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Making a full import declaration
Find out what you need to do when making a full declaration to bring or receive goods into the UK.
Before you submit
An entry summary declaration will normally have been lodged for your goods while they were travelling to the UK or, in some cases, before the goods were loaded.
You or your representative must present your goods to customs immediately on their arrival into the UK.
Roll on roll off and other listed locations
If you’re using roll on roll off or other listed locations, you’ll need to make a declaration before your goods arrive.
You’ll also need to arrive your full import declaration on the system manually by 11:59pm on the day after the day on which the goods arrived.
When to submit
Your full declaration must be made within 90 days of your goods being presented to customs.
You may be able to make a declaration up to 30 days before the arrival of your goods, but it will only be formally accepted when they have actually arrived and been presented.
How to submit
Your declaration will need to include:
- customs procedure code
- commodity code
- your declaration unique consignment reference which is the main reference number that links declarations in the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight ( CHIEF) system or Customs Declaration Service
You also need to provide information like:
- Declaration Unique Consignment Reference (DUCR)
- departure point and destination
- consignee and consignor
- type, amount and packaging of your goods
- transport methods and costs
- currencies and valuation methods
- certificates and licences
After you’ve submitted
When your declaration is accepted, we will tell you how much you owe.
You will need to pay duty before your goods can be released.
If you’re using a duty deferment account, payment for Customs Duty and Import VAT will be taken from your account on the 15th day of the following month.
The accounting period for Excise duties runs from 15th of a month to the 14th of the next month. You must pay either:
- on the 29th of the latter month (or 28 February in non-leap years)
- on the working day before that if the 29th (or 28 February is non-leap years) is not a working day
You can amend your import declaration before it’s been cleared by customs.
You can amend your declaration up to 3 years after your declaration.