Trader Dress Rehearsal is a free service that is designed to help you prepare for the live Customs Declaration Service. It is declarant-focused and lets you submit different declaration scenarios in a simulated Customs Declaration Service [to practice submitting declarations].
You can use the Trader Dress Rehearsal service if you’re a:
- Trader or Declarant
- Community System Provider
- Fast Parcel or Express Operator
Jump to a section:
Key benefits for users
What your business needs
Decide how the person dealing with customs will act for you
Key benefits for users
The Trader Dress Rehearsal service will support the successful migration to the Customs Declaration Service as it allows you to submit:
- import and export declarations in partnership with all your supply chain partners using real data
- realistic business scenarios in a supported Customs Declaration Service simulated environment
This is the first step we advise to become familiar with the system as no financial payments will be taken, and your licenses or quotas will not be affected.
Getting access to the Trader Dress Rehearsal service:
To access Trader Dress Rehearsal service, you will need third-party software from a software provider. If you already have a software provider, contact them to get access to the service.
If you do not have a software provider, you can find software providers who can help with the service. You must also have:
- an EORI number
- obtained any necessary authorisations, licences and duty deferment accounts
- knowledge of the UK Trade Tariff and making customs declarations
- a plan to access the Customs Declaration Service
Check the list of software developers who can provide Customs Declaration Service and Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) software if you don’t have a 3rd party provider yet.
Software Developers Providing Customs Declaration Support
Once this has been done, you can begin to submit practice declarations to familiarise yourself with the process.
Before appointing someone, however, there are several things to consider. This includes how you will be charged, for example, they may charge a:
- fixed fee
- fee per declaration
- fixed fee and a fee per declaration
What your business needs
You should make sure you have enough information about what you need before you speak to someone about dealing with customs for you.
You should check:
- they can move the type of goods you trade
- if they cover the routes or countries you trade with
- the full range of the services that they provide
- they can handle the:
- customs procedures for the countries you trade with
- number of declarations you expect to make in a week or month
- frequency of goods you move into or out of the UK
- if they’re open in the hours you’d need to contact them, for example:
- if they operate the same hours as your business
- are you able to contact them when your goods are in movement
You can check if you need to declare goods you bring into or take out of the UK to help you estimate the number of declarations you’ll need to make.
You should also agree what you and the person acting on your behalf would be responsible for, including:
- import or export declarations
- safety and security declarations
- transport needs
Licensing, special handling and other controls
You need to know if your goods need:
- a licence
- special handling
- other specialised controls
If they do, you should check if the person dealing with customs for you will be able to handle them.
Goods that need to arrive at a certain time
You should check if the person dealing with customs for you can:
- prioritise any goods that need to arrive at their destination within a specific timeframe
- deal with rapid and out-of-hours changes
- respond quickly to unforeseen issues
Training and support
As customs processes are complex, you should consider if you need any training or support.
The person dealing with customs for you may be able to provide this or direct you to appropriate training providers.
You can check a list of customs training providers.
Sharing information
Think about the most convenient way for you (and the person acting on your behalf) to send and receive information.
This may depend on what information they’ll need from you and how often you’ll need to provide information.
Northern Ireland
If you move goods through Northern Ireland, you should check the person acting on your behalf can make those types of declarations, and if they have access to the Trader Support Service.
Decide how the person dealing with customs will act for you
You should agree with the person dealing with customs for you if you need to have a duty deferment account to make payments or if they’ll use their own.
Get someone to act directly
You can hire a person or business to act in your name. You’ll be solely liable for:
- keeping records
- the accuracy of any information provided on your customs declarations
- any Customs Duty or import VAT due
If you give clear instructions and they make a deliberate or unreasonable error, they may become jointly and severally liable.
You can ask someone to act directly if you hold authorisation and are declaring goods in a customs special procedure for:
- inward processing
- outward processing
- temporary admission
- authorised use
- customs warehousing
If you hold authorisation for either simplified declaration procedures or entry in the declarant’s records, you can ask someone to act in your name.
If you’re established in the UK and import goods into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) you can ask someone to act directly using their own authorisation to make declarations using:
- simplified declaration procedure
- entry in the declarant’s records
You can ask someone to act directly using their own simplified declaration authorisation to declare the goods into a customs special procedure if all the following apply:
- you’re established in the UK
- you import goods into Great Britain
- you’re authorised to declare goods for a customs special procedure
The person representing you directly and making declarations in your name will not be held jointly liable.
Get someone to act indirectly
You can get someone to act for you in their own name, this means they’re:
- equally responsible for making sure the information is accurate
- jointly and severally liable for any Customs Duty or import VAT
If they have authorisation, you can get an indirect agent to make declarations using:
- simplified declaration procedures
- entry in the declarant’s records
If you’re not established in the UK and import goods into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) you can only ask someone to act indirectly on your behalf.
You cannot ask someone to act indirectly if you’re declaring goods for:
- inward processing
- outward processing
- temporary admission
- authorised use
- private customs warehousing
