HMRC urges businesses to move to new customs IT platform now to continue trading

HMRC is urging businesses to move to its new customs IT platform now to continue trading and is writing to businesses to support them with the changes.

The letters and emails include further information about making the move to the UK’s single customs platform – the Customs Declaration Service – and sets out the steps businesses must take now to ensure they can continue trading. They also signpost to online resources to support businesses through the process.

Whether you make your own declarations or use an intermediary, HMRC is urging you to act now to plan and make your move to the Customs Declaration Service. It can take some time to complete the preparation needed and the sooner you start, the easier it will be.

The Customs Declaration Service supports making import and export declarations when moving goods into and out of the UK. It is a resilient, reliable and adaptable IT platform, which replaces the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) and is the first step of the UK border transformation.

The CHIEF system is closing for import declarations after 30 September 2022. After 31 March 2023, the ability to make exports declarations will end and the CHIEF service will close.

See: HMRC urges businesses to move to new customs IT platform now to continue trading – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)