government Gateway ID via the Gateway portal online. You will also need to ensure you 040
have applied for/received a GB EORI.
STAGE 2: GET ACCESS TO THE CDS SERVICES Once you are in your Government Gateway, you will be able to see all your information relating to CDS, but first, you will need to provide the following information. GB EORI number Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) Business Address National Insurance Number Business start date Email address Once these have been provided you will be able to see your financial dashboard and a secure file upload service for HMRC document checks on CDS entries. It is important to note that you do not have access to submit declarations at this stage.
STAGE 3: LEARN ABOUT CDS Stage three is all about learning the new requirements in order to successfully submit a customs declaration on CDS. Most of this learning can be done through Volume 3 of HMRC’s CDS guidance. This will show you all the requirements for each Data Element that is now required to complete your entry.
www.chambercustoms.co.uk/ trainingcoursescustoms
STAGE 4: SETTING UP DUTY PAYMENTS ON CDS Once you have an understanding of completion, you can move on to stage four which is the finances. The two main methods of payment for duties will be the deferment account and CDS Cash Account. Both are accessible via your Government Gateway CDS portal. For the deferment account, you will need to set up a second Direct Debit for CDS. It is important that you do not cancel your first Direct Debit for CHIEF.
STAGE 5: MOVING OVER TO CDS Once this is all in hand it’s time to move on to stage 5, finding a provider. At this stage, you will need to communicate with your software provider to ensure they are ready for CDS. If they are CDS ready, they can give you access to the Trader Dress Rehearsal (TDR) which will allow you to complete test entries before moving into the live environment. If you are not completing the entries yourself then start a conversation with your Customs Agents to find out their readiness. Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber within the Chamber Customs network is ready for this change and are happy to act as customs agents for anyone who is in need of this service. The CDS changeover is coming and it is important that you get ready now! Our Chamber customs team are now set up and live on the CDS system to allow for a smooth transition. July/August 2022
