Apply to use simplified declarations for imports

Last updated 19 April 2024

You should check if you need to declare goods you bring into or take out of the UK before you make a simplified declaration.

When you make an import declaration, you may be able to make a simplified declaration when your goods arrive at a UK port or airport.

You need an authorisation to use simplified declaration procedures.

You can enter the goods to free circulation and special procedures:

• inward processing
• outward processing
• authorised use
• temporary admission
• customs warehousing

Simplified declarations cannot be used if goods are entered into a special procedure using authorisation by declaration.

Bringing goods that are not controlled into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from Northern Ireland or Ireland

If you moved your goods on or before 30 January 2024, you may be able to declare your goods by entering them in your records without getting authorisation in advance, and make supplementary declarations up to 175 days later, if you bring goods:

• from free circulation in Ireland (including goods that started their movement in Northern Ireland) into free circulation in Great Britain
• that need to be declared from Northern Ireland (including goods that started their movement in Ireland) into free circulation in Great Britain

If your goods were moved on or after 31 January 2024, you will need to be authorised to use simplified declarations for imports and must make your supplementary declaration by the 10th calendar day of the following month.

Aggregation of supplementary declarations

You can combine data on supplementary declarations if the header and item level information meet the aggregation rules for the Customs Declaration Service.

This will allow you to make less supplementary declarations. When removing goods from a customs warehouse, you can combine goods with import data under an aggregated supplementary declaration.

As part of your authorisation, you can choose to aggregate items across one day, 10 days, or a month.

Find out how to make an import supplementary declaration using aggregation.

Use the simplified declaration process

To use the simplified declaration you’ll need to:

1. Check if the goods can be entered onto a simplified frontier declaration.

2. Submit a simplified frontier declaration.

3. Submit a supplementary declaration.

4. Submit a final supplementary declaration.

Use entry in the declarant’s records

To use entry into the declarant’s records you’ll need to:

1. Check if the goods can be entered into your own records.

2. Clear your goods into free circulation by entering their details in your own records.

3. Submit a supplementary declaration.

4. Submit a final supplementary declaration.

Third-party representatives applying for authorisation

You may wish to act on behalf of your clients.

You’ll need to decide if you wish to apply as either an authorised indirect representative or an authorised direct representative.

For clients who are not established in the UK, indirect representation must be used. If you’ll be acting as an indirect representative, you will not be able to use your own simplified procedure authorisation when making declarations to any special procedure authorisations held by your client.

As an authorised direct representative you’ll only be able to act as a direct representative for goods imported into Great Britain and your client must be established in the UK.

What you’ll need

Before you import goods using simplified declarations, you’ll need:

• an EORI number
• to be authorised by HMRC
• access to computer software that communicates with CHIEF or the Customs Declaration Service for the purposes of supplementary declaration submissions
• to allow HMRC to test your system to ensure it can communicate with CHIEF or the Custom Declaration Service
• a duty deferment account for paying duty and VAT

Getting a duty deferment account

You must have a duty deferment account in place before we can authorise you for simplified procedures, however you can still apply before you have one by stating ‘pending’ next to ‘duty deferment account’ on your application form.

An authorised direct representative or authorised indirect representative may use a client’s deferment for payment, with their client’s permission.

Who can apply

To become authorised you need to:

• be established in the UK
• have a good customs compliance record, including VAT returns and duty deferment account payments
• have no record of serious criminal offences related to your business activities
• keep records of all declarations made for 4 years after the submission date and make this available to customs on request
• provide and maintain written procedures

Your compliance record will be based on the last 3 years before you apply. During that period, you should not have committed a serious infringement or repeated infringements of customs rules. If you’ve been established for less than 3 years, your compliance will be judged on the records and information available, including your involvement in previous businesses.

Using someone to make declarations for you

Applying for authorisation yourself

You may want to apply for the authorisation yourself, but use a direct representative to make the simplified declarations on your behalf.

You’ll need to provide details on the application of any direct representatives who will be responsible for submitting your supplementary declarations. If someone has made declarations on your behalf and holds records, they must make these available on request from HMRC.

Authorisations held by third-party representatives

You can get someone else who is authorised for simplified declarations to make them for you.

Responsibility for customs debt

Who will be responsible for VAT and customs duty payments depends on whether they will be acting directly or indirectly.

If someone has made declarations on your behalf and holds records, these records must be available at your premises.

How to apply

To apply for authorisation to use simplified declarations, you need to complete form C&E48.

You must also provide:

• written procedures
• list of Customs Procedure Codes and Commodity Codes
• client list (where you are applying to be either or both an authorised direct representative or an authorised indirect representative)

If your information changes after you’ve applied

HMRC may need to contact you after you apply. This could be to request additional information or to organise a site visit.

If any of your contact details change (for example, your address or telephone number) you must let HMRC know by email or by writing to the address on the acknowledgement letter they sent you.

HMRC may delay or refuse your application if you do not provide all the information they need to complete it.

You should also write to HMRC if there has been a change to your business which may affect your authorisation, such as:

• changing your trading name
• being taken over by another business