Customs Clearance UK & Customs Broker

Customs clearance, handled in-house

We clear imports and exports for businesses moving goods in and out of the UK, with our own in-house customs team, not an outsourced agent. Declarations filed through CDS (the Customs Declaration Service, HMRC's current platform), with digital records kept for six years in line with HMRC, so your business stays audit ready.

What we do

Import and export declarations filed electronically through CDS
Export accompanying documents (EAD) and NCTS T1 transit documents for road shipments
Completion of customs formalities at UK ports, airports and terminals
Digital filing and record retention in line with HMRC, so you're audit ready

Our customs team has handled declarations since Sims began in 1973, and because it sits alongside the freight team, one call covers both the paperwork and the goods. If a declaration ever needs correcting, we handle it with HMRC on your behalf.

The paperwork you’ll need

To clear a shipment we'll need a commercial invoice and packing list. The invoice should carry:

Shipper and consignee names, addresses and contact details
Goods description with the right commodity codes
Weight (gross and net) and packaging details
Value and currency per item and in total
Incoterm (who is responsible for cost and risk at each stage)
Country of origin per item
EORI numbers (your customs ID for moving goods in or out of the UK) for both shipper and consignee
Invoice number and date

Not sure about a commodity code or which Incoterm applies? Tell us about the shipment and we'll help you get it right.

Post-Brexit customs, in plain terms

Since Brexit, full customs controls apply to all UK-EU trade: an export declaration when goods leave the UK, an import declaration when they arrive. HMRC now files everything through CDS, which replaced the old CHIEF system. You also need a GB EORI number (and an XI EORI for Northern Ireland movements). We handle the declarations and can tell you exactly what you need for your shipment if you're new to it.

Your customs broker, in-house not outsourced

Plenty of customs is white-labelled out to a third party. Ours isn't. As your customs broker, our team works alongside our freight forwarding and transport teams, so your declaration and the vehicle carrying the goods are arranged by the same people, with one point of contact and no gap between them. We clear sea and air shipments the same way. See our freight forwarding, sea and air freight and European road freight services.

Questions, answered

What is customs clearance, and do I need an agent?

Customs clearance is the process of declaring goods to HMRC so they can legally enter or leave the country. Most businesses use an agent like us to file the declarations correctly and avoid delays or penalties.

What replaced CHIEF?

CDS, the Customs Declaration Service. It's HMRC's current platform for all UK customs declarations, and it's what we file through.

What is an EORI number and do I need one?

An EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number is the customs ID required to move goods in or out of the UK. Both the shipper and the consignee need one; you'll need a GB EORI, plus an XI EORI for Northern Ireland movements.

What documents do I need to clear an import?

A commercial invoice and packing list, with commodity codes, values, EORI numbers, the Incoterm and country of origin. We'll tell you exactly what's needed for your shipment.

Can you handle both imports and exports?

Yes, including export accompanying documents (EAD) and NCTS T1 transit documents for road shipments.

What does “audit ready” mean?

HMRC requires customs records to be kept and retrievable, generally for six years. We file digitally and retain the records, so if you're inspected, everything is in order.

How much does customs clearance cost?

It depends on the number of lines on your declaration, the commodity codes, and whether extra documents (EAD, T1 transit) are needed. Send us the details of your shipment and we'll give you a clear price.