Completing the Simplified Customs Declaration Process (SCDP)

Find out what actions you need to take to complete an entry in the declarant’s record (EIDR), a simplified declaration and a supplementary declaration using the Trader Support Service.

Contents

Use this guidance when completing an EIDR or simplified declaration without an entry summary declaration linked to it.

To complete an EIDR or simplified declaration with an entry summary declaration, follow every step in this checklist and those in the section on completing an entry summary declaration with an EIDR or simplified declaration.

This guidance does not cover the Internal Market Movement Information. If you’re eligible, you can complete this instead. See actions you need to take to complete an Internal Market Movement Information.

You need to submit a customs declaration when you move goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

The Simplified Customs Declaration Process (SCDP) lets you complete this in 2 parts.

You will need to give some information about your goods before you move them. When the goods arrive, you provide the remaining information.

What you need to complete before moving goods

This depends on the type of goods you are moving - if:

you move standard goods (not subject to documents and licenses) you must complete an EIDR – this is where you make an entry in your own records about the movement
your goods are controlled, you must complete a simplified declaration. You can check if your goods are controlled before you start

The Trader Support Service will create the appropriate record for you once you confirm whether your goods are controlled.

Before you submit: who does what – EIDR or simplified declaration

You’ll need to gather information about the goods and the movement.

You may need to get this information from other parties involved in the supply chain.

The importer of record is responsible for the information provided on the EIDR or simplified declaration. They may agree with the transporter or intermediary to complete these declarations on their behalf.

Table showing what traders, hauliers and agents need to do before submitting an EIDR or simplified declaration.
Actions	Trader responsibility(seller, exporter, buyer, importer)	Transporter responsibility(carrier, haulier)	Intermediary responsibility(agent, freight forwarder)
Gather information about the: transport and journey information parties involved in the supply chain goods’ characteristics and packaging You can find these details in the section details required to complete an EIDR or simplified declaration of the guide.	Yes	Yes(when submitting information on behalf of the trader)	Yes(when submitting information on behalf of the trader)
Find out who the importer of record is by checking the incoterms on the commercial invoice. This is because you need to use the correct EORI number for the importer.If you’re not sure, you can read the guidance on incoterms.If there are no incoterms on the commercial invoice, seek advice from the buyer and seller.	Yes	Yes(when submitting information on behalf of the trader)	Yes(when submitting information on behalf of the trader)
Ensure you and your customer are registered for the Trader Support Service.(one-time step)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Register for the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) (opens in a new tab) to get a goods movement reference.(one-time step)	No	Yes	No
If you contract a carrier or haulier, make sure they are registered for the GVMS.(one-time step)	Yes	No	No

Additional actions to take - simplified declaration only

You need to give more details when moving controlled goods.

Table showing what traders, hauliers and agents need to do before submitting a simplified declaration.
Actions	Trader responsibility(seller, exporter, buyer, importer)	Transporter responsibility(carrier, haulier)	Intermediary responsibility(agent, freight forwarder)
Check you have the appropriate document, licence or certificate for your goods. You will need to enter these details on your declaration. You can use the Northern Ireland Online Tariff (opens in a new tab) to check what documents are required for your goods.These will be listed under Conditions within the Import controls heading of the tariff.	Yes	Yes(when submitting information on behalf of the trader)	Yes(when submitting information on behalf of the trader)
Check the document, license or certificate: is valid (in date) has sufficient quantity has the same commodity code you will enter on the declaration	Yes	Yes(when submitting information on behalf of the trader)	Yes(when submitting information on behalf of the trader)

Details required to complete an EIDR or simplified declaration

You’ll need key details about the:

parties involved
goods
transport

You can find this information from:

commercial invoices - includes the names of the seller/exporter and buyer/importer, the value of the goods, and a description of the goods
packing lists - shows the number of packages, as well as their weight and size
transport documents - Bill of Lading (sea), CMR note (road)

You can identify what information you need from the following government guidance:

Note: the portal will not display the actual data elements. Instead, it shows the data field names and asks guided questions to help you enter the required information for each element.

Submitting the EIDR or simplified declaration

When you have all the details you need, you can submit your information. Take the following steps:

fill out the EIDR or simplified declaration with the details gathered and submit the form using the Trader Support Service.
you or your haulier/intermediary will need to submit the information, through the Trader Support Service at least 2 hours before the goods are due to arrive in Northern Ireland

After you submit: who does what - EIDR or simplified declaration

After you send your information, the following will happen to keep your goods moving:

if you have submitted a simplified declaration, the Trader Support Service will send this information to the Customs Declaration Service - EIDR movements do not need to be sent to the Customs Declaration Service
the Trader Support Service will send you an email containing information you will need to provide to the transporter

