Entry summary declaration errors when using the Trader Support Service
Find out how to identify, understand and resolve Import Control System 2 (ICS2) errors returned when submitting entry summary declarations through the Trader Support Service.
Contents
- Before you start
- Breaking down the error message
- Common errors
- After correcting the error
- If you still cannot resolve the error
Before you start
When you submit entry summary declarations for movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland through the Trader Support Service, they are sent to ICS2 for validation and processing.
If ICS2 identifies an issue with the entry summary declaration, it will return an error message explaining why the declaration could not be accepted.
The Trader Support Service will display the ICS2 error code and error message, and the declaration status will change to Trader input required.
ICS2 errors may contain message references, rule references or validation references. You can use this guidance to understand what the error means and what action you need to take to resolve it.
Breaking down the error message
When an entry summary declaration is rejected, the service will display an error message explaining why the declaration could not be accepted.
Take the following example:
This ICS2 error message can be broken into three parts:
1. Validation code
In this example, the validation code is: 12
The validation code is a reference used by ICS2 to identify the validation rule that has failed.
You can find more information about ICS2 validation codes in Annex C of the European Commission's ICS2 operational guidance available on CIRCABC.
By checking this guidance, validation code 12 means ‘Incorrect (code) value’.
This indicates that information entered in the entry summary declaration does not comply with an ICS2 code list, rule or condition.
The validation code can help you understand the type of error that has occurred. The error description and field reference will usually provide the most useful information when identifying what needs to be corrected in the entry summary declaration .
2. Description of the error
In this example, the description of the error is:
EORI number shall be declared
The error description explains what has gone wrong.
In this example, the description tells us that there is an issue with an EORI number field on the entry summary declaration .
3. Field
In this example, the field is:
IE3F10/consignmentMasterLevel/carrier/identificationNumber
The field identifies where the error occurred within the entry summary declaration.
Field references may appear technical because they relate to the structure of the ICS2 message. However, they can help you identify the information that needs to be corrected.
In this example:
- carrier refers to the carrier details
- identificationNumber refers to the carrier identification number field
Combined with the error description:
EORI number shall be declared
This tells us that the error relates to the carrier EORI number. The EORI number may be missing, invalid or incorrectly formatted.
The carrier EORI number should be reviewed and corrected before the entry summary declaration is resubmitted.
Common errors
Validation code: 81
Full error message example:
What it means
A transport document reference has already been used on an entry summary declaration, as indicated by the error description, Duplicate Transport Document Reference.
ICS2 requires transport document references to be unique. If a transport document reference has already been submitted on another entry summary declaration for the same declarant, the declaration may be rejected with this error.
Likely causes
This may be because:
- the same transport document reference has been used on more than one entry summary declaration
- a previous entry summary declaration has been copied and resubmitted without updating the transport document reference
- the wrong transport document reference has been entered
- a previous entry summary declaration with the same transport document reference was recently submitted and still undergoing validation by ICS2
How to resolve
Read the full error message and use the field reference provided to identify the affected transport document number.
Check the transport documentation for the movement and confirm that the correct transport document reference has been entered.
If the reference has already been used on another entry summary declaration, update the declaration with a unique transport document reference and resubmit it.
Validation code: 94
Full error message example:
What it means
The local reference number (LRN) entered on the entry summary declaration has already been used by the person submitting the entry summary declaration .
ICS2 requires each entry summary declaration to have a unique LRN.
Likely causes
This may be because:
- the same LRN has been used on more than one entry summary declaration
- a previous entry summary declaration has been copied and resubmitted without updating the LRN
- the wrong LRN has been entered
How to resolve
Check the LRN entered on the entry summary declaration .
If the LRN has already been used on a previous entry summary declaration, update the declaration with a new unique LRN.
Resubmit the entry summary declaration once the LRN has been corrected.
After correcting the error
After you have corrected the error, resubmit the entry summary declaration .
If the entry summary declaration is accepted, the entry summary declaration status will update and processing will continue.
If the entry summary declaration is rejected again, review the new error message and repeat the process.
Multiple errors may exist on the same entry summary declaration . Some errors may only become visible after earlier errors have been corrected.
If you still cannot resolve the error
If you are unable to resolve the error after following this guidance, you should first review the other entry summary declaration guidance available on the Trader Support Service Customs guidance page, accessible from the Menu.
The European Commission also hosts some information relating to ICS2 on their CIRCABC platform.
If you still cannot resolve the error, you can use the support options available through the Trader Support Service, including:
- the digital assistant
- creating a support case
- contacting the support centre by telephone on 0800 870 8173
When contacting support, provide:
- the entry summary declaration reference
- the full ICS2 error message
- details of any steps you have already taken to resolve the issue
This will help the support team investigate the error more quickly.