Excise movement and control system — service availability and issues
Updated 7 November 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/excise-movement-and-control-system-emcs-service-availability-and-issues/ef373cea-bacc-4820-952a-dc4cae44b64e
Service availability
If you’re trying to create, sign in or reset your user ID or password, check for known problems with Government Gateway.
Sign in to Excise movement and control system (EMCS).
Planned downtime
None.
Service issues
Historic messages
We are aware there is an issue with some traders receiving historic messages the first time they call for messages on the new EMCS service. This issue should only occur on the first attempt.
If you continue to experience this issue, contact the helpdesk.
Customs Declaration Service requesting an EMCS administrative reference code
The Customs Declaration Service is requesting an EMCS administrative reference code on import declarations where goods are being declared to excise duty suspension.
As the administrative reference code may only be generated after the customs declaration has cleared, it will not always be possible to provide this information at the time you are making the import declaration.
If you cannot provide an administrative reference code, you should declare:
- document code: C651
- document status code: UE
- text ‘Not Applicable’
HMRC will arrange for this issue to be addressed as soon as possible through the Customs Declaration Service validation rules.
Update on undischarged export movements on EMCS
As of 7 December 2023:
- the matching of export Administrative Reference Codes (ARC) has restarted
- EMCS is processing matching messages and has started issuing Report of Export messages to discharge the impacted ARC movements
Due to a backlog from 2 November 2023 you may still receive Export Rejection Messages.
You can ignore these messages where the Administrative Reference Code (ARC) movement receives a Report of Export from EMCS.
Other issues
If you need help with anything not listed here, contact the EMCS National Service Desk Helpline.
Other services
Check availability and issues for other services.