Over the past few years, HMRC have been working with businesses on the Customs Declaration Service, a replacement for the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system, which is now nearly 30 years old.  

Last year, HMRC announced the UK will move all customs declarations from CHIEF onto the Customs Declaration Service. They are now ready for declarants to start moving to the new system, and below are more details to help affected businesses (and their agents where relevant) prepare. The CHIEF system will close in two phases: 

Phase one - after‌‌‌ ‌‌30‌‌‌ ‌‌September 2022: the ability to make import declarations will end. 

Phase two - after‌‌‌ ‌‌31‌‌‌ ‌‌March 2023: the ability to make export declarations will end. 

The Customs Declaration Service will serve as the UK's single customs platform, with all businesses needing to declare all imported and exported goods through the Customs Declaration Service after‌‌‌ ‌‌31‌‌‌ ‌‌March 2023.  

HMRC have sent a letter to 242,000 traders who need to start preparing for the change. 

See the letter here: HMRC calls on businesses to get ready to move to customs IT platform over the summer - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Preparing for the Customs Declaration Service: Preparing for the Customs Declaration Service - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)