The UK tax and customs authority, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), is introducing the Trade Reporting and Extracting (TRE) service as part of a major digital transformation of customs data access for traders operating in the United Kingdom.
From 31 March 2026, TRE will become the only authorised platform for accessing official UK customs declaration data, fully replacing legacy reporting tools such as Management Support System (MSS) and Customs Declaration Service (CDS) reports, which will be phased out when existing contracts expire.
This reform marks a fundamental shift from paid, application-based reporting to free, on-demand access through HMRC’s Government Gateway, significantly lowering costs and administrative barriers for importers and exporters. Businesses previously paid up to about £1,000 per year for full data access under the legacy model.
TRE consolidates declaration data across historical CHIEF and CDS systems and enables users to download structured reports in digital formats, improving transparency, compliance monitoring, audit readiness, and duty optimisation.
In summary, the introduction of TRE replaces fragmented, fee-based legacy reporting systems with a single, free digital access point, enabling faster data extraction, improved visibility across import and export activity, and stronger compliance oversight. Beyond cost savings, the reform signals HMRC’s strategic push toward greater data transparency, automation and real-time trade intelligence. Organisations that depend on customs declaration data should begin onboarding and adapting internal reporting processes well in advance of the 2026 cut-over.
For official details on the new customs data access service, please refer to the homepage of HMRC:
Get customs data for import and export declarations – GOV.UK