{"id":3047,"date":"2025-11-20T19:43:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T19:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.customs-declarations.uk\/?p=3047"},"modified":"2025-11-20T19:43:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T19:43:08","slug":"hmrc-launches-free-get-customs-data-service-what-uk-traders-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.customs-declarations.uk\/hmrc-launches-free-get-customs-data-service-what-uk-traders-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"HMRC Launches Free Get Customs Data Service: What UK Traders Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

On 13 November 2025, HMRC launched a significant new self-service tool<\/a> that gives UK importers, exporters, and their agents free access to their customs declaration data. The<\/p>\n

Get Customs Data for Import and Export Declarations<\/strong> service represents a major shift in how businesses can access, review, and audit their customs information\u2014without the fees previously associated with Management Support System (MSS) reports.<\/p>\n

This guide explains what the new service offers, who can use it, how it works, and what you need to get started.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

What Is the Get Customs Data Service?<\/h3>\n

The Get Customs Data service is a free, online platform provided by HMRC that allows users to request reports based on their import and export data held in the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). These reports are structured similarly to the familiar MSS reports that many traders have relied on for years.<\/p>\n

The service went live on 13 November 2025, following a private beta testing phase that ran from 28 August to 7 November 2025. During this beta period, 22 unique users accessed the service, resulting in 94 sessions and 169 report downloads.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Why This Matters for Your Business<\/h3>\n

Access to your customs declaration data is essential for effective compliance management. The new service enables you to:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Check declaration accuracy<\/strong> \u2013 Verify that your customs submissions are correct and complete<\/li>\n
  • Support audits and investigations<\/strong> \u2013 Provide evidence during HMRC post-clearance checks or internal reviews<\/li>\n
  • Review agent declarations<\/strong> \u2013 Monitor declarations submitted on your behalf by customs brokers or freight forwarders<\/li>\n
  • Track trading activity<\/strong> \u2013 Analyse your import and export patterns over time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Previously, obtaining this level of detail required subscribing to paid MSS reports at \u00a3240 plus VAT per report type per year. With the new service, this data is available at no cost, making compliance oversight accessible to businesses of all sizes.<\/p>\n

    [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”3050″ img_size=”full”][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

    Who Can Use the Service?<\/h3>\n

    The service is available to:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Importers and exporters<\/strong> \u2013 Businesses that trade goods internationally<\/li>\n
    • Declarants<\/strong> \u2013 Customs agents and brokers who submit declarations on behalf of clients<\/li>\n
    • Third parties<\/strong> \u2013 Consultancy firms, accountants, or advisors acting on behalf of traders (with client permission granted through the service)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      [\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

      Available Report Types<\/h3>\n

      The service provides four types of reports, each offering different levels of detail:<\/p>\n

      [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Report Type<\/th>\nInformation Included<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      Import Item Report<\/td>\nCommodity codes, customs values, and duty amounts for each import item<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Import Header Report<\/td>\nSummary of full import declarations including values & transport details<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Import Tax Lines Report<\/td>\nBreakdown of customs duties, VAT, and Excise Duty<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Export Item Report<\/td>\nCommodity codes and export measures for each export item<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Export Header Report<\/td>\nSummary of full export declarations including invoice values & weights<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      [\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

      Data Availability and Limitations<\/h3>\n

      When requesting reports, there are some important parameters to note:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Date range: <\/strong>You can request up to 31 consecutive days of data per report<\/li>\n
      • Historical data: <\/strong>Reports can cover any period within the last 4 years<\/li>\n
      • Recent data exclusion: <\/strong>Data from the past 2 days is not available<\/li>\n
      • Delivery time: <\/strong>Reports are typically available within 72 hours of request<\/li>\n
      • Format: <\/strong>Reports are delivered as CSV files<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        [\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

        Current Limitation: GB EORI Numbers Only<\/h3>\n

        Important: <\/strong>The service currently only provides data for EORI numbers starting with GB<\/strong>. If you need data for an XI EORI number (Northern Ireland), you will need to use the paid service on the UK Trade Info website<\/p>\n

        [\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

        Prerequisites: What You Need to Get Started<\/h3>\n

        Before you can access the service, ensure you have the following:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. CDS Subscription: <\/strong>You must be subscribed to the Customs Declaration Service<\/li>\n
        2. GB EORI Number: <\/strong>A valid EORI number starting with GB<\/li>\n
        3. Government Gateway User ID: <\/strong>An individual or organisation Government Gateway account (note: agent Government Gateway IDs cannot be used to sign in)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          [\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

