UK CDS export declaration: new completion guidance
HMRC published updated instructions for completing export declarations in the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). The guide covers data element requirements for shippers filing written export declarations in the UK. While the source does not specify which fields, tariffs, or HS chapters changed, exporters using CDS must review the updated completion rules to avoid declaration rejections or delays.
Photo: Jan van der Wolf / PexelsUpdated UK export declaration guidance now live
HMRC released new completion instructions for the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) on 28 April 2026. The guidance specifies how to fill data elements when submitting written export declarations to UK customs.
Who is affected
This guidance applies to all UK exporters, freight forwarders, and customs agents who file export declarations via CDS. Any business moving goods out of the UK must comply with the data requirements outlined in the guide.
What shippers need to know
The CDS is the UK's main platform for customs declarations since the introduction of post-Brexit customs procedures. HMRC's completion guide ensures declarants understand which fields are mandatory, which are conditional, and how to populate them correctly. Errors in data submission can result in declaration rejection, customs holds, or penalties.
The guidance covers data elements across the full export declaration form. While the source does not itemize specific changes or new fields, the publication signals that exporters should consult the updated guide before submitting declarations.
What this means for shippers
All UK exporters must download and review the updated CDS completion guide before filing their next export declaration. Failure to follow the latest HMRC instructions risks rejection or delay at UK exit points. Check the guide now and update your declaration templates accordingly. /landed-cost
