Guidance

Request Management Support System data on exports

How to request and buy Management Support System data from HMRC if you're a company that exports goods.

This guidance was withdrawn on

Management Support System data requests for both import and export data are no longer being accepted.

For information on how to request data held on Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) or Customs Declaration Service use request Customs Declaration Service data on imports and exports.

The Management Support System (MSS) data helps simplify and improve the accuracy of your records. For example, by giving accurate figures for the total amount of duty paid against the value of goods entered.

Import declarations are no longer managed in the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system. Imports must now be declared on the Customs Declaration Service. Find out how to request Customs Declaration Service data on imports.

Information that is in an export report

The export item reports should meet the needs of most HMRC customers.

The ‘Example of the export data’ section has an example of export data that you can use to help you decide if a MSS data subscription will benefit you. This is not real data.

Example of the export data

Use the Sample MSS export entry standard item report (ODS, 5.16 KB) to see an example of import and export data (given in the standard entry item format) to help decide if a MSS data subscription will benefit you.

The data in the sample is not real data. It should only be used for the purposes of this example.

Minimum sign up for monthly and one-off export reports

You can request ongoing and one-off reports.

If you request ongoing reports, you must sign up to receive them for a minimum of 12 months. For example, if you sign up in January, you will receive ongoing reports from January to December. Backdated requests cannot be accepted.

You can request one-off retrospective reports. The requested report period must be within the last 4 years.

How to request an export report

If you’re a trader

Email the completed MSS Agreement (PDF, 206 KB, 12 pages) and a covering letter to the MSS Team at: uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

If you’re a third party

Email the completed MSS Agreement for third parties (PDF, 203 KB, 11 pages) to the MSS Team at: uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

You must include a:

  • covering letter
  • signed letter from the company who owns Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) numbers

Checklist for exports

Use the MSS Agreement checklist (PDF, 133 KB, 2 pages) to make sure your application is correct and includes all needed information.

Covering letter

You must include a covering letter which:

  • is on company headed paper
  • is signed by the authorised person
  • has the dates or month the applicant requires historic or ongoing data to cover or begin
  • uses the standard wording in Schedule D

Agreement

You must complete each page of the agreement.

Page 1 should include:

  • the same dates as the covering letter
  • the applicant or third party company name
  • the dates for the data required if you want to receive historic data
  • confirmation a request for ongoing data is specified

Page 2 should include:

  • the address of the applicant company
  • up to 3 email addresses and the address holders names, which can be:
    • the applicant or third party applicant (if relevant)
    • data recipient (if different to either of above)
    • invoice recipient
  • the EORI numbers
  • the authorised person (not third party) including their signature, forename and surname and position in the company

How the data is sent to you

Reports are sent by email to the nominated representative, normally as an Excel spreadsheet.

If you agree to receive the reports by email, HMRC will not be responsible for the security of the information once it has been sent to you.

Charges

A single Standard Report will be provided by the client for the agreed duration of the agreement. It will cost £240 plus VAT per EORI number per year.

For each different VAT registration held, if you need a separate monthly Standard Report, a separate charge will be made. If you request single monthly reports on 4 different VAT registrations the cost of that data for a year will be £960 plus VAT per year. However, you can elect to receive a single Standard Report containing details of all the separate VAT registrations. The cost of that data for a year will then be £240 plus VAT.

Data will be provided each month from the date of acceptance to the scheme.

If you need a Standard Report for historical data before the date of sign up, then this report will be charged at a rate of £240 plus VAT per year. The maximum amount of historical data available is 4 years and the maximum charge is £960 plus VAT per year.

Where reports are requested for a period covering less than 12 months charges will be applied at a pro-rata monthly rate of £20 plus VAT.

Entry request

If you have a query about an individual entry, the MSS Team can supply a copy, but there are some details we will withhold for security reasons.

Data is held in the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) MSS database for 4 years, entries older than 4 years are not available.

Complete a partial entry request form to ask for a copy of an entry. You also need an original signed letter on business headed paper from the company owning the EORI number.

Email the form and a copy of the signed letter to the MSS Team at: uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

Charges

There is no charge for this service but there is a limit of 5 requests per EORI number.

Get more information

For more information on the MSS Data to the Trade Scheme, email: uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

Published 6 December 2014
Last updated 3 May 2023 + show all updates
  1. The guidance has been updated to only cover export reports, as there is separate guidance for import reports.

  2. Samples of data added to help you decide whether a MSS data subscription would benefit you.

  3. The MMS agreement, MSS agreement for third parties, MSS Warehouse agreement and the Agreement checklist have been updated.

  4. The MSS Agreement, MSS Agreement for third parties and the Customs Warehouse Agreement have been updated.

  5. A checklist has been added to help when completing an agreement and the Management Support System agreements have been updated.

  6. Email address and postal address for sending your agreements has been updated.

  7. A new section for requesting customs warehouse data reports has been added to the guide.

  8. The minimum sign up paragraph has been updated to provide further clarification about the reports that can be provided.

  9. The MSS agreement document has been updated.

  10. First published.