Chamber warns of threat to importers

Fife Chamber of Commerce has been advised by HMRC that businesses who do not move from CHIEF to the new Customs Declaration Service will be unable to import goods from 1^st October 2022.

It has now announced that firms can apply for an extension to continue using CHIEF for up to a month, but ChamberCustoms which is owned by British Chambers of Commerce fears this will not be enough.

HMRC’s Customs Handling Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system will be replaced by the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) on October 1 for companies importing goods from abroad.

All businesses need to move to the Customs Declaration Service now. If you do not, you will not be able to import goods into the UK from 1‌‌‌ ‌‌‌October 2022.

Even if you use a customs agent to help you with customs declarations, there are still actions you need to take. You need to:

• subscribe to the Customs Declaration Service
• choose a payment method
• check your standing authorities are correctly set up
• give your customs agent, customs clearance instructions

It takes a number of weeks to move across, so you should subscribe today.

HMRC’s trader checklist will help you make sure you’ve taken the necessary steps.