          How It Works: Step by Step<\/h3>\n

          For Importers, Exporters, and Declarants<\/h4>\n
            \n
          1. Sign in to the service using your Government Gateway user ID<\/li>\n
          2. Select the report type you need<\/li>\n
          3. Specify the date range (up to 31 consecutive days)<\/li>\n
          4. Submit your request<\/li>\n
          5. Wait for the email notification confirming your report is ready (up to 72 hours)<\/li>\n
          6. Download your report as a CSV file from the service<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

             <\/p>\n

            Note: <\/em><\/strong>You can only request data for the EORI number linked to your Government Gateway user ID. To get data for multiple EORI numbers, you will need to sign in separately using the Government Gateway user ID linked to each EORI.<\/em><\/p>\n

            [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”3051″ img_size=”full”][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

            For Third Parties<\/h3>\n

            Third parties such as accountants or consultants can request data for multiple EORI numbers using a single Government Gateway user ID. However, your clients must first grant you permission to access their data through the service.<\/p>\n

            [\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

            How This Fits with Your Customs Operations<\/h3>\n

            The Get Customs Data service complements your customs filing workflow by providing an official record of what was actually declared to HMRC. This is particularly valuable because:<\/p>\n

              \n
            • Audit defence: <\/strong>When HMRC conducts post-clearance checks, they assess what appears in their systems\u2014not your internal records. The data from this service is the definitive source.<\/li>\n
            • Agent oversight: <\/strong>If you use customs agents or brokers, you can verify that declarations were submitted correctly on your behalf.<\/li>\n
            • Duty reclaim opportunities: <\/strong>Reviewing your data may reveal overpaid duties that can be reclaimed.<\/li>\n
            • Compliance assurance: <\/strong>Regular data reviews help identify and correct systematic errors before they become costly problems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

               <\/p>\n

              When you file your customs declarations through the Customs Declarations UK<\/strong> platform, you already benefit from real-time validation, guided workflows, and secure archiving. The Get Customs Data service adds another layer of transparency by allowing you to independently verify what HMRC holds on record.<\/p>\n

              [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”3052″ img_size=”full”][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

              Practical Recommendations<\/h3>\n

              To make the most of this new service:<\/p>\n

                \n
              1. Establish a review schedule: <\/strong>Consider pulling monthly reports to maintain ongoing oversight of your customs activity<\/li>\n
              2. Cross-reference with internal records: <\/strong>Compare the HMRC data against your invoices, contracts, and filing records to identify discrepancies<\/li>\n
              3. Document your processes: <\/strong>Demonstrating that you regularly review customs data shows reasonable care and due diligence<\/li>\n
              4. Act on findings promptly: <\/strong>If you identify errors, work with your customs agent or use the appropriate HMRC amendment procedures<\/li>\n
              5. Keep records: <\/strong>Store downloaded reports with your customs documentation for the statutory six-year retention period<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                [\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

                Conclusion<\/h3>\n

                The launch of the Get Customs Data for Import and Export Declarations service marks an important step forward in customs transparency and accessibility. By removing cost barriers and providing self-service access to official declaration data, HMRC has made it easier for businesses of all sizes to maintain strong compliance oversight.<\/p>\n

                While the service is in public beta and some features are still being refined, it already offers significant value for traders wanting to verify their customs submissions, prepare for audits, or simply understand their trading patterns better.<\/p>\n

                Combined with accurate, validated filings through the Customs Declarations UK<\/strong> platform, this new data access service gives you the tools you need for complete control over your customs compliance.<\/p>\n

                [\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

                We value your feedback, and if you have any comments, suggestions or anything else that you would like to highlight to us, we will be delighted to hear from you and incorporate your feedback into our content. <\/i><\/b><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

                Note: While we have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this Site has been obtained from reliable sources, Customs Declarations UK is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information in this Site is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Nothing herein shall to any extent substitute for the independent investigations and the sound technical and business judgment of the reader. In no event will Customs Declarations UK, or its partners, employees or agents, be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this Site or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Certain links in this Site connect to other Web Sites maintained by third parties over whom Customs Declarations UK has no control. Customs Declarations UK makes no representations as to the accuracy or any other aspect of information contained in other Web Sites.
                <\/em><\/p>\n

                [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                [vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text] On 13 November 2025, HMRC launched a significant new self-service tool that gives UK importers, exporters, and their agents free access to their customs declaration data. The Get Customs Data for Import and Export Declarations service represents a major shift in how businesses can access, review, and audit their customs information\u2014without the fees […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3053,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17,16],"tags":[864,872,312,869,170,799,164,156,871,232,866,862,863,868,865,870,867,873,626,874],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\t\n