How to Access Your Customs Data from GOV.UK

Simplifying Trade, Maximising Returns

What is the Customs Data Service?

HMRC has launched a free self-service system that allows UK businesses to access their Customs Declaration Service (CDS) data. This service provides detailed reports on your import and export declarations, helping you maintain accurate records, support audits, and monitor your customs activity over time.

Key Benefits

Free Service: Access your customs data at no cost for EORI numbers starting with GB
4 Report Types: Choose from import items, headers, tax lines, and export items reports
4 Years of Data: Request data from any date within the last 4 years (excluding past 2 days)
Quick Turnaround: Reports delivered within 72 hours as downloadable CSV files

Before You Begin: Prerequisites

Before you can access your customs data, you must have the following in place. If you're not already registered for CDS, follow the registration steps in this guide.

1. EORI Number (GB)

You need an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number that starts with GB. This is essential for any customs declarations.

Apply for an EORI number

2. Government Gateway Account

You must have an individual or organisation Government Gateway user ID (not an agent ID).

Create Government Gateway account

3. CDS Subscription

You need to be subscribed to the Customs Declaration Service. Your EORI and CDS accounts will be linked to your Government Gateway user ID.

Subscribe to CDS

Register for CDS (If Not Already Registered)

If you haven't registered for the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), you'll need to complete this first. The process takes approximately 7-8 minutes.

Information You'll Need

Your registered business address
Email address for HMRC contact
Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) if registered for Self Assessment or Corporation Tax (you can provide your National Insurance number if you're a sole trader or individual)
VAT details: registration number, postcode where registered, and date of registration
SIC code (Standard Industrial Classification) if applying as a company, partnership, sole trader, charity, or public body

Registration Link: Register for CDS Now

Important Note: When you register for CDS, the system will automatically create your EORI number if you don't already have one. Your subscription can be used for both imports and exports. You cannot apply for more than one EORI number using the same Government Gateway user ID.

Step-by-Step Guide to Access Your Data

Step 1: Navigate to the Service

Go to the GOV.UK customs data service page and click on the 'Start now' button.

‍Access the Service

Step 2: Sign In

You'll be prompted to sign in using your Government Gateway credentials. Enter your user ID and password.

Step 3: Select Report Type

Choose from the 4 available report types based on your needs. See the 'Report Types' section below for details on each option.

For CAT360 Users: The Import Item Report is currently the most important report type. Support for additional report types will be available in Q1 2026.

Step 4: Enter Date Range

Specify the date range for your report:

You can request data from any date within the last 4 years (excluding the past 2 days)
The date range must be for up to 31 consecutive days
If you need data covering more than 31 days, you'll need to submit multiple requests

Best Practice: Month-to-Month Coverage
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To ensure you have complete customs data coverage without any gaps, we recommend requesting data aligned with calendar months. Since the previous monthly reporting system guaranteed no gaps, it's important to be methodical when selecting your date ranges.

Example: Request data from 1 January to 31 January, then 1 February to 28 February, and so on. This approach ensures every day is covered and makes it easier to track your data requests over time.

Step 5: Confirm Your Request

Review the details of your request (report type, date range, EORI number) and submit it.

Step 6: Wait for Report Generation

Reports are typically available within 72 hours. You'll receive a confirmation email when your report is ready to download.

Step 7: Download Your Report

Return to the service and download your report as a CSV file. The report will be available for download for 10 days.

Granting Third-Party Access to Barbourne Brook

If you'd like Barbourne Brook to access and upload your customs data on your behalf for CAT360, you'll need to grant us access through the GOV.UK Get Customs Data service. This is a straightforward process that takes just a few minutes.

Why Grant Third-Party Access?

Granting Barbourne Brook access enables us to:

Retrieve your customs data automatically on your behalf
Upload data directly to CAT360, saving you time and effort
Ensure your CAT360 analysis is always up-to-date with the latest customs data
Provide you with a seamless, hands-free data management experience

How to Grant Barbourne Brook Access

Follow these steps to authorise Barbourne Brook:

1. Sign in to the GOV.UK Get Customs Data Service

Go to the GOV.UK Get Customs Data service and sign in using your Government Gateway user ID and password.

‍Access Get Customs Data Service

2. Navigate to 'Give Data Access'

Once signed in, select 'Give data access' from the menu, then click 'Add a third party'.

3. Confirm You Own the Data

When asked, confirm that you own the customs declaration data by selecting 'Yes, I own the customs declaration data'.

4. Enter Barbourne Brook's EORI Number

Enter Barbourne Brook's EORI number: GB331960313000

5. Enter a Reference Name

Enter a reference name to help you identify this third party. Enter: Barbourne Brook

The reference name is for your own records only — it does not affect the access granted
We recommend using 'Barbourne Brook' as the reference name for clarity

6. Set the Access Period

Set the start date to today's date and select 'Ongoing' for the end date to ensure uninterrupted access.

7. Select Data Types

Select both Import and Export, and choose all available data types to give Barbourne Brook full access to your customs data.

8. Review and Confirm

Review the details — EORI, reference name, access period, and data types — then confirm to complete the authorisation. Access is typically granted immediately.

Important Notes

Access Duration: The access you grant can be set as ongoing, so there's no need to renew periodically. You'll receive a confirmation on screen once it's active.
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‍Removing Access: You can remove Barbourne Brook's access at any time by returning to the 'Give data access' section of the GOV.UK Get Customs Data service and removing the third party.
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‍Security: Granting authority only allows Barbourne Brook to access customs data on your behalf. We cannot make changes to your account or financial settings.

Need Help?

If you encounter any issues granting access or have questions about the process, please contact us at enquiries@barbournebrook.co.uk or call +44 (0)121 403 3901. Our team is here to assist you.

Available Report Types

Choose the report type that best suits your business needs:

Report Type	Description
Import Item Report	Detailed item-level information including commodity codes, values, and quantities
Import Header Report	Declaration summaries with reference numbers and dates
Import Tax Lines Report	Duty and tax details for financial reconciliation
Export Item Report	Export declaration data including destinations and goods descriptions

Troubleshooting & FAQs

I don't have a Government Gateway account. How do I create one?

Visit the Government Gateway registration page and follow the on-screen instructions. You'll need some basic personal or business information to set up your account.

My report hasn't arrived within 72 hours. What should I do?

First, check your spam folder for the notification email. If you still haven't received it, sign back into the service and check if the report is available for download. If the issue persists, contact HMRC support.

Can I request data for multiple EORI numbers?

Yes, but you'll need to submit separate requests for each EORI number. Each EORI must be linked to a Government Gateway account.

How often can I request data?

There's no limit on how often you can request data. You can submit multiple requests for different date ranges or report types as needed.

What file format are the reports provided in?

All reports are provided as CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files, which can be opened in spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.

Is there a cost to access this data?

No, the service is completely free for EORI numbers starting with GB. If you need to access XI reports you will still need to pay.