Using CSV file upload to complete your movements

You can add up to 99 goods records to your declaration by uploading a single or multiple comma separated values (CSV) files.

Page contents:

What is a CSV file

A comma separated values (CSV) file is a plain text document available in Excel (or other spreadsheet programmes) that you can use to upload information directly into a system that supports CSV files.

Why use a CSV file in the Trader Support Service

You can use a CSV file to upload all information about your goods directly onto the service.

This means that you can add multiple goods records to your movements instead of completing them individually, saving you time.

You can use this file to upload up to 99 goods records.

You can upload multiple CSV files of goods records for the same movement if the total number of records is less than 99.

What declaration types can you use CSV files with

You can use a CSV file to upload goods records into the following declaration types:

Internal Market Movement Information (IMMI)
Entry in the Declarant’s Records (EIDR)
simplified frontier declaration (called a simplified declaration in this service)
full import declaration (called a standard declaration in this service, previously called a Full Frontier Declaration)
entry summary declaration

How to use the CSV file

To use the CSV file to upload your goods information:

Download the CSV file template.

TSS CSV Template

Complete as many of the fields under each heading in the file as applicable and save it to your computer. The file extension must be ‘.csv’.
When you reach the goods record section of your declaration, select ‘upload CSV’ to upload the document and submit.

You must use the template in this guide to upload CSV files. This is because the headings in the template match the fields in the declaration form. The upload will not work if the headings do not match, or if you use a different file type.

For the best results, complete the template with as much information about your goods as possible. This includes:

pieces and weight information
commodity codes and goods descriptions
procedure and additional procedure codes
any document codes and additional information codes (if applicable)

The more complete the template is, the fewer changes you’ll need to make after uploading the file.

You must not delete any columns from the template. This will result in a failed upload and you will need to reinsert any deleted columns.

If you do not have all the information, you can still upload your file, even if partially completed, and complete any missing information directly in the service.

Before you start

To find out what information you will need to provide for each movement, see the relevant guidance on:

You can find out more about your goods by entering your commodity code in the Northern Ireland Online Tariff which will help you complete the template. For example, the tariff can tell you if your goods are subject to control measures. If they are, it usually means you will need to provide a document code.

Formatting and character restrictions

Each column within the template must follow a specific format.

Column	Field name as shown on the template	Characters allowed	Number of characters
A	goods_description	Letters and numbers	Up to 512
B	commodity_code	Numbers only	6, 8 or 10 dependent on declaration type
C	gross_mass	Numbers only	Up to 16, including up to 6 decimal places
D	net_mass	Numbers only	Up to 16, including up to 6 decimal places
E	type_of_package_code	Numbers or letters and numbers	2
F	number_of_packages	Numbers only	Up to 8
G	country_of_origin	Letters only	2
H	package_marks	Letters and numbers	Up to 512
I	item_price	Numbers only	Up to 16, including up to 2 decimal places
J	item_currency	Letters only	3
K	number_of_individual_pieces	Numbers only	Up to 8
L	supplementary_units	Numbers only	Up to 16, including up to 6 decimal places
M	procedure_code	Numbers only	4
N	invoice_number	Letters and numbers	Up to 35
O	are_goods_controlled	Letters	Yes or No
P	un_dangerous_goods_code	Numbers, or letters and numbers	4
Q	additional_procedure_code_1	Numbers, or letters and numbers	3
R	document_code_1	Numbers, or letters and numbers	4
S	document_reference_1	Letters and numbers	Up to 35
T	document_status_1	Letters only	2
U	document_reason_1	Letters and numbers	Up to 35
V	document_code_2	Numbers, or letters and numbers	4
W	document_reference_2	Letters and numbers	Up to 35
X	document_status_2	Letters only	2
Y	document_reason_2	Letters and numbers	Up to 35
Z	additional_information_code_1	Letters, or letters and numbers	5
AA	additional_information_description_1	Letters and numbers	Up to 512

You can use the following code lists to help you identify the information needed to complete the template accurately:

Package type codes for Data Element 6/9 of the Customs Declaration Service - GOV.UK
Country codes for the Customs Declaration Service - GOV.UK
Currency codes for Data Element 4/10 of the Customs Declaration Service - GOV.UK
Writing an acceptable goods description - Trader Support Service
Data Element 2/3: Documents and Other Reference Codes (Union) of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) - GOV.UK
Additional Information (AI) Statement Codes for Data Element 2/2 of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) - GOV.UK
For IMMI: Simplified Process for Internal Market Movements (SPIMM) and UK Carrier (UKC) Scheme: Procedure Codes - GOV.UK
For IMMI: Additional Procedure Codes Introduction and Index List for Simplified Process for Internal Market Movements (SPIMM) and UK Carrier (UKC) Scheme - GOV.UK
For full import declarations, EIDR and simplified frontier declarations: Appendix 1: DE 1/10: Requested and Previous Procedure Codes of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) - GOV.UK
For full import declarations, EIDR and simplified frontier declarations: Appendix 2: DE 1/11: Additional Procedure Codes of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) - GOV.UK

Document and additional information codes

The template allows you to enter:

2 document codes
1 additional information codes

You can add more document or additional information codes.

Insert a new column.
Add the heading using the same format, for example, 'document_code_3'.
Add any subsequent columns as required, for example, ‘document_status_3’, ‘document_reference_3’.

If you do not follow the same heading structure, your upload will fail and you will need to fix it before uploading it again.

After you have uploaded your CSV file

Once you’ve successfully uploaded your file, you’ll see a list of your goods records.

You’ll see an error message if there’s anything missing from your records.

You should:

check through your goods records
complete any missing data
upload another CSV file if you need to - up to the limit of 99 goods records

You can add the same piece of missing data to all your goods records at once. For example, if the invoice number is missing from your record and the same invoice number applies to all the records, you can select to copy the invoice number to all records.

When all goods records are completed, you can submit your movement.

Troubleshooting

If you get an error message when uploading your file, there are some steps you can take.

Check the file extension is correct when saving the template – it must always be ‘.csv’.
Check your CSV file against the most recent template, which will be in this guide.

If this is not the cause of the error, raise a case with a support agent to help you.