UK customs · 100% liability guarantee

Your broker files it.
You carry the risk.

Digideclare UK prepares and files UK import customs declarations via CDS for importers of all goods — and absorbs 100% of the financial liability for classification errors. One wrong TARIC code can trigger a 3-year HMRC clawback, and the importer pays. We handle your declarations for a flat fee and absorb 100% of the liability for our errors.

Takes 30 seconds · No sign-up

POST-CLEARANCE REVIEW · EXAMPLEC18
ImporterUK apparel, mid-size
Declarations / year1,800
Annual trade volume£36,000,000
Duty rate12%
Review window3 years
Exposure before penalties£648,000

Broker fees paid that year: £99,000. Liability covered by the broker: £0.

17,286C18 post-clearance demands issued by HMRC in a single year
£418min customs duty clawed back from UK importers
3 yrsof past declarations HMRC can audit and reclaim
100%of the liability for our classification errors absorbed by Digideclare

Liability calculator

What is your customs risk really costing you?

The £50 entry fee is the cost you can see. The bigger number is the liability you carry on every entry. Use your own figures.

How do you clear goods today?

1,800 declarations a year

£

Customs value of a typical consignment

£

What you pay your forwarder or broker per entry

%

Typical UK tariff rate on your goods

Why Digideclare

Same declarations. Zero liability.

Brokers and in-house teams leave the risk with you. We take it off your books.

Broker or in-house
Digideclare
Who pays if HMRC finds a TARIC error
You do — importers stay jointly liable for broker mistakes
We do. 100% of the financial liability on our codes
3-year clawback exposure
Unsecured contingent liability on your balance sheet
£0 on entries we file
Internal oversight
Staff time spent checking broker data or keying entries
Hands-off, digital workflow with full audit trail
Pricing
Per-line fees that rise with every query and amendment
One transparent flat fee, agreed upfront
Deadlines & appeals
Missed HMRC deadlines become your problem
Monitored and handled for you

Case files

This is what HMRC enforcement looks like.

UK tribunal decisions show the consequences of invalid VAT claims, disputed classifications and missed appeal deadlines.

Joint & several liability

Roseline Logistics v HMRC

£1,126,249

A customs agent filed 32 declarations using postponed VAT accounting for a client who was not entitled to it. The tribunal upheld HMRC's demand against the agent for over £1.1m in import VAT.

An agent can face liability for invalid postponed VAT claims.

Classification appeal

HMRC v O'Neill Wetsuits

Ch. 40 → 61

O'Neill won its wetsuit classification appeal at the First-tier Tribunal. HMRC appealed successfully, and the Upper Tribunal restored the textile-garment classification in March 2026.

A first-instance classification win can be overturned on appeal.

Missed deadline

Storm Environmental v HMRC

£161,262

HMRC demanded duty and import VAT over imported steel bins. Storm filed its appeal about 10 months late; the tribunal refused permission, without deciding whether the classification was correct.

Missing the appeal deadline can prevent your case being heard.

How it works

From exposed to protected in four steps.

01

Exposure review

We run your current volumes and commodity codes through our liability model and show you exactly what you're carrying.

02

Classification audit

Our team checks your TARIC codes, origin and valuation, and fixes risks before they become C18 demands.

03

We file, digitally

Declarations, GVMS and safety & security filings, handled in a paperless workflow with a full audit trail.

04

We carry the liability

If HMRC raises a claim on a code we classified, we pay it. Not you.

Services

UK customs declarations & clearance services.

UK import customs declarations (CDS)

Import entries for all goods and industries through the Customs Declaration Service

GVMS & Goods Movement References

Goods Vehicle Movement Service support for UK border crossings

Safety & security declarations (ENS)

Entry Summary Declaration filings for applicable inbound movements

Special customs procedures

Temporary admission, inward processing and customs warehousing

UK tariff classification

Commodity code reviews and binding ruling support

UK customs consultancy

Support for businesses new to importing

Declaration fees

Transparent UK customs declaration fees.

One transparent flat fee, agreed upfront. Send us your shipment details for the fees that apply to your requirements.

Digideclare service-fee basis
ServiceFee basisBefore submission
UK import declaration (CDS)Flat fee agreed upfrontShipment details and customs documents reviewed
GVMS / Goods Movement ReferenceQuoted for your movementCrossing details and declaration references checked
Safety & security declaration (ENS)Quoted for your filingRequired shipment data and filing deadline checked
Special procedures & consultancyQuoted for your requirementsProcedure, eligibility and scope reviewed

Calculator figures illustrate potential costs and exposure; they are not a Digideclare price list. Customs duty and import VAT are separate from declaration service fees.

FAQ

UK import declarations: your questions answered.

What does Digideclare do for UK importers?

Digideclare prepares and files UK import customs declarations through the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). Our services include GVMS support, ENS safety and security declarations, tariff classification, special procedures and customs consultancy.

How much does a UK customs declaration cost with Digideclare?

Digideclare agrees one transparent flat fee upfront. Contact us with your shipment details and declaration requirements for a quote; the calculator's broker fees are illustrative inputs, not Digideclare's published prices.

Isn't my freight forwarder already liable for errors?

Usually not. Most forwarders and brokers act as direct representatives, which leaves the importer liable for the duty. Even indirect representatives are jointly liable, so HMRC can pursue either party.

What exactly does the liability guarantee cover?

Underpaid duty and associated penalties arising from classification errors on declarations we prepare. The exact scope is set out in your service agreement.

What information is needed for a GVMS Goods Movement Reference (GMR)?

A GMR links the relevant customs declaration references to a vehicle or trailer and its crossing. The information depends on the route and procedure and can include import or export references, transit MRNs, vehicle or trailer identification and crossing details. Send us your documents so we can check what is required for your movement.

How long does a Safety and Security (ENS) declaration take?

Timing depends on the shipment information, transport mode and applicable filing deadline. Digideclare handles ENS declarations; contact us before your crossing to agree the submission schedule. An ENS filing is separate from an import customs declaration and does not itself guarantee customs release.

Can Digideclare help with temporary admission and special customs procedures?

Yes. Digideclare supports temporary admission, inward processing and customs warehousing. Eligibility for duty relief or suspension depends on your goods, intended use and any required authorisations; we review the appropriate procedure with you.

Do I need an EORI number to import into Great Britain?

Businesses generally need an EORI number starting with GB to import goods into England, Scotland or Wales. Northern Ireland and EU movements have different requirements, and exceptions can apply. We can check which identifiers are needed for your shipment.

How is the calculator estimate worked out?

Annual imports × average duty rate gives the duty you pay each year. We assume 5% of entries carry an error before detection, across HMRC's 3-year review window. Penalties can add up to 100% of the underpaid amount.

How quickly can we switch?

Most importers can move their declarations to us within a few days. We start with a free exposure review of your recent entries.

Official guidance: EORI numbers · Goods Movement References · Safety & security declarations

Free exposure review

Take the liability off your books.

Send us a sample of recent entries. We'll show you what you're exposed to and what it costs to remove it.

Email
Address

North Place, 82 Great North Road
Hatfield, England AL9 5BL
United Kingdom

Company

Digideclare UK Ltd · No. 16586822