15th December 2022 Update
HMRC have today issued guidance on the change of deadlines and readiness for the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) for Exports. The previous deadline to switch from CHIEF to CDS for exports was March 2023. This has now been extended to November 2023. HMRC have stated that more information and detail will be provided at the end of January 2023. Please see https://www.gov.uk/government/news/customs-declaration-service-exporter-deadline-extended.
If you are exporting only from Dover, the Tunnel or Holyhead, based on the answers you have provided to the previously sent questionnaire (see below for information) we will contact you early in 2023 to plan your migration accordingly. If you are using other ports, please follow this page for further announcements. We will update this page with further information after receipt of updates from HMRC at the end of January 2023.
CHIEF to CDS migration
In 2022, the UK customs administration (HMRC) started the process of replacing the old CHIEF customs system with the new CDS system. This started with import procedures, and the process to migrate these in AEB has now been completed, so the process will now continue with export procedures.
You should have received information from AEB, requesting that you complete a questionnaire about your usage of the system and the ports you export from. If your organisation has not yet completed the form, you can do so at the following link: https://aebcom.typeform.com/to/FgUO8uS7. (Please do not re-submit if you have already responded).
Based on the answers you have provided, you will be contacted at the appropriate time to discuss starting the migration process from CHIEF exports to CDS exports within your AEB Customs Management solution. Please note that if you are exporting from ports other than Dover or the Tunnel, please follow this page for further updates. Migration for these circumstances will not start until sometime in the new year (early 2023).
Preparation for migration
In preparation for the migration to CDS, you should take the following steps:
- Gain an understanding of the HMRC CDS exports requirements and changes, compared to CHIEF. It is strongly recommended that you take the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the differences, in the processes and data requirements, between CHIEF and CDS. Remember that AEB is not able to provide customs consultancy services.
- Plan for a period of testing in your AEB solution once linked to CDS. HMRC will check to see that customers have performed appropriate tests successfully before moving systems linked to CDS into production. If your processes are complex and/or you declare a variety of procedures or product types, you may want to start collating a list of these for testing purposes.
- If you are integrating via API, prepare for possible modifications to the data you are sending in line with changed requirements for CDS. See: Which CDS export specific fields can be used in the API?
- Plan for some downtime in your production environment during the migration (up to 0.5 day) for cutover from CHIEF to CDS in your AEB solution. This may include managing your exports accordingly to cater for this downtime once you are in a position to go live with CDS.
- Follow this page to be notified of updates as they are added. (Click the Follow button in the top right corner of the article).
- Review the AEB Help Centre articles on CDS exports, available via this link.
- If you are using ASSIST4 NSG, you can also find further information at: CDS Export Migration information for ASSIST4 NSG Customers.
Comments
This article relating to the switch from CHIEF to CDS has now been updated. The migration of imports has now been completed, and details are now shown regarding the migration of exports.
This article has been updated with regards to the HMRC announcement of the change to the CDS exports migration deadline, issued 15th November 2022.
Date correction applied.
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