Table showing what traders, hauliers and agents need to do after submitting an EIDR or simplified declaration.
Actions	Trader responsibility(seller, exporter, buyer, importer)	Transporter responsibility(carrier, haulier)	Intermediary responsibility(agent, freight forwarder)
If you submitted an EIDR, you must provide the transporter with: the Local Reference Number (LRN) the Movement Reference Number (MRN) the procedure code The transporter needs this to confirm Notification of Presentation (NOP) when creating a goods movement reference on the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) (opens in a new tab)	Yes	No	Yes(when submitting information on behalf of the trader)
If you submitted a simplified declaration, you must provide the transporter with the MRN. This is required to create the goods movement reference.	Yes	No	Yes(when submitting information on behalf of the trader)
When the goods arrive, check you have a ‘draft’ supplementary declaration on your account.	Yes	No	Yes(when submitting information on behalf of the trader)

What you need to complete when your goods arrive

You must complete a supplementary declaration by the 10th calendar day of the month following the goods movement. For example, if your goods arrive on 26 March 2026, you must submit your supplementary declaration by 10 April 2026.

You could complete an Internal Market Movement Information (opens in a new tab) instead of a supplementary declaration if your goods are eligible for the simplified processes (opens in a new tab).

If you are eligible, check the information required to complete an Internal Market Movement Information instead of a supplementary declaration.

Before you submit: who does what - supplementary declarations

You need to provide the remaining information about the goods you moved. You do this by submitting a supplementary declaration.

Remember, you can complete a smaller dataset of information known as an Internal Market Movement Information instead if you are eligible for the simplified processes for Internal Market (opens in a new tab).

Table showing what traders, hauliers and agents need to do before submitting a supplementary declaration.
Actions	Trader responsibility(seller, exporter, buyer, importer)	Transporter responsibility(carrier, haulier)	Intermediary responsibility(agent, freight forwarder)
Check if your goods attract customs duty.If they do, but are: ‘not at risk’ of entering the EU (opens in a new tab), ensure your UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) (opens in a new tab) authorisation is in place and active on your ‘Company profile’ (one-time step) - You must keep evidence to prove your goods are ‘not at risk’ if requested by HMRC ‘at risk’, check if you can get relief from customs duty	.Yes	No	Yes(if acting as Importer of record)
Have the information needed for your supplementary declaration to hand.You can find these details in the section details required to complete a supplementary declaration of the guide.	Yes	Yes(when submitting information on behalf of the trader)	Yes(when submitting information on behalf of the trader)

Details required to complete a supplementary declaration

You’ll need key details about the:

parties involved
goods
transport

Some of this information will be pre-filled by the Trader Support Service from when you submitted your EIDR or simplified declaration

You can find this information from:

commercial invoices - includes the names of the seller/exporter and buyer/importer, the value of the goods, and a description of the goods
packing lists - shows the number of packages, as well as their weight and size
transport documents - Bill of Lading (sea), CMR note (road)

You can identify what information you need from the following government guidance: Information required for a supplementary declaration (opens in a new tab).

Note: the portal will not display the actual data elements. Instead, it shows the data field names and asks guided questions to help you enter the required information for each element

Submitting the supplementary declaration

When you have all the details you need, you can submit your information.

Your declaration will go into ‘processing’ state and will return with one of the following states:

Closed
Trader Input Required
Amendment required
Pending payment

After you submit: who does what - supplementary declaration

You’ll need to carry out some final checks after submitting your declaration.

Table showing what traders, hauliers and agents need to do after submitting a supplementary declaration.
Actions	Trader responsibility(seller, exporter, buyer, importer)	Transporter responsibility(carrier, haulier)	Intermediary responsibility(agent, freight forwarder)
Check your declaration status shows as ‘closed’. If your declaration is in the following states: ‘Trader Input Required’ and ‘Amendment required’ you need to take action to correct the errors. You can find out how to resolve declaration errors and resubmit your declaration.	Yes	No	Yes (when submitting information on behalf of the trader)
Make a payment if customs duty is due.If payment is due, your declaration will show the status as ‘pending payment’.	Yes	No	Yes (when submitting information on behalf of the trader)

The final stage of SCDP is to submit a final supplementary declaration (opens in a new tab). You do not need to do this. This will be done by the Trader Support Service.

Completing an entry summary declaration with an EIDR or simplified declaration

Moving goods to Northern Ireland also requires an entry summary declaration to fulfil safety and security requirements.

You can choose to complete an EIDR or simplified declaration at the same time as the entry summary declaration. This can be done as part of the entry summary declaration consignment. You’ll need to provide some extra information to the party that will be dealing with the transport and submission of the entry summary declaration.

Ensure you provide the following information to the entry summary declaration submitter:

the correct importer EORI number to use - the Trader Support Service will generate the supplementary declaration to the importers account (If intending to benefit from the simplified processes for Internal Market Movement (opens in a new tab) use the EORI number associated to the importers UKIMS authorisation if they have one)
check the information needed to complete the entry summary declaration
if you, as a trader created the EIDR or simplified declaration, give the haulier or intermediary responsible for transporting the goods the LRN generated by the Trader Support Service after you save the form

The Trader Support Service will send the submitter the MRN of the EIDR or simplified declaration and the entry summary declaration MRN.