Guidance

Amend or cancel a Customs Declaration Service import declaration

When you can amend or cancel your declaration depends on if you have received a final tax calculation message or if the declaration has been cleared.

From:
HM Revenue & Customs
Published
18 August 2022
Last updated
16 February 2024 — See all updates

Amending a declaration

You can use your Customs Declaration Service software to submit amendments to import declarations.

Amendments can be made up until you receive a final tax calculation message from the Customs Declaration Service, unless:

  • a claim to quota is being made, meaning the tax calculation at the end of the dwell time is provisional
  • your account does not have enough balance to cover the customs debt (an alert will be issued to resolve this)

If you cannot amend your declaration, you can cancel and resubmit it if the declaration has not been cleared.

If you submit an amendment to an existing declaration, and you get an error message, you can either submit a:

  • nil amendment (an amendment with no changes)
  • new amendment to correct the error

The declaration will be paused until the error is corrected.

The message and notifications you receive after making a successful amendment depends on the type of declaration and the software you are using.

Using your software

You can contact your software supplier:

  • for more information on how to make an amendment
  • to check if you can find out the status of your declaration through the Customs Declaration Service, Declaration Information Service

You cannot amend your declaration using Customs Declarations Service software once it has been cleared.

Cancelling a declaration

This is known as ‘invalidation’ and ‘withdrawal’.

You can make an invalidation request up until the declaration is cleared. If the declaration has not yet arrived, you will need to request invalidation.

If the declaration has arrived and is under control, the customs authority (HMRC, UK Border Force or Trading Standards) will decide if the invalidation request should be accepted.

When the control is finalised and you receive a final provisional tax or insufficient balance message, the invalidation request will be automatically accepted.

If you submit an amendment to an existing declaration, and you get an error message, it cannot be invalidated until the error has been resolved.

Once cleared, you cannot amend or cancel your customs declaration in the Customs Declaration Service. You must instead notify HMRC of your intention to amend or cancel your declaration. All requests will be reviewed by HMRC. You have up to 3 years to amend and 90 days to cancel your declaration. 

To request an amendment or cancellation after clearance, you must notify HMRC using either a:

Updates to this page

Published 18 August 2022
Last updated 16 February 2024 + show all updates

  1. Guidance for cancelling a declaration after clearance has been updated.

  2. First published.

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Contents

Part of Get UK customs clearance when importing goods into the UK: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if you need to follow this process

    Follow these steps to get your goods for import through UK customs if you’re managing the process yourself.

    Getting customs clearance is complicated. You can hire a transporter or customs agent to make the import declaration and get your goods through UK customs.

    1. Hire someone to deal with customs for you

    Your business must be ready to import the goods before you can get customs clearance.

    1. Find out about importing goods into the UK
    1. Check if you need to make an import declaration

  2. Step 2 Set up your business for making import declarations

    You need an EORI number that starts with GB to import goods into England, Wales or Scotland. You'll need a new one if you have an EORI that does not start with GB.

    If you move goods to or from Northern Ireland you may need one that starts with XI.

    1. Get an EORI number

    Depending on where you're moving goods, you need to be registered on the right systems and have compatible software to make declarations.

    1. Check what systems and software you need to make declarations

  3. Step 3 Check if you can make the customs process quicker

    There are processes that can make clearing customs quicker and easier to manage if you have to make import declarations regularly.

    1. Find out about using simplified declaration procedures
    2. Check if Authorised Economic Operator status is right for you

    If you're importing goods from the EU to England, Scotland or Wales (Great Britain) you might be able to delay making a declaration for up to 6 months.

    1. Check if you can declare your goods later if you're importing goods from the EU

    If you regularly import goods using Common Transit, you can apply to start movements of goods at your own premises.

    1. Check if consignee status is right for your business

  4. Step 4 Register to import goods with restrictions

    You need to register as an importer if you import things like plant or animal products, high-risk food or feed, medicines, textiles, chemicals or firearms.

    Register to import:

  5. Step 5 Check if you need a licence or certificate for your goods

    There are special rules and you may need to get licences or certificates if you are importing any of the following:

  6. and Check the labelling, marking and marketing rules

    1. Check the marking, labelling and marketing standards for food, plant seeds and manufactured goods

  7. Step 6 Arrange for the goods to be inspected

    If you import things like plant or animal products, you need to choose a place where the goods can be inspected. This needs to happen before they’re allowed through the UK border.

    1. Find an inspection point for animals and animal products
    2. Find an inspection point for plants, plant products, seeds and wood
    3. Find an inspection point for high risk food and feed that is not of animal origin
    4. Find an inspection point for endangered species, or products made from endangered plants or animals

    You need to let the inspection point know when the goods are arriving. You might have to pay a fee for the inspection.

  8. Step 7 Submit and manage the import declaration

    1. Find out how to submit import declarations
    2. You are currently viewing: Find out how to change or cancel an import declaration

    If you're importing goods from the EU to England, Scotland or Wales (Great Britain) you might be able to delay making a declaration for up to 6 months.

    1. Check if you can declare your goods later to make the importing process quicker

  9. Step 8 Pay VAT and duty

    HMRC will tell you how much to pay after you submit the declaration.

    1. Find out how and when to pay VAT and duty

  10. Step 9 Get the goods released if they're held up at the border

    The goods may be held at the border if, for example:

    • you have not paid the right amount of duty or VAT
    • you do not have the right import licences for the goods or business
    • they did not pass inspection
    • they've been combined with a shipment that has been held up

    If this happens you will be told why.

    1. Contact the National Clearance Hub to get help