Known error workarounds for the Customs Declaration Service (CDS)
Check for workarounds to the declaration completion instructions for Customs Declaration Service known errors if you’re submitting a customs clearance request or customs declaration.
Documents
Details
In order to support you in your interactions with the Customs Declaration Service platform, HMRC has created a consolidated workaround document, hosting all known workarounds in a single product.
Why workarounds are needed
Workarounds are provided to support you in using the Customs Declaration Service as the platform proceeds through the final stages of its development. The need for workarounds may result from several factors and includes providing:
- mitigations for misalignments between CDS and the Declaration Completion instructions prior to their resolution
- mitigations for known errors in CDS functionality prior to their resolution
- interim mitigations for gaps in functionality, prior to its delivery in a later production release
Workarounds best practice
This document is not exhaustive and will be updated alongside each CDS production release.
If you encounter a misalignment of error for which there is no listed workaround, please apply the following best practice principles:
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If declaration completion instructions indicate that it is not essential for a data element to be completed, or for supporting documentation to be provided, try submitting the rejected declaration again with all fields completed.
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If a code combination is being rejected, returning error code CDS12056, then please try again with the closest alternative code.
Authorisation by declaration workarounds
The guidance is intended to assist declarants submitting declarations at import or export for consignments which are either:
- entering a Special Procedure using authorisation by declaration
- being discharged from a Special Procedure which they entered using authorisation by declaration
Customs Declaration Service system functionality for authorisation by declaration does not always match the requirements as set out in the completion guide, so these notes will assist in declaration completion.
Last updated 21 December 2022 + show all updates
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The 'workarounds for known errors with the Customs Declaration Service' file has been updated with the latest information on consolidated workarounds.
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First published.
Update history
2025-03-04 12:37
This ‘Consolidated Workaround Document Intra Release 02.2025’ edition includes Known Differences (KD) that have been resolved so far, which have been moved to the Resolved and Closed tab. There is also 1 new Known Difference, and the Known Error Log (KEL) has some new additions, amendments and closures.
2024-10-17 17:15
Updates have been made to the ‘Workarounds for known errors with the Customs Declaration Service’ document to reflect changes resulting from Customs Declaration Service release 4.6 on 28 September 2024.
2024-07-31 11:26
This Consolidated Workaround Document July Post – 4.5.0 release edition confirms those Known Differences (KD) resolved by the 4.5.0 update. There are also 3 new Known Differences, 1 CR amendment, 1 CR resolution and 1 ILE vs CHIEF resolution. Known Error Logs (KEL) also have some new additions, amendments and closures. Updates and changes are listed on the individual Change Log tabs. To view the details of these changes navigate to the relevant tabs (KD, KEL, ILE vs CHIEF or CR)’
2024-07-08 11:14
The ‘ABD Update’ tab of the ‘Workarounds for known errors with the Customs Declaration Service’ document has been corrected.
2024-07-03 14:22
This Consolidated Workaround Document contains new Known Error Log (KELs), and new Known Differences (KDs) that are set to be amended in the 4.5.0 CDS release in July 2024. Updates and changes are listed on the individual Change Log tabs. To view the details of these changes navigate to the ‘KD – Workarounds’, ‘KEL- Workarounds.
2024-06-03 08:41
The May edition of the Consolidated Workaround Document contains Known Error Log (KEL) updates and new ILE Vs CHIEF changes. There are also some Known Difference (KD) amendments. The changes are listed on the individual Change Log tabs. To view these changes navigate to the ‘KD – Workarounds’, ‘KEL – Workarounds’, ‘KD – Resolved’, ‘KEL – Resolved and Closed’ and ‘ILE Vs CHIEF’ tabs.
2024-04-11 11:58
The edition contains notice of minor business rule changes delivered March 2024 as part of CDS 4.4.0, updated Authorisation By Declaration (ABD) advice and Known Error Log (KEL) updates. To isolate these items, navigate to the ‘Known Differences – Workarounds’, ‘ABD’ or ‘KEL- Workarounds’ and ‘KEL – Resolved and Closed’ tabs.
2024-03-08 11:36
This updated Consolidated Workaround Document (CWD) edition contains closed and removed Known Error Logs (KELs), which are not relevant or required for Declarants using Customs Declaration Service (CDS). There is a new addition, and 2 amendments to ‘ILE Vs CHIEF Known Difference’ tab. The minor changes and removals can be found in the ‘Change Log’ tab.
2024-01-19 10:16
This updated Consolidated Workaround Document (CWD) edition contains notice of Inventory Linked Exports (ILE) v Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) Known Differences amendments and a new addition, which can be found in the ‘ILE v CHIEF Known Differences’ tab. This edition also contains notice of additional KELs and changes to KELs which are detailed on the ‘Document Guidance and Change log’ tab and can be found in the ‘KEL-Workarounds’ tab, and notice of a new Change Request (CR) and amended CR guidance, which can be found in the ‘CR Workarounds – Declarants’ tab.
2024-01-15 12:08
This updated Consolidated Workaround Document (CWD) edition contains notice of resolved and closed minor business rule changes that were delivered in late 2023 as part of the Customs Declaration Service 4.3.0. update. To isolate these items, navigate to the ‘Known Differences – Resolved/Closed’ tab. This CWD also details changes to KEL 612 which can be found in the ‘KEL-Workarounds’ tab.
2023-12-19 14:44
This edition contains notice of minor business rule changes to be delivered in late 2023 as part of CDS 4.3.0. To isolate these items, navigate to the ‘Known Differences – Workarounds’ tab. The ‘CR Workaround’ tab listing priority Change Request items for Declarants has 1 new addition. This CWD also contains ‘ILE v CHIEF – Known Difference’ tab listing known differences between Inventory Linked Exports/CHIEF and user actions.
2023-12-01 16:19
An updated Consolidated Workaround Document (CWD) has been added to cover Known Difference updates post-CDS-4.2.0, and Known Error Log updates post-CDS-4.1.2. This CWD must be used for reference and workarounds until further notice.
2023-10-26 16:12
This Consolidated Workaround Document edition contains notice of some minor business rule changes delivered as part of CDS 4.2.0 in September 2023. To isolate these items, navigate to the ‘Known Differences – Resolved’ tab. There are also new items added, with resolution due dates to be delivered later in 2023, navigate to the ‘Known Differences – Workarounds’ tab. Going forward, this and subsequent Documents will also contain ‘CR Workaround’ tab listing priority Change Request items for Declarants.
2023-09-06 14:32
This updated Consolidated Workaround Document contains an additional Export Change Requests information tab (‘CR Workaround – Declarants’). The additional tab covers 3 Export Change Requests and their workarounds, including Goods Vehicle Movement Service export journey simplification and Trader Dress Rehearsal environment. These are priority issues being addressed with estimated resolution Financial Year 2023 to 2024.
2023-07-31 11:43
This ‘consolidated workaround’ document edition contains notice of a number of minor business rule changes delivered as part of CDS 4.1.0 in June 2023. To isolate these items, navigate to the ‘known differences – resolved’ tab. There are also new items added, with resolutions due to be delivered later in 2023, navigate to the ‘known differences – workarounds’ tab.
2022-12-21 15:10
The ‘workarounds for known errors with the Customs Declaration Service’ file has been updated with the latest information on consolidated workarounds.
2022-10-27 08:36
First published.