What Is the Customs Declaration Service (CDS)?

The Customs Declaration Service (CDS) is the UK government's digital platform for submitting import and export customs declarations to HMRC. It replaced the legacy CHIEF (Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight) system — for imports in October 2022 and for exports in November 2024.

All UK businesses and individuals importing or exporting goods must now use CDS for their customs declarations.

Why Did HMRC Move to CDS?

CHIEF was introduced in the early 1990s and was no longer capable of handling the volume and complexity of modern UK trade — especially after Brexit. CDS was built to be:

Faster — real-time processing of declarations
More secure — modern data architecture
Scalable — designed to handle growing trade volumes
More detailed — captures additional data required under post-Brexit trade rules

Who Needs to Use CDS?

Any UK-registered business or individual who:

Imports goods into the UK from outside Great Britain
Exports goods from the UK
Uses transit procedures (T1, T2)

Even if you use a customs agent (like us), the declarations are submitted through CDS on your behalf.

What Information Does CDS Require?

CDS declarations require more detail than CHIEF. Key data points include:

EORI number of the importer/exporter
Commodity code (10-digit UK tariff classification)
Customs procedure code (CPC)
Country of origin
Customs value (transaction value or method)
VAT accounting method (standard accounting or Postponed VAT Accounting)
Licence numbers (if applicable)
Document references (invoice, packing list, certificates)

Do I Need CDS Software?

To submit directly to CDS yourself, you need HMRC-approved declaration software. However, most businesses find it more cost-effective and accurate to use a licensed customs agent who already has direct CDS access.

How We Can Help

As CDS specialists at Dover port, we handle the full declaration process on your behalf. You send us your commercial documents; we prepare, check, and submit the declaration. Goods are released faster, and you avoid costly errors.